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The Most Misused Verses in the Bible: Surprising Ways God's Word Is Misunderstood
High-Interest Guide Sure to Spark Curiosity and Conversation
A surprising number of well-known Bible verses are commonly misused and misunderstood. Whether intentionally or not, people take important verses out of context, and pastor and Bible scholar Eric J. Bargerhuff has seen the effects: confusion, faulty decisions, sin being dismissed, and more. With a deft touch, he helps readers understand and apply sound principles of interpretation and application of twenty familiar verses. This concise high-interest approach appeals to the curious as well as readers concerned about incorrect theology.
A surprising number of well-known Bible verses are commonly misused and misunderstood. Whether intentionally or not, people take important verses out of context, and pastor and Bible scholar Eric J. Bargerhuff has seen the effects: confusion, faulty decisions, sin being dismissed, and more. With a deft touch, he helps readers understand and apply sound principles of interpretation and application of twenty familiar verses. This concise high-interest approach appeals to the curious as well as readers concerned about incorrect theology.
176 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
322 people are currently reading
1172 people want to read
About the author
Eric J. Bargerhuff
10 books5 followersEric J. Bargerhuff, PhD, has served in pastoral ministry in churches in Ohio, Illinois, and Florida. He received his doctorate in biblical and systematic theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His passion is to write systematic and practical theology for the purposes of spiritual growth and reform in the church. He is a member of the Society for the Advancement of Ecclesial Theology (SAET) and the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS).
His first publication, Love that Rescues: God's Fatherly Love in the Practice of Church Discipline, explores the grace and fatherly love of God that should be embodied in a church's efforts to restore a brother or sister in Christ who has gone astray.
Eric and his family presently live in Palm Harbor, Florida.
His first publication, Love that Rescues: God's Fatherly Love in the Practice of Church Discipline, explores the grace and fatherly love of God that should be embodied in a church's efforts to restore a brother or sister in Christ who has gone astray.
Eric and his family presently live in Palm Harbor, Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
September 21, 2012
This is a very easy book to read, as the target audience seems to be the average layperson as opposed to the biblical scholar. As such, the chapters are short and introduced by a catchy intro applicable to the passage at hand. He does not exegete each passage in depth as a scholarly book, but the exegesis provided is sufficient to comprehend the context of each passage. With the context in mind, the author explains how the specific passage is misused, and explains its true interpretation.
I'm tempted to give it three stars, mostly because I'm used to more pedantic scholarly books. Also, his chapter on "training up a child in the way he should go" fails to explain the literal Hebrew, which can easily be communicated even for the average layperson. That verse literally says, "Train up a child in his way," not "train up a child in the way he should go." The main point of this proverb does indeed seem to communicate training up a child in the way he should go, but I believe a proper understanding of the original Hebrew is important to understanding why one ought to train up one's child in the way he should go.
(For those familiar with speech act theory: think "locution" vs. "illocution" etc.)
But since this book serves its purpose well, I gave it 4 stars.
I'm tempted to give it three stars, mostly because I'm used to more pedantic scholarly books. Also, his chapter on "training up a child in the way he should go" fails to explain the literal Hebrew, which can easily be communicated even for the average layperson. That verse literally says, "Train up a child in his way," not "train up a child in the way he should go." The main point of this proverb does indeed seem to communicate training up a child in the way he should go, but I believe a proper understanding of the original Hebrew is important to understanding why one ought to train up one's child in the way he should go.
(For those familiar with speech act theory: think "locution" vs. "illocution" etc.)
But since this book serves its purpose well, I gave it 4 stars.
April 3, 2014
Very well written. Thorough & easy to understand. He includes personal stories that help explain his point - not just for humor or ego stroking.
In addition to clarifying issues with the specific verses under discussion, the author provided an easy-to-follow framework for studying & understanding God's Word. This will equip believers to base their faith & daily walk on a real understanding of what the bible actually says.
Great book - thank you for writing it!
- Matt 7:1 Judge not . . .
