After learning to use the principles of context and analysis, we now turn our attention to theme. Theme completes our acronym of CAT, which is C-context, A-analysis, and T-theme. Theme is basically the subject of focus. There is a theme within each passage of the Bible. Each chapter has a theme as well as each book of the Bible. Each testament has a theme as well as the whole Bible. The more a person reads straight through the Bible, the more familiar that person becomes with the Bible’s overarching theme. In paying attention to context and analyzing details, you will begin to notice the themes.
Watch for the repeating of words or of the same general issue and you will see the theme. Sometimes there may be variations of the same word, including pronouns. Like the subject may be God but the terms used may be God, Lord, Holy One, Perfect One, He, Father, the Almighty, etc. Also, the subject may be Jesus and the passage may use terms like He, Jesus, the Messiah, King, Savior, Redeemer, etc. Then a passage may be talking about sin and it may use multiple terms like unrighteousness, it, wickedness, immorality, impurity, sin, etc. By keeping these things in mind we will begin to discover themes.
An example passage is 1 Corinthians 11:3-16. Read over this passage watching for repeated words and see if you can discover the theme. After reading this passage did you notice what single word was repeated over and over again? Also, did you see the other indirect references to it? The word head is mentioned thirteen times and that is not to mention the five times it mentions the word hair. The focus of this passage is the head. The reason why this is important is because we want to understand what Paul means by head in this passage in order to properly apply it. In verse 3 we see that “Christ is the head of every man.” Also, we see in verse ten the term “a symbol of authority.” Head is a reference to authority.
Since our subject is authority, we should interpret this passage in light of that. Therefore it is disgraceful for a woman in verse five to pray with her head uncovered, because the uncovering of the head is symbolic of the removal of authority. This would be disrespectful towards authority. Therefore, the issue is not a woman speaking in church, but a woman speaking in church without being submissive and respectful towards authority. Same concept holds true when the issue of woman with short hair and the men with long hair comes up. Both instances seem to be problems until you consider the theme. The hair has to do with authority. The woman cutting or removing her hair is symbolic of the woman removing or disrespecting authority. The man growing hair is a symbol of him covering his authority or not using his God’s given authority. Without theme we are left to believe that a woman cannot even pray publicly in church, cut her hair or men to grow long hair. However, theme clears up an otherwise difficult passage.
So remember that the key principles to interpreting the Bible are found in the acronym CAT. Always remember C-context, A-analysis, and T-theme. Now that we have these principles down we will move on to a word of caution in our next lesson. We must pay careful attention to our interpretation of the Bible, so that we do not find ourselves in error.
