Bible quotes taken out of context.. ugh, annoying.
By owatagoosiam
@owatagoosiam (751)
United States
February 10, 2008 10:37am CST
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%204:23;&version=50;
Proverbs 4:23 (New King James Version)
23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
[NKJV at Thomas Nelson] [Thomas Nelson, Inc.]
I've noticed people quoting the bible from time to time without critical attention to detail. One example is the quote above, which one blog author on the web seems to believe is a reason why you should take care of your heart.
But the guy or girl who is responsible for that Proverb said it in a time where people were concerned or knowledgeable about heart attacks and other risk factors. It is impossible for him to have been speaking to us so many thousand years later about a biblical imperative to eat right.
20 My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
The author of the proverb is talking about hearts in an emotional or spiritual context of having the right inclination to listen to God.
I know, taking care of your health and your heart's health is a good thing. But I still kind of despise this kind of twisting of quotes to fit your intent.
What do you think?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
13 Feb 08
I think you make a very good point. So much of scripture has been taken out of context, made confusing and down right misinterpreted. Why is this? It's simple.....
People don't bother to read what's above or below the verse they are reading. They don't bother to know who wrote the verse and what it is relating to.
To understand what one verse means, means you have to understand who wrote it, why they wrote it, to whom it was written, and under what conditions it was written in.
I believe that's why so many people are so confused about what the Bible actually says. They have either taken it completely out of context or they are simply repeating what someone has told them it says. Instead of finding out what it is saying to them, they repeat what they think it says or what someone told them it says.
One of the best verses says it plainly....."My people perish for lack of knowledge...".
One must try to understand who 'my people' are. They must also understand the word perish. They should also try to understand that it's not because we don't have the knowledge. The Knowledge is there. It's our responsibility to read and study it.
(I believe) - A lot of people will end up being completely shocked and surprised when that day of judgement arrives and they find themselves at the Throne of Grace.....judged for the 'things they have done in their bodies'.
1 person likes this
@owatagoosiam (751)
• United States
14 Feb 08
The bible is .. LONG.. and reading the passages becomes tedious to the point of melting my brain at times. But, I feel that this context is crucial. But as to one of your points, "Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child" is an example of something people believe is in the bible. It isn't.
At one point, a woman was reading her bible. I asked her about it. She was studying the part of the bible where Jacob is tricked into marrying the elder daughter and must work another 7 years to get the bride he actually wanted. The woman said that Jacob was being punished by God for tricking Esau out of his birthright.
I noted that the bible says nothing about why Jacob was tricked. It only states that he was tricked. Assuming there was a purpose by God for this is inserting your own ideas into the story. I worry how many times this sort of things is done.
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
14 Feb 08
I don't remember saying anything about 'spare the rod, spoil the child'. But none the less, you say it's not in the Bible....
Maybe not in those exact words, but in Proverbs 13:24 is says, "He who spares the rod, hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him".
While it is LONG and tedious, it's the only way we can learn and know for ourselves what it really says, instead of just repeating what others think it says.
Each verse is open to a lot of interpretation, but if you search the scriptures back and forth, referring to other scriptures, you will find your own interpretation.
1 person likes this
@ClarusVisum (2163)
• United States
11 Feb 08
Ironically, Christians are more guilty of twisting the Bible to suit their purpose than any other group (and/or ignoring inconvenient passages altogether).
Could you explain to me in which "context" 2 Kings 2:23-24 (http://tinyurl.com/2dukxp) describes anything other viciousness and senseless brutality?
