What is the first thing to determine when reading a portion of Scripture?
When reading any portion of Scripture, the first thing to determine is who wrote it. Along with that, identify to whom it was written, and third, what the circumstances were. This three-part context matters because it shapes how the passage is understood and applied.
Les teaches that from day one, when you read a portion of Scripture, the first thing you determine is who wrote it, and to whom was it written, and the third part is what are the circumstances. In Corinthians, Paul is dealing with the nitty-gritty of the marriage relationship. The letter was prompted by questions from Corinthian believers just recently out of paganism. They did not have Sunday school, catechism, the Bible, or any New Testament, only some of the Old Testament. As a small church, they had a whole batch of questions and wrote to Paul, and he answers them one by one.