- Jer 29:11-13 Plans to prosper you . . .
- Matt 18:20 Where 2 or 3 gather . . .
- John 14:13-14 In Jesus' Name . . .
- Rom 8:28 All things work together . . .
- Col 1:15 Christ the firstborn . . .
- I Tim 6:10 Money the root of all evil . . .
- I Cor 10:13 No more than you can handle . . .
- Prov 22:6 Train up a child . . .
- Philip 4:13 I can do all things . . .
- Exo 21:23-25 An eye for an eye . . .
- Jms 5:15 Prayer offered in faith . . .
- Acts 2:38 Repent & be baptized . . .
- Prov 4:23 Guard your heart . . .
- John 12:32 When I am lifted up . . .
In addition to clarifying issues with the specific verses under discussion, the author provided an easy-to-follow framework for studying & understanding God's Word. This will equip believers to base their faith & daily walk on a real understanding of what the bible actually says.
Great book - thank you for writing it!
- Matt 7:1 Judge not . . .
- Jer 29:11-13 Plans to prosper you . . .
- Matt 18:20 Where 2 or 3 gather . . .
- John 14:13-14 In Jesus' Name . . .
- Rom 8:28 All things work together . . .
- Col 1:15 Christ the firstborn . . .
- I Tim 6:10 Money the root of all evil . . .
- I Cor 10:13 No more than you can handle . . .
- Prov 22:6 Train up a child . . .
- Philip 4:13 I can do all things . . .
- Exo 21:23-25 An eye for an eye . . .
- Jms 5:15 Prayer offered in faith . . .
- Acts 2:38 Repent & be baptized . . .
- Prov 4:23 Guard your heart . . .
- John 12:32 When I am lifted up . . .
December 28, 2012
A great little book applying Greg Koukl's principle of Never Read A Bible Verse. He takes on 17 commonly misquoted/misunderstood/misued verses and add clarity to them by applying basic principles of exegesis. This is a good one for friends or family that want to understand the Bible better or are picking and choosing quotes out of context.
June 11, 2017
Well written, easy to read and it makes sense! Applicable and informative.
January 1, 2016
SUMMARY: A surprising number of well-known Bible verses are commonly misused and misunderstood. Whether intentionally or not, people take important verses out of context, and pastor and Bible scholar Eric J. Bargerhuff has seen the effects: confusion, faulty decisions, sin being dismissed, and more. With a deft touch, he helps readers understand and apply sound principles of interpretation and application of twenty familiar verses. This concise high-interest approach appeals to the curious as well as readers concerned about incorrect theology.
REVIEW: I found this a very interesting and challenging read as the author takes a look at 19 commonly referred to verses that when taken out of context don't mean what most Christians believe they mean. Liked the fact that it made me dig into some bible verses and give them deeper thought and perusal and in most made me change my way of thinking about them.
REVIEW: I found this a very interesting and challenging read as the author takes a look at 19 commonly referred to verses that when taken out of context don't mean what most Christians believe they mean. Liked the fact that it made me dig into some bible verses and give them deeper thought and perusal and in most made me change my way of thinking about them.
February 21, 2015
This book went free on Kindle the week I happened to be listening to Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology lectures on biblical interpretation, so I couldn't pass it up.
I was at least 30 years old before I learned how to read my Bible, or perhaps I should say how not to read it. I grew up going to "Bible-believing" Baptist churches that never taught me proper exegesis, and I never saw improper exegesis corrected. The church newsletter ("The Porter Vision") ripped Proverbs 29:18 out of context. "Life verses" like Philippians 4:13 and Jeremiah 29:11-13 were common and inappropriately painted on walls or included in various decorations. I attended Bible studies where "I think passage means..." were common. I even read deep theological books (Piper, Packer), but none of them ever dealt with teaching the reader how to read the Bible. Now I understand that's the most important thing a pastor can do for his congregation.
