Interpretation
	The primary task of this phase of evaluation is to analyze the statements of a passage in order to determine which of its truths are timeless and therefore of contemporary worth. -R.A. Traina

Cultural or Principle?

It is difficult to know just where to place this phase of Bible study. Having observed the text, and properly understood what the author wanted to convey, this phase could be placed under "application" since we are now considering which parts apply to us. Yet, it could be placed under "interpretation" also since we have not really finished our interetive process if we do not know what the author considered as universal or cultural. Others, such as Traina place it in a category of its own, in his case "evaluation." Traina thus proceeds from Observation to Interpretation to Evaluation and finally to Application. I have placed it under Interpretation for the reason listed above. If there are still questions over which part of the teaching is binding and which part is a cultural expression, then we have not yet known the mind of the author, and thus have not yet finished our process of interpretation.

In approaching the question culture, there are only three possibilities:

1. The teaching is entirely principle.
2. The teaching is entirely custom.
3. The teaching is some mix of the two. On this final point there may be varying degrees of the principle/custom mix.

Following are some guidelines that will aid in answering this question.

I. Try to identify the culture of scripture, and your own culture.

A. Scripture was written in a particular culture, and we need to be familiar with it to better discern what part of a command may be cultural, and what part is universal. perhaps the easiest way is to find a reference book that can give insight. For example:
* A good Bible dictionary.
* A good Intro to Old and New Testaments (Guthrie, Carson, Moo, R.K. Harrison, etc).
* IVP Background Commentary.

B. Perhaps the more difficult problem to overcome, is the realization that we are living in a culture of our own. We need to be aware of our own culture, and its characteristic biases and presuppositions. I am inclined to the advice of C.S. Lewis when he wrote:

We all therefore need books that will correct our the characteristic mistakes of our own period. And that means the old books. . . . The only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our own minds, and this can only be done by reading old books.

I would also add that it is possible to rise beyond our own culture by exposing ourselves to other cultures. As we worship, learn, teach, and serve in other cultures, the biases of our own culture become more obvious.

II. Try to identify areas of custom from other parts of scripture. For example:

A. The greeting one extends may change. Greet one another with a holy kiss (Romans 16:16). Yet there are greetings extended simply through writings (Col 4:10-18) and other verbal greetings (1 Sam 25:4-6).

B. Monetary Systems may change. Here is the use of a denarius in Christ's command to "Give to Ceaser what is Ceaser's" (Matt 22:19-21). But in other places we see the use of talents, minas, sheckels, gerahs, copper coins, quandrans, etc. See Matt 17:27.

D. It seems that there were various kinds of clothing (Lev 13:47-48). During the OT times Israel had dietary laws, and moving from a Jewish culture into a Babalonian culture did not change these laws for them (Dan 1:8). However, when Daniel's cloths were changed he did not object (Dan 5:29).

III. Don't marry scripture to its culture, allow for some distinctives. While culture can bring great insight to our study, it should never force an interpretation. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 11 Paul gives direction on how to behave in worship. He says in verse three that man is the head of woman. Some people will note that the culture in which this was written was a very partriarchal culture. Thus it would have been disruptive in that culture for a woman not to be under man. However, they argue, in this culture where equality is valued, submission is no longer binding. The problem with this thinking is that Paul does not tie submission to the culture, but as an established order of creation. So while sumbission was a culturally manifested at that time, the reason for the church's position was independent of the culture.

IV. Any ordinance that is established in God's character (truth: Ex. 20:16), as part of the created order (homosexuality: Rom 1:26-27), or is something that God specifically establishes (government: Rom 13:1-4) are principles, and not culteral.

V. If uncertain, use the principle of humility. It is better to be too scrupulous in one's obedience than to dismiss too quickly a command that was intended to be binding.