IMPORTANCE OF CONTEXT

The danger of ignoring context in Biblical interpretation.......................




Ecclesiastes 9:5

 5 For the living know that they will die,
    but the dead know nothing;
they have no further reward,
    and even their name is forgotten


This Scripture implies that once your dead...your DEAD....PERIOD.....END OF STORY.


Some Christian cults use this Scripture to support their dogma that there is no "soul" ......existence is nullified for the individual until Resurrection Day.

One point is the "dead" referred to are NOT the "living" who have died. The context here is clear..... it refers to the "spiritually dead"....just as the "living" are "spiritually alive."

Resurrection occurs for the spiritually dead to judgement and spiritually alive to eternal life.


If the cults interpretation is correct....it creates a contradiction in Scripture..... ie; Matthew 17:1-9



17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”


OBVIOUSLY THE CULT INTERPRETATION IS INCORRECT BECAUSE THERE IS NO CONTRADICTION IN GOD'S WORD.......Moses and Elijah were quite "dead" biologically in this Scripture yet "existed" Spiritually with Jesus at this Transfugurqtion.