What Does It Mean?

In this episode of Unmarked Trail, Don Hornsby moves to the second question in a simple three-part approach to reading the Bible well:

What does it mean?

This is the work of interpretation.

We look at why context matters, why genre matters, why the original audience matters, and why a passage cannot simply mean whatever we want it to mean.

Using Philippians 4:13 as an example, Don shows how a familiar verse can sound very different when we read the surrounding paragraph and pay attention to the situation Paul was actually addressing.

Along the way, we also talk about humility in interpretation, responsible disagreement, and why “I don’t know yet” can sometimes be the most honest answer.

These early episodes are building reading skills that we’ll soon use together when we begin reading the Gospel of Mark with fresh eyes.

If you haven’t heard the earlier episodes yet, this is a good time to go back and listen. They’re laying the groundwork for the way we’re going to read Mark together.

If you’d like a copy of the Unmarked Trail study card, send me a note at hello@unmarkedtrail.org.

And if this was a helpful episode, and if you know someone who might appreciate it, please share it with them.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

You don’t have to belong anywhere to be here.

Just come curious.