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Bible Study Most abused/misused Bible verse?

M

Mathetes

Member
Hey all,

Over the years I've noticed there are certain Bible verses that are often misquoted and/or misapplied to an alarming degree. The way they are often used at first seemed ok, but then as time went on I'd consider them in both their immediate and broad contexts and realize that they were being ripped out of context and used irresponsibly. Here are two:

"Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matthew 7:1).

I can't count how many times I've tried to point something out to someone via constructive criticism and have heard this verse quoted in response. IN the Bible judging usually means to regard someone with contempt (see James 4).

"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14).

Countless times I've heard this passage used to exhort Christians to forget their past sins, failures, mistakes, etc., and look forward positively and confidently to the future. However, this is not even close to what Paul had in mind when he wrote this passage. What he was referring to was forgetting all his past "righteousness" under the law so that he might have Christ and His righteousness rather than his own.

Any other passages that are horribly abused/misused/misapplied?
 
Which?: Prophecies in the NT.
By who?: By gospelers.
 
I think the most used is...

1 John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

I hear this verse (the last part) used to justify doing every sin possible. When people are confronted about their own sin, and unrepentant, they reply, "God is Love". As if to imply that standing against sin is unloving. When it really speaks to those who know God, and have Him (His love) in them becaue He is love. They only quote the last part, and then apply it in the sense that they will not give an account for their sinful deeds, or the state of their unrepentant heart. Of course, in this case they lack discernment anyway, and are in need of my prayer and the Gospel, rather than correction.
 
The most used & least understood

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
 
mutzrein said:
The most used & least understood

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Click to expand...
I wish that was the most used. I believe it is the Gospel in a nutshell. It used to be but was replaced by Matthew 7:1. :sad

Also, 2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Many people misquote it and as a result, change it's meaning. They say, "to be absent from the body, is to be present with ther Lord."
 
Oh my, So many get used and abused.
I would say Rom 8:28a
People will quote the first part of the verse but leave out the rest

a) And we know that all things work together for good
b) to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.
 
I think the most misunderstood verse is Colossians 2:14-17. I also agree with vic that 2 Corinthians 5:8 is grossly distorted too and runs a close second.

Most take the one or two verses and ignore the context of the chapter and where it is supported elsewhere (or contradicted) in the scriptures.

(PS: Vic I liked it better when your name was capitalized. It just doesn't seem right now. Can't you change it back?)
 
guibox said:
(PS: Vic I liked it better when your name was capitalized. It just doesn't seem right now. Can't you change it back?)
Click to expand...
lol, I don't recall it ever being a cap V. It used to be vicjr until I dropped the jr.

I know. lets start a poll in the Suggestion thread. :lol:
 
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
 
KaerbEmEvig said:
Which?: Prophecies in the NT.
By who?: By gospelers.
Click to expand...

It's actually astounding how many prophecies of both OT & NT have been fulfilled since 1948 - more than when Christ came to Earth, because the Bible is even more concerned @ 'the consummation of all things' @ His ever-nearing return

As many have said, those that haven't been fully fulfilled yet are ready to be fulfilled: even Armageddon, as we now have all the techno & we see the whole world turning on Israel, just as prophesied, so that they only have Messiah to turn to - thank God He comes in glory, victorious over all His foes!

But the verse I came on to share was, 'The sun shines on the righteous' - implying special favour from God on the speaker - omitting '& on the unrighteous..as the rain falls both on the evil & the good' - so a verse intended to show God's love, provision & patience to all is reversed to claim exclusive blessing

God bless!

Ian
 
Misused or misinterpreted or either? The text found in 1 Corinthians 13:1 about 'tongues of angels' actually spawned an entire MOVEMENT that is sweeping the world today at an alarming rate. And, all because someone misinterpreted the text!
 
SputnikBoy said:
Misused or misinterpreted or either? The text found in 1 Corinthians 13:1 about 'tongues of angels' actually spawned an entire MOVEMENT that is sweeping the world today at an alarming rate. And, all because someone misinterpreted the text!
Click to expand...

Even Jesus didn't stop @ saying, 'Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father & the Father is in Me'

He added, 'believe Me for the sake of the miracles I do in His name'

When He gave the Great Commission, in Mark 16, He said, "These signs shall accompany those who believe: in My name, they shall speak in other tongues..cast out demons...lay hands on the sick, & they shall recover.."

He said, in John 14-16 that it is good for His disciples that He return to the Father, so that He could send another Comforter: the Holy Spirit

The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were also promised to all who love Jesus in Romans 12 & 1 Corinthians 12-14 etc

Several Scripture promise the gifts 'to as many as believe thru their word...to as many as are afar off...till the perfect comes

If even Christ's ministry needed verifying confirmation by miracles, small wonder Mark 16 promises Him working with us, confirming the faithful preaching of His Word with signs & wonders

You'll find many testimonies to miraculous healings @ http://www.BennyHinn.org & http://www.mcwe.com (Morris Cerullo) & http://www.cfan.org (Rheinhart Bonnke) & http://www.eurovision.org (David Hathaway) & click 'healing' (I know that last 1 are all medically attested & I've heard all the others to recommend medical verification too

As His brother James said, 'You have not because you do not ask, or because you ask amiss (wrong motives)

All are to be to glorify God & build up His Church

God bless!

