A teacher spends the entire lesson on historical background and never examines the biblical passage itself. Which teaching principle has the teacher violated?

### Why this is right The handbook says effective Bible teaching must focus on the actual text and must not let background information obscure it. Background can help interpretation, but it cannot take the place of studying the passage. ### The concept Contextual information explains details that may be unfamiliar to modern readers. It is useful when it serves close reading, but teaching loses its focus if the text itself disappears from view. ### The other options - **B. Teaching should avoid all historical information**: The handbook supports understanding original context; it does not prohibit historical background. - **C. Teaching should use only devotional reading**: The handbook recognizes both devotional and analytic reading. - **D. Teaching should treat every passage as a poem**: The handbook says interpretation should fit each passage’s genre. ### Terms - **Background information**: Contextual facts that help explain a passage but do not replace reading it.