Contextual and Extended (Principled) Applications

I found the WT article about contextual and extended (principled) applications. It's in the 8/15/1972 issue, see page 498ff.

Here is a quote provided from that article that's within the confines of "fair use law" in the USA:

A Scripture text may be quoted or cited and applied in a way that appears to contradict an application made in an earlier instance. In some cases this may be due to greater light of understanding, correcting a former view. In other cases you may be helped by considering whether the application is “contextual,” that is, whether the scripture is being discussed in the light of the context and setting. Or perhaps it is an “extended” application, that is, the principle of the text may be applied to some other circumstance.
An example of a text from which the principle is often forcefully applied is Hebrews 12:9, which reads: “We used to have fathers who were of our flesh to discipline us, and we used to give them respect. Shall we not much more subject ourselves to the Father of our spiritual life and live?”
The writer is here speaking of the “spiritual life” of the spirit-begotten brothers of Jesus Christ, who have heavenly hopes. (Heb. 12:22-24, 28) But the principle set out in this text may also be applied to the “other sheep,” who are prospective children of God, with hope of everlasting life on earth. (John 10:16; Rom. 8:21) These, too, have a “spiritual life,” inasmuch as they are living according to the direction of God’s Word and spirit alongside the spirit-begotten ones. They are not living ‘fleshly lives,’ lives devoted to pursuing “the works of the flesh.”—Rom. 7:5; 8:5-8; Gal. 5:19-21; compare 1 Corinthians 2:14.

Please see the WT for further information.

One example I discussed recently is 1 Cor. 10:21. According to the context, the table and cup of the Lord are references to the Lord's evening meal (supper), but the verse may have a wider application outside of that original context. Cf. the 7/1/1959 WT, page 410.