I recently taught a lesson titled “Misquoted Jesus“ as part of a Bibles & Burgers summer study series at the church I attend. I used a few common examples of things that Jesus said that are often misquoted or misunderstood. The goal was not to tell people what to think, but to help them learn how to think through these kinds of difficulties. I shared three tools with the audience. Perhaps they can help you, too.

 

Tool #1: Where does it say that?

 

Ask, “Where does it say that?” This is a tool of observation. It is important for at least two reasons.

First, it helps to look at the saying in the source and read it. Is it in the Bible? Does it say what was suggested? Being able to confirm or correct a suggested saying is a good first step.

Second, we can sometimes repeat things we don’t really understand. I have done it. I am sure you have, too. Sometimes, we can repeat things we don’t really understand with more confidence and bravado than is deserved. Asking someone, “Where does it say that?” can sometimes gently surface that fact.

This isn’t done to embarrass anyone. That is never the goal. We don’t want to be Jerks for Jesus. However, when asked humbly, it can sometimes help slow down the rhetoric and move things to a genuine conversation. That is a good thing.

When confronted with a strange or unusual verse, ask, “Where does it say that?” Find it. Put your finger on it. Make sure it says what was suggested.

 

Tool #2: Never read a Bible verse.

 

Greg Koukl of Stand To Reason loves to say, “Never read a Bible verse.” It is a wonderfully clever phrase because it is unexpected (and, therefore, more memorable) and reminds people that we want to read Bible verses. Plural.

This is the tool of context, and context is king. Context is what allows us to understand what something means. Reading a single verse apart from its context makes it easier to misunderstand it. Reading the verse within the surrounding paragraphs gives us a better chance to understand what it means.

Find the verse in question (tool #1) and then read the surrounding text (tool #2). You are well on your way to understanding what it means.

 

Tool #3: Where else does the Bible talk about this?

 

Ask, “Where else does the Bible talk about this?” This is the tool of correlation.

If something is important in the Bible, it is probably discussed more than once. Reading what other passages say on the topic provides additional context, which helps us better understand the verse or saying in question.

 

These three tools won’t solve every Bible difficulty, but they will help a great deal with most of them. Use them regularly.

Tool #1: Where does it say that?
Tool #2: Never read a Bible verse.
Tool #3: Where else does the Bible talk about this?

 

 

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