Lesson #2

The mistake

The solution

Taking a text out of its context.

An example of this is comes in Genesis 4:9 : “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Some have quoted these words to mean that we should not be concerned with other people’s welfare.

A text out of context is a pretext.

The words in Genesis 4:9 are words spoken by Cain, who has just murdered his brother Abel! Cain lies to God, saying he does not know where Abel is. The point is that we are meant to be our “brother’s keeper.”

Interpreting a poetic image in a literal way.

This has led to dreadful persecution, as Galileo would tell you! For example, take Psalm 93:1 , which says: “The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.” For hundreds of years some Christians thought that anyone who did not believe that the earth was fixed, and the sun went round it, was a heretic.

Interpret poetic language as poetry.

The first half of Psalm 93:1 states: “The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength.” The psalm is about God’s majesty and power: it is not meant to teach us about astronomy. Look out of your window. Doesn’t the earth seem solid and fixed? The psalmist is saying that God is strong in the same way.

Misquoting a verse.

One of the most frequently misquoted verses is 1 Timothy 6:10 , which comes out as: “Money is the root of all evil.” (This has been taken to mean that money in itself is evil, and that Christians should have nothing to do with it.)

Make accurate quotations.

1 Timothy 6:10 actually says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” It is the love of money, not money itself which is the problem, as the second half of the verse amplifies: “Some people, eager for money, have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Quoting half a verse.

Matthew 22:21 , “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s…” is frequently quoted in isolation from the second half of the verse. It emphasizes only a Christian’s duty to the State.

Quote the whole verse.

The second half of Matthew 22:21 reads, “… and to God what is God’s.” Jesus is saying that we have a dual responsibility: to the State and to God.

Studying only the “nice” verses.

Some parts of the Bible make very disturbing reading. Psalm 137:8 –9 reads, “Happy is he … who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.”

Face the tough verses head-on.

There may be some verses in the Bible that you do not understand. Do not let these stop you from appreciating the rest that you do understand. When the psalmist cried out for immediate vengeance against evil people, he had no idea of Christ’s sacrificial death for sin, or of the future final judgment.

Getting submerged in the Old Testament.

Some long passages in the Old Testament might not make much sense to you, and discourage you from reading the Bible. When the British pop star Cliff Richard began to read the Bible, he started at Genesis but gave up when he reached Leviticus because he did not understand what all the sacrifices were about.

Move from the familiar to the unfamiliar.

If you haven’t read the Bible before, start with some of the following key Old Testament passages.
• The creation. Genesis 1:1–2:7
• The fall of man. Genesis 3:6–24
• The call of Abraham. Genesis
12:1–9
• The story of Joseph. Genesis 37–38
• The Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:1–17
• The shepherd’s psalm. Psalm 23

Starting with the most difficult New Testament books.

If you are not familiar with the New Testament, it is best not to start with the Book of Revelation and the Letter to the Hebrews.

Start with an overview of the New Testament.

Here are some key New Testament passages.
• The birth of Jesus. Luke 1:26–2:40
• The Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5–7
• The prodigal son. Luke 15:11–32
• The Last Supper. Matthew
26:20–25
• The death and resurrection of Jesus. John 19–20
• The conversion of Paul.
Acts 9:1–31
• The life of joy. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians

Not acting on the Bible’s commands

Obedience is crucial

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” James 1:22 ( N RSV )

Using the Bible as a battleground for fruitless arguments

Avoid arguing over unimportant things

See Titus 3:9