From Sampler to Sower

OK, so maybe it wasn’t your mom, but chances are, at some point in your life someone tried to pass on this Bible “wisdom” to you.

There’s just one problem.  The verses they quoted aren’t really in the Bible.  Sometimes it’s something they thought came from the Bible but it came from somewhere else.  Other times it’s the result of taking a verse egregiously out of context.  Either way, these nuggets of Bible “truth” aren’t from the Bible at all.

Here’s my list of the worst offenders.

6) “Thou shall not lie.”

Many of us were taught that this was the ninth commandment but that commandment specifically forbids perjury against a neighbor.  (See Exodus 20:16, Deuteronomy 5:20.)  That’s not to suggest that dishonesty is allowable as long as you’re not under oath.  Jesus clearly teaches oaths should not be necessary for truthfulness (Matthew 5:33-37).

5) “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

This is the first of the quotes that actually are in the Bible, but are frequently used out of context. I include it here in honor of my University Bible professor, for whom this was a particular peeve.  It’s a frequent proof text cited to demonstrate that Jesus Christ is present with the church gathered in worship.

Except in the passage where it appears (Matthew 18:15-20) the issue at stake is not church worship, but church discipline.  In context the verse indicates when the church obeys Christ’s instructions and disciplines a member in the authority Jesus assigned the church, Jesus himself will stand by the decision.

4) “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”

This is a tough one and it’s hotly debated whether it belongs on this list at all.  The earliest manuscripts of the Gospel of John omit the passage that has become known in scholarly circles as the Pericope de Adultera (John 7:53-8:11).  Other manuscripts which do include this story in whole or in part do so at other places in the Gospel of John, or even in other gospels altogether.  That’s not to say that there aren’t many manuscripts that do include this story precisely where we’re accustomed to looking for it. There are many indications that this story about Jesus was well known from very early on in the life of the Church, but the evidence that it wasn’t in the original manuscript of John is strong.

3) “This too shall pass.”

As a hospital chaplain, I have heard this bit of well-meaning advice passed off as Biblical to many a grieving family.  But it isn’t Scripture. According to Wikipedia, Persian poets told a story about a king who asked his advisers to design something that was capable both of cheering him when he was sad and sobering him when he was exuberant. The result was inscribing these words on a ring, which worked as requested.  According to some Jewish legends the king was Solomon, but it isn’t Scripture.  But don’t worry.

But don’t worry, if you need advice to comfort your friends, focus instead on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. The good news we celebrate is not that all things are temporary, but rather that if we are faithful, one day we will be enjoying our reward and realize “This will not pass. “

2) “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

This quote from the King James Version of Proverbs 29:18 is my pet peeve.  I’ve heard far to many leadership speakers cite this verse as Biblical proof that unless leaders have a clear sense of direction, an organization is doomed.  But that’s far from what this Proverb really means.

First, the word translated vision specifically refers to divine revelation or prophetic oracles, not an articulately worded business plan.  It’s not enough to have vision, your eyes must be opened to God’s vision.  And the word translated perish actually means to let run unbridled or to throw off restraint.  To my knowledge this is the only time it’s translated as “perish.”

Far from admonishing leaders to draft vision statements, this Proverb teaches that without a revelation of God’s will, society will run amok.

1) “I wish you were hot or cold.

This verse from Revelation 3:15 is frequently cited to argue that it is better to be passionately opposed to the Kingdom of God than to be ambivalent or to take the gospel for granted.  Yet anyone familiar with the situation in Laodicea (to whose church these words were written) recognizes that this is not the case.

Unlike neighboring Hieropolis which enjoyed the presence of therapeutic hot springs, and Colossae which enjoyed the cold, clear water fed by snow melting atop Mt Cadmus, Laodicea’s water supply was brought in via aqueduct.  By the time it reached the city, it was lukewarm — drinkable, but far from desirable.

Jesus’ admonition isn’t either be hot (good) or cold (bad).  Instead he says to the church be hot (healing) or cold (refreshing) — just don’t be lukewarm (useless.)

Those are my top six. Which one did I miss?

If you liked this, check out my other “Top Six Verses” Post: The Top 6 Verses Every Student Should Know