scripture

"We must not take the words of Scripture and run them through the filter of our own beliefs and feelings in order to decide what the Bible verse means to us. Such an approach mistakenly elevates experience over the Word of God." (P.9, Hearing God's Voice, Blackaby)
This raises for me the issue of how do we know when a part of scripture is cultural or relevant to all people at all times?
My approach is this:
If the bible from beginning to end only speaks of one view on a topic, then the bible is teaching a truth that is relevant for all people in all places at all times.
If the bible gives various different opinions then the truth needs to be understood culturally.
Let me give you an example. In 1 Timothy 2:12 it says "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent." However, in the Old Testament we have Deborah who in Judges 4-5 is said to led Israel. Also in Romans 16 we have a list that suggests that there were women among the apostles. (See Rom 16:7) These varying examples show that the roles of women are sometimes culturally tied. In 1 Timothy the particular problems faced by that church required that women be silent.
An example of the other kind is that of sexual relations outside of marriage. The bible from beginning to end is clear that any sexual activity outside of the marriage relationship is wrong and thus this is a truth that applies to all people at all times.