Ian
 
The Greek Concordance defines 'tongue/s' as 'glossa'. It means 'language' and it applies to EVERY biblical instance where speech or speaking is involved. In context with the passages of scripture that deal with this issue, Paul makes mention of there being all sorts of languages in the world (1 Corinthians 14:9-11) because KNOWN languages is what the issue is all about.

I don't know how to sugar-coat the view that Pentecostal 'tongues' are nothing more than meaningless gibberish (is there any other kind?) that don't even come close to being 'a language' or 'glossa'. It's more a psychological issue than a spiritual one. But, if you believe that you 'speak in tongues', kephale, then you speak in tongues. And if that makes you happy, then that's great. I've debated this issue indepth many times with others. These days I usually shrug them off as just being a 'Pentecostal thing' and try to ignore it,
 
jgredline said:
Oh my, So many get used and abused.
I would say Rom 8:28a
People will quote the first part of the verse but leave out the rest

a) And we know that all things work together for good
b) to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.
Click to expand...

ha ha, yes, they like the first part of the verse, don't they?
 
Hi guys!

I don't have time now to click the post with the research links & read all the many articles on it

You may well find good answers to them @ http://www.BennyHinn.org

I've only had satellite since Jan, but I know retired pastors & missionaries at Southport Elim who'd watched his programs for a few years - (I don't know how many) - & said he was thoroughly Biblical

As I've shared on this site @ least twice, I've heard Benny say, several times, 'If you ever find that the Bible says 1 thing & Benny Hinn says another, don't believe me: believe the Word of God'

I don't watch Ken Copeland, but his site - http://www.kcm.org - may well answer such objections as are raised: again, I've known very clever Bible students who have said he's thoroughly sound

I only have 10 minutes left, but will reply in bold...

SputnikBoy said:
The Greek Concordance defines 'tongue/s' as 'glossa'. It means 'language' and it applies to EVERY biblical instance where speech or speaking is involved. In context with the passages of scripture that deal with this issue, Paul makes mention of there being all sorts of languages in the world (1 Corinthians 14:9-11) because KNOWN languages is what the issue is all about.


If you click 'history' @ http://www.ag.org & http://www.elim.org.uk you'll see that many early Pentecostal missionaries went worldwide & used the gift of 'the tongues of men' - 1 Corinthians 13

This centenary of the 1906 Azusa Street outpouring of the Spirit has produced several books & TV programs etc that show the spectacular growth of Pentecostal & Charismatic churches (since 1904 Welsh Revival)

See http://www.azusastreet100.net

Contrast 'how fast folk leave Catholic & Anglican churches' - search it

how many folk are leaving Catholic & Anglican churches each year?



I don't know how to sugar-coat the view that Pentecostal 'tongues' are nothing more than meaningless gibberish (is there any other kind?) that don't even come close to being 'a language' or 'glossa'. It's more a psychological issue than a spiritual one. But, if you believe that you 'speak in tongues', kephale, then you speak in tongues. And if that makes you happy, then that's great. I've debated this issue indepth many times with others. These days I usually shrug them off as just being a 'Pentecostal thing' and try to ignore it,
Click to expand...

Answer above covers it

Must go

God bless!

Ian
 
Mathetes said:
Hey all,

Over the years I've noticed there are certain Bible verses that are often misquoted and/or misapplied to an alarming degree. The way they are often used at first seemed ok, but then as time went on I'd consider them in both their immediate and broad contexts and realize that they were being ripped out of context and used irresponsibly.
Click to expand...

The most misquoted verses that I hear are Revelation 22:18-19

Revelation 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

These verses are often quoted, saying that nothing should be added to or taken from the Bible. But they mean that nothing should be taken from or added to the book of Revelation.

The Bible as we know it did not exist at the time Revelation was written, therefore he could not have been writing about the entire Bible.

The phrases the prophecy of this book, the words of the book of this prophecy and written in this book show that the verses apply to the book of Revelation and not the Bible as a whole. This book and the book of this prophecy being Revelation.

If Revelation 22:18-19 is to be taken to mean the entire Bible than Deuteronomy 4:2 should be interpretted the same way, then there would be nothing past Deuteronomy 4.

Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

And there's a similar verse in Proverbs

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
 
Just in July, someone did a thread claiming mega churches - (usually defined as 2000+ folk) - are unscriptural because of Jesus saying, 'Where 2 or 3 of you gather in My name, there am I in the midst'

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The last thing anyone says is usually what is most important to them that surviving family should do & remember

The last thing Jesus said before leaving Earth by a cloud into Heaven before witnesses - (Acts 1) - was the Great Commission

See Matt 28 & Mark 16

The Great Commission

16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."




14Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

19After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.


Back to link new thread @ Christian TV..

http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopi ... highlight=

God bless!

Ian
 
In my opinion and observation so far in life, this is one of the most misused verse in the Bible -

Romans 12:20 - Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Our intention should not be to heap coals of fire on our enemies head.

Our intention should be to truly help them in an unselfish-Love for our enemies.

The following verses should be kept in mind whenever Romans 12:20 is read by us -

Romans 12:14 - Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

Romans 12:17 - Recompense to no man evil for evil.

Romans 12:21 - Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 5:44 - But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Luke 6:35 - But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Our enemies might change for the better and be at peace with us when we adopt such an attitude according to the verse below -

Proverbs 16:7 - When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
 
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