I thought I understood context. I recognized, for example, that Habakkuk 1:5 was a verse of judgment, God was raising up the Chaledeans to conquer Judah as a consequence of its sin. So, when people (like the missions arm of the denomination) used Habakkuk 1:5, I could say "wait a minute." But I was still prone to begin my Bible reading with "God, what do you want me to get out of this passage today?" and come across a verse seemingly related to what I might be feeling or dealing with and say "Aha! A sign!" Like, I might be wondering whether to ask for a raise and then happen to read 1 Timothy 5:18 and say "Yes, I should!"
The proper question should not be “What does this passage mean to me?” but rather “What were the author’s original intentions and how did the audience who first received it understand those intentions in the original context?” And then, only after discovering this is it appropriate to ask, “How then does the timeless biblical principle contained in this passage apply to me today? (loc. 1815).
I see a difference among fairly recent graduates from seminary, who seem to grasp this point, and those who graduated decades ago. The younger preachers I listen to are always harping on "don't take this verse out of context," etc. whereas I never used to hear that. Not reading Scripture properly has led to a whole host of problems in our churches, like in exercising church discipline (see example below).
Bargerhuff quickly takes the reader through several verses, teaching how not to read them. This is a short book that fulfills its purpose nicely: illustrate the importance of proper interpretation. Ask yourself: Who was the original intended audience? What else is happening around this verse, this passage, this book? Does this passage relate to a particular theme found in Scripture?
I think Bargerhuff does the best job on Jeremiah 29:11-13. This is similar to Habakkuk 1:5, it is a verse intended for Israel. The Christian can take comfort that God is in control and that one day we will live in Christ's kingdom, but Jeremiah 29:11-13 was specifically for Israel at a specific point in time. Most who were alive and heard Jeremiah's words would have died in exile before experiencing their fulfillment.
"God is speaking to the Israelite nation of Judah here. This is his plan for the nation, not necessarily a personal promise that is directed to any one person per se. It is a 'corporate' promise. Therefore, we should be cautious about grabbing it out of its context and inappropriately applying it to individual believers in the twenty-first century...The majority of people who hear this promise from Jeremiah’s lips will never see it fulfilled in their lifetime. They will likely perish in exile before it comes to fruition...I can still use Jeremiah 29, but I must apply it appropriately. Without a doubt, a future 'heavenly hope' exists for those who have placed their faith and trust in Christ alone for their salvation" (loc. 423-457).
Other verses:
Matthew 7:1 - "Do not judge..." about hypocrisy
Matthew 18:20 - "Where two or more are gathered..." - God is omnipresent, He is there when only one person is present. This is most likely about the affirmation of decisions reached among Christians about reconciliation and church discipline.
"Jesus is saying that whenever the church is pursuing and is involved in a reconciliation process with someone who has refused to repent, they can rest assured that God’s blessing is with them in their efforts. In other words, as the church renders judicial decisions on matters of right and wrong that are based on the truth of God’s Word, they should be confident that they are doing the right thing and that Christ himself is right there with them, spiritually present in their midst" (loc. 593).
John 14:13-14
Rom 8:28 All things work together . . . this verse is about being conformed into the image of Christ.
Col 1:15 Christ the firstborn . . . an apologetic against Jehovah's Witnesses.
I Tim 6:10 Money the root of all evil . . . many forget the "love" part and context matters.
I Cor 10:13 No more than you can handle . . . this is about temptations, not trials. It's important to remember that early Christians suffered unto death, which is often not on the mind of people who quote this verse.
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child... the literal Hebrew allows for a few possibilities, but it is not a promise so much as a common sense correlation.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things . . .this is about contentment.
