The Bible is brilliant. Full of incredible wisdom, and more than that, a book that is somehow alive; the clearest way in which humanity can hear from God. Taken as a whole, it communicates the heart, character and nature of God, and gives us an understanding of his relationship with humanity. However, thanks to a helpful 13th century Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bible is divided into the chapters and verses by which we quote and reference it today – and that's where the trouble can start...
While chapters and verses are helpful in navigating the Bible, they can also lead us to pull out short phrases out of context – at which point it's a lot easier for us to make the words mean what we want them to. Sometimes the original meaning translates; at other times it subverts slightly (one of the main reasons that atheists claim the Bible contradicts itself) – and sometimes it completely changes our understanding of biblical wisdom – and even of the character of God. Here are just a few examples of some of the most popular – and some might say most misused – Bible verses, along with a suggestion of what they might actually mean in context. Read more
See also
Does the Bible Ever Get it Wrong? Facing Scripture’s Difficult Passages (#2): Craig Blomberg
Was Jesus Wrong?
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