Out of Context « Eclexia

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Out of Context

May 3, 2008 by eclexia

What is your favorite (or least favorite, depending on your perspective and degree of optimism at the moment) example of a verse from the Bible taken out of context, misused or misapplied?

Posted in Just for fun, books, questions | 4 Comments

4 Responses to “Out of Context”

on May 3, 2008 at 1:38 pm1 Phil Smoke

I’ll give two of my least favorite, both of which I grew up with:

In 3 John 2, John says that he prays that Gaius may in all respects prosper and be in good health. Can you guess the misuse? Yep, that God always wants us to prosper and be in good health.

Another scripture applied forcefully to physical health was 1 Peter 2:24: “by His wounds you were healed.” Never mind that the context speaks of healing from sin, following Christ, suffering patiently, avoiding “fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul,” fearing God, etc.
on May 4, 2008 at 3:23 pm2 Enola

Eph 5:22 - Wives submit to your Husband as to the Lord

Matthew 5:39 (Luke 6:29) - But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
on May 4, 2008 at 10:03 pm3 codepoke

Easy.

Way too easy.

Phl 4:4 & 8
Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice. … Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.

Yes, yes, yes, I get that this is true, but people quote it to each other just after their puppy died or the Red Sox won the World Series or they’ve been slapped with a divorce as a biblical assertion that Jesus thinks rejoicing is the only proper Christian response to agonizing pain.

Grrrrr.

PS:
My heart goes out to you, Enola. May the Lord forgive those who try to give counsel to those in pain they cannot understand. They know not what they do.
on May 11, 2008 at 8:37 am4 Hope Wears Mourning « Eclexia

[...] On my last post, I asked for people to share verses they’ve heard taken out of context. I don’t know what I expected. Maybe to be able to laugh at the absurdity of it. I certainly didn’t expect to be gripped with a great sorrow and grief. With real mourning. [...]