I know this quote is attributed to D. A. Carson. I do not have his sermon archive but I think it is there. It may not be there. “A text without a context is a pretext for a proof text.” – D. A. Carson I used Google and Google Books. I want to find a book it is in to be able to cite it.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/sermon/filled-with-the-spirit/
https://www.springwoodbaptist.org.au/imagesDB/sermons/BibleDoesntSayThatWeek1.pdf
If you want to cite the sermon archive, here is the RIS:
TY - CHAPTI - Grace Abounding in Love and Punishing the GuiltyAU - Carson, D. A.CY - Bellingham, WAT2 - D. A. Carson Sermon LibraryPB - FaithlifePY - 2016KW - Sermons, English.ER -
But the URL you included in your original post is fine too. Further, he quotes it as something his dad said, and JETS 54 no 3 p. 590 calls it an "old adage." I don't think it really requires attribution at all.
I don't think it really requires attribution at all.
Agreed. I've heard this (or some variation) since before Carson was in school. 😁
I’ve heard it in several of his sermons. Here’s one example:
My father used to say, bless his heart, “A text without a context becomes a pretext for a proof text.”
Carson, D. A. (2016). Absolute and Relative Demands in Scripture. In D. A. Carson Sermon Library. Faithlife.
DAL
PS. I don’t think you need more examples. The quote appears 28 times and most of the time he attributes it to his father.
I don't think it really requires attribution at all. Agreed. I've heard this (or some variation) since before Carson was in school. 😁
Carson’s father used to say it, which probably means he got it from someone else. I’ve heard it for so long I thought churches of Christ invented the phrase 😂😂😂
ChatGPT says, “The quote "A text without a context is a mere pretext" is often attributed to Dr. John Sailhamer, a biblical scholar. He used it in reference to the interpretation of biblical texts, emphasizing the importance of understanding the historical and literary context of a passage to avoid misinterpretation. The phrase highlights the idea that taking a text out of context can lead to misleading conclusions.”
GOOGLE’S AI says, The quote “A text without a context is a pretext for a proof text” is attributed to theologian Dr. Don Carson, who says his father is the source of the quote.”
So who’s right, we’ll never know!
Can you just cite another source it is from?
My library produced several options from journals, books and encyclopedias.
A variation is found in Carson's Exegetical Fallacies as well.
The article I linked to, written by Carson, has the quote.
I notice that Christian has that URL in his original post. He might have edited it after you posted.
