Context

According to Wilhelmus a Brakel (The Christian's Reasonable Service, vol.1), 'an awareness of context is not always essential ... to the correct understanding of a text or a passage. There are thousands of expressions in God’s Word which, when heard or read individually, have a precise meaning, give full expression to their doctrinal content, and are sufficiently penetrating to stimulate faith, render comfort, and be exhortive in nature.' On the whole we agree, especially as regards the more aphoristic books like Proverbs. However, context is very important, indeed indispensable and much wider in meaning than simply the part of a book in which a text occurs. In fact, beside the analogy of faith, the Westminster Confession details the proper and necessary use of inference ('good and necessary consequence') and this is possible only on the basis of a reasonable grasp of context. a Brakel agrees!

The eloquence of a quiet man

Some who read this will remember Roy John. He began his working life as a stone mason, graduated to working in the Christian Bookshop in Cardiff city centre and ended his working life as a hospital porter. A quiet man of no particular distinction, he read the puritans and studied reformed theology, loved classical music and enjoyed watching rugby and cricket. His wife Tessa died suddenly about 18 months ago. He handled it with great serenity. Soon afterwards he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He died as he had lived, with unquestioning trust in Christ and believing that whatever God ordains is right. We buried his mortal remains today. It was a good service and the gospel went forth just as he would have wished. The eloquence of his life as a disciple of the Lord Jesus makes so many sermons, my own included, seem like a mumbled whisper.