How much historical context?

Mastered By the Book from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

Historical context is a very useful tool as Carson argues in this short clip. The historical context of a passage will allow the main idea of the passage to be better preached, understood and applied. In other-words historical context is the servant of the passage.  Carson and Piper, who are both theologically conservative, offer differing nuances to the role of historical context but neither would support the idea that historical context is essential in determining the main idea of a passage. This is an important distinction.