EGW put it this way "Some will take a text, wrest it from its true bearing, and force it into service to sustain some preconceived opinion. By linking together isolated passages of Scripture, they may deceive others. But what appears to be Bible proof for their position is no proof whatever; for the scriptures are not used in their true setting. In this way error is often magnified, and truth diminished. Those who thus wrest the scriptures to sustain error, greatly dishonor God...." {RH, August 13, 1959 par. 6}

In my opinion, this is an excellent point that should not be set aside to quickly. Since truth is progressive and one may read a passage of Scripture repeatedly and gain a new understanding each time. But when some things are settled and we go no further, light stops with that level of understanding. And that does not mean that more light is not shining on that text, it just means that we have stopped seeing it.

Paul took what Moses wrote and applied the principles contained therein in ways that resulted in new truth not applied by Moses.

Amen! Also, welcome. I look forward to studying with you.

Thank you for you welcome.

Are you saying that Paul was building on the foundation laid by Moses?

That is certainly likely as in the fullness of time things that the prophets did not understand became more fully revealed.

Great quote. Thanks.

To take what Moses wrote and find the principles therein, understanding the context is critical. And as long as you work within and being true to the principles laid out by the source you are quoting, the result is not prooftexting but rather genuine scholarship/study.

I agree with the thought that we need to study, interpret, and understand the message and intent of Bible passages within the context of the period in which each passage was written, which goes along with the "line upon line, here a little, there a little" title of this thread, which is actually taken from the Bible itself.

I agree with what you are saying in principle, but sometimes a principle set forth in a Bible or Spirit of prophecy statement transcends the context of the statement.

An example: Have you ever read a text and got a different understanding from the text? Or perhaps there is a certain passage that you have had that experience many times.

The different meanings that come to us when we read Scripture comes from the Holy Spirit telling us what we need at that time. But if we set a hard fast rule about the meaning of Scriptures because of their context, the principles that are at work in those passages under different circumstances will be more difficult to see and apply to other situations.

Here's a concrete example: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain.

OK that's don't cuss - don't swear
but it is also
don't claim to be a Christian and live in open sin.
To live a life of vain self-seeking while professing to be a child of God is also to take the name of God in vain.

Thus a premature understanding of a text can slant its meaning and obscure other treasures that God would have us to find

I am not sure that this example you give actually illustrates what you write above, His Child. This because restricting the understanding of the law to cussing or swearing seem to me more a case of time honed interpretation rather than a conclusion drawn inevitably from context.