1. Making the Right Points But Using the Wrong Bible Verse To Do It A Study of Text and Context

2. Why This Lesson? Scripture twisting is common in the religious world (2 Peter 3:16) Are we guilty of the same? –Some brethren make the wrong point from a Bible verse –Other brethren make the right point, but use the wrong Bible verse to do it

3. Text and Context “We need to be quiet and reverent when we come together to worship” Wrong verse: Habakkuk 2:20 –The context contrasts false idols with the true God who reigns from heaven –All the earth, not just the worship assembly, is to keep silent – show respect (Zech 2:13) Right verse(s): Psa. 5:7; 89:7; 95:1-6; 96:7-9

4. Text and Context “We must worship in spirit (with the right attitude) and in truth (with the right actions)” Wrong verse: John 4:24 –“spirit and truth” in this context refers to [spiritual, real] worship under the New Law in contrast with [fleshly, foreshadowed] worship under the Old Law (Col. 2:17; Heb. 8:5; 9:1; 10:1) –in spirit is in contrast to a physical place to worship (see v.21; Rom. 1:9) – worship must correspond to the nature of Him who is worshipped (God is spirit) –in truth means in reality [fulfilling, complete], in contrast to what was foreshadowed (see John 1:9,14,17; 6:32) Right verse(s): Mk. 12:33; Col. 3:17

5. Text and Context “We eat the body and drink the blood of Jesus when we take the Lord’s supper” Wrong verse: John 6:53-54 –“eat” and “drink” in this context means to fully believe in Jesus and abide in him (see vv. 35,40) –follow the phrase “life” and “eternal life” all the way through John 6 (vv. 27,40,47, [54],63,68) –two things equal to the same thing, are equal to each other Right verse(s): 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:20-34

6. Text and Context “If it is not in the Bible it is sinful” Wrong verse: Romans 14:23 –“faith” in this context refers to a personal conscience or scruple that is convicted, fully assured, and not doubtful (see vv. 1,2,5,22) –“faith” is used in the NT to mean a body of teaching (“the faith”), one’s own conviction, and a person scruple (Rom. 14) Right verse(s): 2 Jn. 9-11

7. Text and Context “No one has seen the beautiful heaven that God has prepared for us” Wrong verse: 1 Corinthians 2:9 –Paul is talking about the wisdom that comes from God that the world did not know; not heaven (see Isa. 54:4; 55:17) –note the context of wisdom beginning chapter 1 Right verse(s): Revelation 21-22

8. Text and Context “We need to sing with the spirit (right attitude) and sing with the understanding (knowing what the words of the song mean)” Wrong verse: 1 Corinthians 14:15 –“spirit” and “understanding” in this context refer to understanding and being edified by the foreign tongues that were spoken through the Holy Spirit (see v. 9, 14,19) Right verse(s): Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:16

9. Text and Context “We do not fight with worldly weapons (guns, knives), we fight with spiritual weapons” Wrong verse: 2 Cor. 10:4 –Weapons “not of the flesh” in this context refer to the carnal tactics and human motivation that Paul’s opponents charged him with (see v. 2 and 2 Cor. 1:17) Right verse(s): Mt.26:52; John 18:36; Eph. 6:10ff

10. Text and Context “The gospel is simple to understand and obey” Wrong verse: 2 Cor. 11:3 –“Simplicity” (Gr. haplotetos) in this context means single-minded devotion (see RSV); not easy to understand –Paul wanted the Corinthians to stay committed to Christ in the face of false teachers (vv. 2-15) Right verse(s): 1 John 5:3

11. Text and Context “There are three works of the local church: evangelism, edification, and benevolence.” Wrong verse: Ephesians 4:12 –There is one work here: “for the perfecting…” –With two goals: “unto the work … unto the building up…” –There is a difference between “for” (Gr. pros) and “unto” (Gr. eis; note “unto” in v. 13) Right verse(s): Acts 11:26 (edification), 11:29 (benevolence) and (13:1-3) evangelism

12. Text and Context “We must study the Bible” Wrong verse: 2 Timothy 2:15 –“Study” (Gr. spoudazo) means “give diligence;” not sit down and study your Bible (see 1 Thess. 4:11) –Read carefully! Does it say “study” your Bible, or study to show yourself approved? Right verse(s): Acts 17:11; 1 Tim. 4:13

13. Text and Context “We must rightly divide the word of God be distinguishing between the Old and New Testaments” Wrong verse: 2 Timothy 2:15 –“Rightly divide” is literally, “holding a straight course” –the emphasis is not on the division between the OT and NT; but to handle each Bible passage accurately Right verse(s): Heb. 10:9; etc.

14. Text and Context “Christians are peculiar; they are different from the world” Wrong verse: 1 Pet. 2:9 –“Peculiar” in this context means “a possession;” belong to God; not different, odd or strange Right verse(s): Rom. 12:1; 2 Cor. 7:1

15. Text and Context “We must be faithful all through life until we die” Wrong verse: Revelation 2:10 –“faithful unto (not until) death” in this context means “faithful unto / leading to the point of death;” faithful to the point of dying for your faith; martyrdom (see v. 13; 6:9; 12:11; etc.) –faithfulness leading to martyrdom, not old age Right verse(s): Heb. 3:6; 6:11; 2 Tim. 4:7-8

16. How Do Some Get to the Point of Doing This? They ignore the context They focus on an English word and its modern meaning rather than the meaning of the original Hebrew / Greek word They accept a traditional interpretation that has been passed down rather than checking the context

17. How Do Some Get to the Point of Doing This? They read something in a commentary rather than checking the context They use a topical approach (gather all the verses that use the same English word) rather than a contextual approach

18. What Harm Is Done In Doing This? We take a passage out of context and misuse it We fail to teach the right doctrine that is actually in the text; we fail to teach what God wanted taught in that text We pass on and perpetuate the wrong point We encourage (without meaning to) careless Bible study habits