Miscontextualization
The process of contextualization that changes the meaning of Scripture is often referred to as miscontextualization or eisegesis (reading one's own ideas into the text). Below are key terms and concepts that describe this issue:
1. Miscontextualization
Miscontextualization occurs when the context of a text is interpreted or adapted in a way that alters its original meaning. This often happens when translators or interpreters prioritize modern cultural relevance over the historical and grammatical context of the original passage.
Example:
- Jeremiah 29:11:
- Original Context: God's promise of restoration to Israel after Babylonian captivity.
- Miscontextualization: Applied universally to guarantee personal prosperity, disregarding its specific historical and covenantal setting.
2. Eisegesis
Eisegesis is the act of importing one's own ideas, biases, or cultural assumptions into the text rather than drawing out the text’s original meaning (exegesis).
Example:
- Genesis 1:27: Interpreting "male and female created he them" to support modern gender theories, which goes beyond the text's original intent of defining God's creation of two distinct sexes.
3. Over-Dynamic Equivalence
In translation, excessive use of dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought rendering) can distort meaning by substituting interpretive decisions for the literal sense of the text.
Example:
- Romans 1:26-27:
- Literal Translation: Focuses on the unnatural nature of same-sex relationships.
- Over-Dynamic Translation: May reframe the passage to address only promiscuity or exploitative relationships, avoiding the broader condemnation of the acts described.
4. Theological Filtering
This occurs when translators or interpreters deliberately adjust the meaning of Scripture to align with a specific theological agenda or modern sensibilities.
Example:
- Omitting references to God’s wrath (e.g., Romans 1:18) in favor of emphasizing only His love.
5. Cultural Relativism
Cultural relativism in contextualization adjusts Scripture to align with cultural norms, even when these norms contradict biblical principles. This often results in moral or theological compromise.
Example:
- 1 Timothy 2:12:
- Original Meaning: A directive about leadership roles in the church.
- Cultural Relativism: Reinterpreted as addressing only a temporary cultural situation, nullifying its broader application.
6. Hermeneutical Bias
This occurs when interpreters impose a preferred framework or ideology onto the text, shaping its meaning to fit their perspective.
Example:
- Luke 14:33:
- Jesus' call to "forsake all" is reinterpreted to mean only a willingness to do so, reducing the radical call to discipleship.
7. Syncretism
Syncretism occurs when biblical truths are blended with non-Christian philosophies or ideologies, resulting in distorted teachings.
Example:
- Incorporating New Age terminology into Christian translations, such as rendering "Kingdom of God" as "divine consciousness," which shifts the focus from a tangible kingdom to a mystical concept.
8. Intentional Dilution
Some translations or interpretations soften the meaning of Scripture to avoid offending contemporary audiences, often diminishing the Bible's confrontational or countercultural aspects.
Example:
- Sin and Judgment:
- Replacing terms like "sin" and "judgment" with "mistakes" or "shortcomings" in modern translations.
Conclusion
Contextualization is valuable for making Scripture understandable, but when it alters the original meaning, it becomes a theological danger. Such practices undermine the authority, clarity, and integrity of God's Word. Faithful contextualization must adhere to the principles of exegesis, relying on the original context, language, and intent of Scripture while carefully applying it to modern audiences.
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