[smvoice]

..like the three most important questions to ask when reading Scripture, and in this order.

1. Who said or wrote it?

2. To whom were they speaking?

3. What did they say?

To jump to number three before knowing the answers to one and two is to cause nothing but confusion and biblical error. Guaranteed.

[Dutchboy88]

"1. Who said or wrote it?

2. To whom were they speaking?

3. What did they say?

To jump to number three before knowing the answers to one and two is to cause nothing but confusion and biblical error. Guaranteed.

This is a very good hermeneutical setup. I might add that #4 is "What does this mean I should do, think, believe?". But, you are correct, jumping to 3 or 4, guarantees I will misuse Scripture.