- Two people are deep in conversation. Another person passes by, overhears a few words, and hurries away to spread a rumor. The rumor is false and damaging. Not enough of the conversation was heard to represent it truthfully to others.
- News reporters dislike a certain politician. He gives a speech, but all that is shown on television is a brief soundbite. Why did reporters choose that quote? It was the one thing said that could make the politician look bad. In fact, the whole speech was quite different from the impression left by the news.
Mistakes are common when we miss or ignore the full situation or the full wording. That happens in all aspects of life, including the way people treat the Bible.
- A person begins with an idea—perhaps something personally preferred or something traditionally believed. Then he searches for and uses Scriptures that support that idea. This method—called “proof texting”—only works by removing a Scripture from its original setting or from the Bible’s overall teaching.
- Another person enjoys inspirational reading. Each day, he finds a few encouraging Bible verses, sometimes using devotional guides. He seldom checks on how inspiring verses fit into their respective contexts. He avoids serious study because that takes time and effort, and encounters uncomfortable subjects.
- Another, convicted by a televangelist’s sermon, decides to accept Christ. Emphasizing Acts 2:21, the speaker concludes, “To receive Christ, just pray this prayer….” The hearer falls to his knees before the television. While praying, he thinks that he feels Jesus coming into his heart.
To be fair with a Scripture verse and to understand it correctly, begin with its own words. What does it actually say, as compared with what we think it should say? Then, consider that verse’s context. When you throw a stone into water, there is a splash, then rings spread outward from that center. Context or setting is like that. Each verse of Scripture has expanding rings around it.
Preparing to look at these rings, we should make a note about chapters and verses. A Bible “reference” gives the book title, the chapter and the verse(s). As you seek to understand a section of Scripture, keep in mind that there were no “chapter” or “verse” divisions in the original Scriptures (see Hebrews 2:6; 4:4). Helpful men supplied them much later as a convenient way to locate and refer to Bible passages. However, those men—including Jewish scholars called Masoretes, and Jacques Lefevre (1509) and Robert Estienne (1551)—were not inspired. At times, where a passage ought to continue uninterrupted, the chapter or verse division interferes with the flow of thought. So that you can better follow what the Bible author is saying, be aware that chapter and verse breaks are artificial.