We live in an ever-changing world with rich history and diverse cultures. Over centuries, our cultures and ways of living have changed. While all Scripture is given by inspiration of God (II Timothy 3:16), the Bible was written quite a while ago in a very different culture from our modern Western culture. The Bible is an Eastern book. Many events in the Bible took place in the Eastern part of the world with Eastern people in Eastern societies. Having a clearer understanding of manners and customs of the East will aid us in rightly dividing God’s Word. What may have been clear to the Easterner in Bible times could be misinterpreted by a Westerner in our day without a knowledge of Bible manners and customs. Let’s gain an understanding of what Biblical manners and customs are. Then let’s take a look at the customs in one specific scripture that help us gain a greater, more accurate understanding of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us.
As we read God’s Word, we will find many scriptures with comparisons, records, and parables that highlight manners and customs of the day and time they were written in. We want to check that we are understanding the Scriptures in light of Eastern manners and customs.
A manner is a characteristic or customary mode of acting, or, simply, a way or method of doing something. This may include how people interact with one another, how they work, how they keep their homes, and many other mannerisms. A custom is a long-established practice or a usage common to many or to a particular place or class. In the East, this would include practices of an entire society as a whole and how it operated. Having an understanding of the manners and customs in the Bible, we can better comprehend the records and illustrations in the Scriptures.
Now let’s check our understanding of Colossians 2:14 by taking a closer look at it through the lens of an Eastern custom of the time. Then we can unlock the accuracy of God’s Word to gain a greater understanding of the accomplishments of Jesus Christ.
Colossians 2:14:
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.
The key to understanding this scripture is understanding how debts were handled in the East. The name of a man who went bankrupt was posted at the gate of the city by the elders of that city, stating the names of his creditors and the amount of his debt. When all debts were completely paid, the elders would double the paper, folding together the writ of debts, so that all the debts were “blotted out.” (A partial payment of debts by the bankrupt person wouldn’t be accepted.) The folded-together document would then be nailed up at the city gate so that all passing by could see that the man’s debt was paid in full. All the negatives against that man were eradicated.
Jesus Christ paid in full for all our debts of sin. He paid in full for our release from the bondage of the law. He was subjected to pain, sickness, suffering, and death for us. By taking these things upon himself, he blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, nailing it to his cross. What a tremendous truth that showcases the magnitude of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us!
By understanding the manners and customs of the East, we can gain a fuller and more accurate understanding of the truths God has placed in His Word. We see from our understanding of Eastern customs that Jesus Christ took all the faults that were against us—the transgressions, the sins, the bondage, the sickness, and the pain—and made them a part of his cross! Let’s continue to build our understanding of Eastern manners and customs in order to help us rightly divide the Word in our Biblical studies.
If you are looking for resources that can help you gain a greater understanding of Eastern manners and customs, The Way International online Bookstore carries many valuable references.