Exodus 21:23-25
James 5:14-15 "Is anyone among you sick...?" I think think Bargerhuff does his worst job in this chapter. He wonders why God did not respond to his prayers when his father dies. His father was deteriorating after a series of heart problems. Scripture tells us in many places to pray for the sick, but it's not God's will to heal everyone. That would be enough-- we're still to pray. But Bargerhuff rightly points out that the word translated "sick" is not the same Greek word used elsewhere in referring to those with disease. Mark 6:13 for example "And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them," at first glance reads a lot like James 5:15. But the words in the Greek are different, the root in Mark being used extensively but a quick check of my lexicon says the word used in James is only used elsewhere in Hebrews, and really only works there as "weak." Bargerhuff suggests this passage in its entirety is dealing with reconciliation and those who had fallen under pressure due to persecution. I know from studying church history that dealing with those who betrayed the faith under persecution was a big deal for the early church, and that seems to fit into the theme of this passage.
Acts 2:38 Repent & be baptized . . . an apologetic against those who baptise for the remission of sins.
Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart . . . has nothing to do with making yourself less vulnerable in relationships.The word for "heart" does not contain our American understanding of it.
John 12:32 "When I am lifted up I will draw all men to myself" - this is referring to Jesus' crucifixion and many worship leaders talk about "lifting Jesus high" in appropriately referring to this verse. It's like they're saying "I want to see Jesus crucified again and again!"
I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5. It is succinct, well-written, and does not contain a lot of fluff. Just enough detail, I highly recommend.
I was at least 30 years old before I learned how to read my Bible, or perhaps I should say how not to read it. I grew up going to "Bible-believing" Baptist churches that never taught me proper exegesis, and I never saw improper exegesis corrected. The church newsletter ("The Porter Vision") ripped Proverbs 29:18 out of context. "Life verses" like Philippians 4:13 and Jeremiah 29:11-13 were common and inappropriately painted on walls or included in various decorations. I attended Bible studies where "I think passage means..." were common. I even read deep theological books (Piper, Packer), but none of them ever dealt with teaching the reader how to read the Bible. Now I understand that's the most important thing a pastor can do for his congregation.
I thought I understood context. I recognized, for example, that Habakkuk 1:5 was a verse of judgment, God was raising up the Chaledeans to conquer Judah as a consequence of its sin. So, when people (like the missions arm of the denomination) used Habakkuk 1:5, I could say "wait a minute." But I was still prone to begin my Bible reading with "God, what do you want me to get out of this passage today?" and come across a verse seemingly related to what I might be feeling or dealing with and say "Aha! A sign!" Like, I might be wondering whether to ask for a raise and then happen to read 1 Timothy 5:18 and say "Yes, I should!"
The proper question should not be “What does this passage mean to me?” but rather “What were the author’s original intentions and how did the audience who first received it understand those intentions in the original context?” And then, only after discovering this is it appropriate to ask, “How then does the timeless biblical principle contained in this passage apply to me today? (loc. 1815).
I see a difference among fairly recent graduates from seminary, who seem to grasp this point, and those who graduated decades ago. The younger preachers I listen to are always harping on "don't take this verse out of context," etc. whereas I never used to hear that. Not reading Scripture properly has led to a whole host of problems in our churches, like in exercising church discipline (see example below).
Bargerhuff quickly takes the reader through several verses, teaching how not to read them. This is a short book that fulfills its purpose nicely: illustrate the importance of proper interpretation. Ask yourself: Who was the original intended audience? What else is happening around this verse, this passage, this book? Does this passage relate to a particular theme found in Scripture?
I think Bargerhuff does the best job on Jeremiah 29:11-13. This is similar to Habakkuk 1:5, it is a verse intended for Israel. The Christian can take comfort that God is in control and that one day we will live in Christ's kingdom, but Jeremiah 29:11-13 was specifically for Israel at a specific point in time. Most who were alive and heard Jeremiah's words would have died in exile before experiencing their fulfillment.
"God is speaking to the Israelite nation of Judah here. This is his plan for the nation, not necessarily a personal promise that is directed to any one person per se. It is a 'corporate' promise. Therefore, we should be cautious about grabbing it out of its context and inappropriately applying it to individual believers in the twenty-first century...The majority of people who hear this promise from Jeremiah’s lips will never see it fulfilled in their lifetime. They will likely perish in exile before it comes to fruition...I can still use Jeremiah 29, but I must apply it appropriately. Without a doubt, a future 'heavenly hope' exists for those who have placed their faith and trust in Christ alone for their salvation" (loc. 423-457).
