9 Ways We Misinterpret the Bible, Plus How to Fix Them
The other day I was studying about Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. I discovered how well Satan knows the Bible, and he seeks to lead us to misinterpret and misapply Scripture.
As a general rule, misinterpretations of the Bible fall into one of two categories: taking a passage out of context or adding modern presuppositions and biases. To fix common misinterpretations requires an understanding of how to study the Bible, humility, and aide from the Holy Spirit.
There is a very real danger in misinterpreting the Bible. But there are also warning signs to look for and ways we can prevent misinterpreting Scripture.
Failure to Read the Bible
The easiest way to misinterpret the Bible is to not read it. It may be surprising, but many people will use the Bible to argue a point about a hot topic today. The sad part is they’ll do this without even picking up the Bible see what it has to say about the topic. This is especially true online.
One time I came across a comment on a website that was arguing against the historical accuracy of the Bible by saying that it would not take 40 years to travel from Egypt to Israel.
Duh. If the person who made this comment was more familiar with the Bible story of the wilderness years, they might have gone with a different point.
How do we fix this: by taking time to read the Bible and be familiar with a story or passage before we reference it.
Taking Scripture Out of Context
If failure to read the Bible is the easiest way to misinterpret Scripture, then taking it out of context is the most common.
How often do you see sports teams or athletes quote or reference Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”? They reference it like it makes them superheroes and all but guarantees their victory.
But if you look at the broader context of the passage you’ll see that Paul is talking about how Christ sustains him in the good times and the bad. When we fail to understand the broader context of a verse we risk misinterpreting the verse.
Another way Christians tend to take things out of context is by not recognizing the use of literary devices. The Bible is full of simile, metaphor, hyperboles, and other figures of speech. When we fail to recognize these figures of speech or various genres it will lead to a huge misunderstanding of the passage.
How do we fix this: By reading more of the surrounding verses and seeking to understand how they fit into the overall message of the larger passage or book.
Ignoring the Historical Context
Another common way believers misinterpret the Bible is failure to understand the historical context of a passage. The Bible is an ancient book and that can’t be forgotten. The Bible does not use today’s names, currency, numbers, or measures.
Plus, the customs of the Ancient Near Eastern World are vastly different than our 21st century western way of life. We have to keep that in mind, and attempt to read the Bible through ancient middle eastern eyes.
How do we fix this: by taking time to read and learn about the ancient customs of the Bible. There are numerous books and resources that shed light on the manner and customs of Bible times.
Not Using Clear Passages To Understand Unclear Passages
If we are honest, some parts of the Bible are hard to understand. That’s even the case for biblical scholars. When we run into those difficult passages we run into a danger of misinterpreting Scripture.
For example the issue of divorce.
- Moses seems to permit divorce for specific circumstances (Deuteronomy 24:1-4).
- Jesus seems to be stricter on the matter, saying divorce is only acceptable in the case of adultery (Matthew 19:9).
These two seeming different stances make the issue of what the Bible says about divorce a little unclear. So, there is a danger of misinterpreting the Bible and saying that divorce is a sin.
Instead, we should look to the clear passages of Scripture to help us understand what the Bible says about divorce. When we do that, we see that divorce is not God’s ideal, but a reality in our broken world.
How do we fix this: Use a topical Bible to see what the whole Bible has to say on a subject. Be humble and willing to admit “I don’t know”, as you seek God’s guidance and direction.
Reading Modern Biases into The Text
Bringing personal biases into the text is another common way Christians misinterpret the Bible. Many believers, especially in religious debates, will come to the Bible and read it to prove their point. In other words, they’ll come to the Bible to twist Scripture to prove a point instead of learning from it.
A good example of this is the idea and issue of patriarchy. The word patriarchy today has a very negative connotation and carries with it the idea of oppression, gender inequality, and male dominance.
So, when we come to the Bible and see male leadership, wives as property, etc. we bring in all the negative feelings associated with the word patriarchy and level it at the Bible. But the reality is the Bible, and Jesus’ ministry, was very progressive toward women compared to the cultural norms of that day.
How do we fix this: by taking the time to understand the Biblical world, and seeking to view Scripture from their understanding and ideas of the world, not our own.
Allowing Tradition to Define Scripture
Using tradition to define the Bible is another way that we can misinterpret Scripture. Christianity has been around a long time, and with it many different traditions and customs. These traditions and customs are not inherently bad or evil. Though, they can pose a danger in misinterpreting Scripture.
The problem comes not from Tradition itself, but rather holding Tradition as a higher authority than God’s Word. Many people have made the mistake of taking a tradition and imposing that tradition back into Scripture on the basis of one or two verses.
A good example of this today is the issue of head coverings. Historically, Christian women across denominations have worn head coverings. To prove this tradition people turn to 1 Corinthians 11:3-16. However, Paul was addressing a specific issue at a specific church.
How to fix it: by taking the time to check the facts of that tradition with the Bible. And making sure traditions do not hang solely on a handful of verses in debatable passages.
Not Reading the Bible on its Own Terms
Failure to read the Bible on its own terms is another common example of how we may be in danger of misinterpreting Scripture. What do I mean by this?
Well, if the Bible says something is a miracle, then let’s treat it like it is. It’s not wise to assume that all miracles in the Bible are explainable using modern science. We should treat miracles as miracles because that’s how the people of the time saw them.
Another thing we need to be cautious of is assuming that the God approves of everything mentioned in the Bible. The Bible is full of lies, half-truths, and morally corrupt behavior from broken, sinful people. Just because Solomon had many wives doesn’t mean that God approves and we can have many wives too.
How to fix it: by reading the Bible on its own terms. If it makes sense make no other sense.
Having A Salad Bar Approach to The Bible
What do I mean by having a salad bar approach to the Bible? Well, sometimes when reading the Bible, we may have a tendency to keep the things we like and discard the things we don’t.
The real danger comes when we don’t even know we are doing this. Perhaps you tend to favor certain books or passages of Scripture and unknowingly neglect the rest. I’ve been guilty of this. That’s why I’m reading Leviticus right now.
But this salad bar approach is more commonly seen in cherry picking verses. Often times you’ll see a Christian want to make a point and list 17 verses that “prove” their point. But if you took the time to look at those 17 verses, chances are at least half would be out of context.
How to fix this: by exploring parts of the Bible you haven’t been to in a while, or perhaps have never seen. Spend time a few verses that support your point in context.
Confusing What’s Described with What is Prescribed
The last way that we misinterpret Scripture is by confusing what is described and what is prescribed. Sometimes the Bible will describe something, then Christians will interpret it as a command. Or they’ll see a command they don’t like and say, “Well…perhaps it’s just a description.”
Another way of saying this is taking a specific command to a specific people and generalizing it to everyone. Let’s make a fun example: Jesus commanded the disciples to wait in the upper room for the arrival of the Holy Spirit. That’s a specific command to a specific audience.
But what if we made it a general command? Does that mean we should have church only on the second story of our churches? It’s an extreme example, but do you see the danger in this way we might misinterpret scripture.
How to fix it: by taking the time to look at the context and answer the 5 W’s (who, what, when, where, why).
