Anachronism: the fundamental interpretive error in reading Jeremiah 10 as being about Christmas trees

Reading Jeremiah 10 as a prohibition on Christmas trees is anachronistic — importing a modern practice into an ancient text. The passage meant something specific to its original audience; we must determine what that was before applying it to modern situations. Anachronism in biblical interpretation means reading a modern concept into an ancient text and mistaking it for the original meaning. Example: 'took up arms' in the Bible referred to swords and spears, not handguns.