10 Things you Thought Were in the Bible: But Aren’t
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE BIBLE AND WHAT IT ACTUALLY SAYS
The Bible is a big book. Believe it or not, it’s a collection of 66 books compiled together. It has over 40 authors and it was written over 1,500 years.1 Chances are, you’ve heard a thing or two about the Bible, and chances are, you probably have a few things wrong about the Bible, too. Here are ten common misconceptions about the Bible and what it actually says.
Being Bible literate is crucial for your survival as a Christian; don’t neglect it.
1. Money is the Root of All Evil:
This phrase isn’t found in the Bible. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” (NLT). Money itself isn’t evil, but the selfish pursuit and love of what it gives is the real problem.
2. Women Are Inferior to Men:
You’ll likely hear that the Bible is sexist in today’s woke culture. Not true. Jesus leveled the playing field in an age where, unfortunately, women were treated as property and less than dogs. The Apostle Paul sets the record straight in Galatians 3:28, saying, “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female”. Jesus elevated women in a culture that hated women, showing the world that equality is right. Women and men are both made in the image of God.
3. The Bible Condones Slavery:
Slavery is a terrible thing that’s existed since history was recorded, and the Bible recognizes this sad fact. God made all humans in His image (Genesis 1:26), and we’re called to respect everyone (1 Peter 2:17 NLT), and even to treat others as better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). The Bible never forces anyone to take slaves but offers help and advice to those who find themselves in chains, as a byproduct of living in this sinful, fallen world. “He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother” (Philemon 1:16).
4. God Works All Things Together for Good:
True, but also false. This snippet from Romans 8:28 is the quintessential coffee cup verse. However, the second half of the verse states, “…for those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” It’s easy to feel warm and fuzzy with the first half of this verse, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,” but how many people truly love God and are following Him for His purposes? Life won’t just magically work out for good for those who are doing their own thing.
5. God Just Wants You to be Happy:
God wants you to be holy; it doesn’t say happy. 1 Peter 1:16 says, “You must be holy because I am holy.” Holiness is more important than chasing after and having what you think will bring you happiness. Did Jesus look happy while on the cross? You’d be sweating blood too if you knew you were slated to endure what was on record as one of the most “brutal and shameful modes of death”2. Happiness is an emotion, and those feelings are fleeting. Joy is found in doing God’s will, even unto death.
6. Judge Not:
“Christians are judgmental, and that’s hypocritical.” The truth is that Christians are called to judge other Christians, not the rest of the world. Paul addresses this in his letter to the Corinthian church: “It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:12-13). Christians are not to hold unbelievers to the standard of a believer. Instead, they are to judge those within the church to protect against people who seek to devour, bring harm, and divide.
7. Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin:
God loves everyone; this is true. However, He loves you as His child (John 1:12, Galatians 3:26), or He loves you as an enemy (Matthew 5:44). God hates every sin, however, make no mistake. Psalm 5:4-5 says, “You take no pleasure in wickedness, you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked…for You hate all who do evil.” God’s will is that none should perish, and He is patiently waiting for repentance (2 Peter 3:9). However, He is a God of justice (Isaiah 61:8) and He will never tolerate insistent sin.
8. God Will Not Give You More Than You Can Handle:
You don’t know what you can handle, but God does. God wants to break you and refine you as gold. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that “He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand,” but we get it twisted as our hearts are “deceitfully wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). We’re convinced we know when we’ve had enough and want to throw in the towel. We need to endure regardless of what God allows in our lives.
9. You Must Give God 10% of Your Income:
This idea came from the Mosaic Law in the Old Testament, but nowhere in the New Testament is it decreed to us today. Besides, everything already belongs to God! All your money, all the world’s resources, everything! Jesus wants us to give generously. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “You must decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
10. Cleanliness is Next to Godliness:
This phrase isn’t even in the Bible. It was coined in the 1600s and indicates that those who are pure and clean people, both morally and hygienically, are close to God.3 However, we can’t even dream of cleaning up our lives enough before God would accept us! Jesus says, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners” (Mark 2:17). Jesus has paved the way for us to cry out to God as we are, in whatever state we’re in, poor hygiene and all.
Jesus has paved the way for us to cry out to god as we are, in whatever state we’re in, poor hygiene and all.
Feel more biblically literate? Good, however, this list is just the tip of the iceberg for misconceptions about the Bible. There are plenty of other biblical ideas floating around the world that have been twisted into a lie. Please don’t believe them. Read the scriptures for yourself, study them, find a Bible-teaching church, and learn under the pastor. Knowing biblical truth will release you from a tainted worldview.
1Who wrote the Bible? Bibleinfo.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/who-wrote-the-bible
2L Cilliers; R. F. P. C. (2003, December). The history and pathology of Crucifixion. South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14750495/.
3 Martin, G. (n.d.). ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’ – the meaning and origin of this phrase. Phrasefinder. Retrieved from https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cleanliness-is-next-to-godliness.html.
All Bible references in this article are taken from the New Living Translation (NLT).