What should you determine first when you read a portion of Scripture?
When reading a portion of Scripture, you should first determine who wrote it. Next, identify to whom it was written. Third, establish the circumstances. This order helps clarify the original setting, audience, and meaning, keeping interpretation grounded in the text's original context.
Les teaches that from day one he has emphasized that when you read a portion of Scripture, the first thing to determine is who wrote it, then to whom it was written, and third, what the circumstances were. In the context of Corinthians, Paul is addressing the nitty-gritty of the marriage relationship, answering questions from believers recently out of paganism. They lacked Sunday school, catechism, and the New Testament, so they wrote to Paul with a batch of questions, prompting his letter. He answers them one by one.