The 17 Most Misused Verses in the Bible

Christian Post ^ | 06/02/2012 | Trevin Wax

[SeekAndFind]

The 17 Most Misused Verses in the Bible

By Trevin Wax

Last weekend, I read a helpful book by Eric Bargerhuff titled The Most Misused Verses in the Bible: Surprising Ways God’s Word Is Misunderstood (Bethany House, 2012). Eric takes the reader through 17 often misquoted verses and helps us see their proper meaning and application.Since some of these misinterpretations are more damaging than others, Eric doesn’t recommend we run to correct people who innocently mis-apply the passages. He does recommend, however, that pastors and teachers take special care to avoid the common mistakes that lead to misuse.

I should note that pastors and scholars don’t always agree on the meaning and application of some of these passages. Personally, I found myself appreciating Eric’s analysis of some of the more rampant misunderstandings that come from these verses without necessarily agreeing with all the particulars of Eric’s interpretation. Still, the book is a helpful tool that resembles F. F. Bruce’s Hard Sayings of Jesus.

Here’s a look at the “most misused verses” Eric writes about in his book:

• “Judge Not” - Matthew 7:1
• “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you” - Jeremiah 29:11-13
• “Where two or three are gathered” - Matthew 18:20
• “Ask for anything in My name” - John 14:13-14
• “All things work together for good” - Romans 8:28
• “If My people who are called by My name” - 2 Chronicles 7:14
• “Jesus as the firstborn of all creation” - Colossians 1:15
• “Money is the root of all evil” - 1 Timothy 6:10
• “No more than you can handle” - 1 Corinthians 10:13
• “Train up a child” - Proverbs 22:6
• “I can do all things through Christ” - Philippians 4:13
• “An eye for an eye” - Exodus 21:23-25
• “Prayer offered in faith” - James 5:15
• “Repent and be baptized” - Acts 2:38
• “Guard your heart” - Proverbs 4:23
• “Where there is no vision” - Proverbs 29:18
• “Lifting up the name of Jesus” - John 12:32

What are some other verses that you see commonly misused? How can we as pastors help people interpret the Bible rightly?

Trevin Wax is Managing Editor of The Gospel Project for LifeWay Christian Resources and the author of Counterfeit Gospels and Holy Subversion. Follow him on Twitter or read his daily blog, TrevinWax.com (where this article first appeared).

[353FMG]

Verse #4 is what we should ponder most.

[LRS]

I had to hit the link to see where my most hated misquote came in: “Money is the root of all evil” . I never was deeply into religion, but hearing that verse being perverted always rubbed me the wrong way...

[swampfox101]

#14 drives many denominations crazy....!

[Lurker]

That “an eye for an eye” one is always misinterpreted.

[Natural Law]

My vote for THE most misused quote is 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for...”

[CharacterCounts]

Would it be interpreted more precisely if it was quoted as no more than an eye for an eye?

[MrEdd]

That one is most misused...by people who wish to disregard the trinity, and pretend the words of Christ alone have authority.

It is misused inasmuch as pretending it is not there is misuse.

[Hoodat]

John 3:3

[Hoodat]

Oh, how could I have forgotten these:

1 Corinthians 14:34-35

1 Timothy 2:12

Let the flame war commence!
(There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth . . .)

[Wiser now]

I expected to find the parables of the rich young ruler, and the tale of Ananias and Saffira in Acts 5. They seem to be the favorites of the socialists.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

No problem with it at all. Some LEGALISTIC churches claim you have to be baptized in “ONLY their church, their way” or you are not saved at all, completely ignoring other verses and other meanings of it.

Cambellite and Pentecostal churches are the worst in this regard as they think THEY ONLY have a corner on salvation.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

“Freely you have received, freely give”. Often applied by wealth preachers to MONEY. It is not money Jesus was talking about, it was the Gospel.

[Will88]

Open borders and illegal alien advocates sure do like the story of the Good Samaritan, at least their self-serving misinterpretation of it.

[raygunfan]

you got that one right...

[CodeToad]

Born-Again. They each have their demands. “Must speak in tongues” “Must be water from a natural spring”

[MachIV]

Not all “Campbellite” churches think that. You should be paying attentoin to what has been happening in some of those churches for the last 15 years.

[MachIV]

Luke 22:36 is being used by alot of 2nd Ammendment advocates to quell voices of concern within Christianity over gun ownership. I’m a huge 2nd Ammendment guy, but I probably would tread lightly on the use of that verse in such a manner.

[warsaw44]

I’d love to see a discussion about Luke 22:36. Seems fairly straight forward although I have seen the passage twisted.

[HarleyD]

The author makes an interesting point:

Eric takes the reader through 17 often misquoted verses and helps us see their proper meaning and application...I should note that pastors and scholars don’t always agree on the meaning and application of some of these passages.

While some may honestly differ on interpretations, others completely misuse the scripture. It's easy to point to those who would use it for wealth but it runs far deeper than that as the author points out.

Pro 16:20 Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.