Other verses:
Matthew 7:1 - "Do not judge..." about hypocrisy
Matthew 18:20 - "Where two or more are gathered..." - God is omnipresent, He is there when only one person is present. This is most likely about the affirmation of decisions reached among Christians about reconciliation and church discipline.
"Jesus is saying that whenever the church is pursuing and is involved in a reconciliation process with someone who has refused to repent, they can rest assured that God’s blessing is with them in their efforts. In other words, as the church renders judicial decisions on matters of right and wrong that are based on the truth of God’s Word, they should be confident that they are doing the right thing and that Christ himself is right there with them, spiritually present in their midst" (loc. 593).
John 14:13-14
Rom 8:28 All things work together . . . this verse is about being conformed into the image of Christ.
Col 1:15 Christ the firstborn . . . an apologetic against Jehovah's Witnesses.
I Tim 6:10 Money the root of all evil . . . many forget the "love" part and context matters.
I Cor 10:13 No more than you can handle . . . this is about temptations, not trials. It's important to remember that early Christians suffered unto death, which is often not on the mind of people who quote this verse.
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child... the literal Hebrew allows for a few possibilities, but it is not a promise so much as a common sense correlation.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things . . .this is about contentment.
Exodus 21:23-25
James 5:14-15 "Is anyone among you sick...?" I think think Bargerhuff does his worst job in this chapter. He wonders why God did not respond to his prayers when his father dies. His father was deteriorating after a series of heart problems. Scripture tells us in many places to pray for the sick, but it's not God's will to heal everyone. That would be enough-- we're still to pray. But Bargerhuff rightly points out that the word translated "sick" is not the same Greek word used elsewhere in referring to those with disease. Mark 6:13 for example "And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them," at first glance reads a lot like James 5:15. But the words in the Greek are different, the root in Mark being used extensively but a quick check of my lexicon says the word used in James is only used elsewhere in Hebrews, and really only works there as "weak." Bargerhuff suggests this passage in its entirety is dealing with reconciliation and those who had fallen under pressure due to persecution. I know from studying church history that dealing with those who betrayed the faith under persecution was a big deal for the early church, and that seems to fit into the theme of this passage.
Acts 2:38 Repent & be baptized . . . an apologetic against those who baptise for the remission of sins.
Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart . . . has nothing to do with making yourself less vulnerable in relationships.The word for "heart" does not contain our American understanding of it.
John 12:32 "When I am lifted up I will draw all men to myself" - this is referring to Jesus' crucifixion and many worship leaders talk about "lifting Jesus high" in appropriately referring to this verse. It's like they're saying "I want to see Jesus crucified again and again!"
I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5. It is succinct, well-written, and does not contain a lot of fluff. Just enough detail, I highly recommend.
October 18, 2020
Pretty helpful. Useful. Well-presented and easy to read. Every now and then, the author bolstered the correct interpretation with a single verse from elsewhere, and it left me wondering if that other verse was, itself, being misused. Other than that, good to have as a general reference for some useful reminders on interpretation with some examples.
April 17, 2015
I'm always careful of what I read, especially when it relates to the Word of God. For some reason, I was ok with tackling this book...Bible close by, of course. I was impressed and did find it to be a fairly good read. However, as the author reviewed some of the scripture, I found errors (i.e. use of the fact that the thief on the cross wasn't baptized to support his explanation of salvation being available via faith vs baptism; the thief died prior to the primary use of baptism as Christ had not died yet) and some fairly loose interpretations in other areas.
These kinds of books generally appeal to persons who are new to the faith, wanting to learn more, or in an exploratory phase. I'm taken aback when I find errors so blatant as some found here. Hence, the three star rating
These kinds of books generally appeal to persons who are new to the faith, wanting to learn more, or in an exploratory phase. I'm taken aback when I find errors so blatant as some found here. Hence, the three star rating
November 5, 2020
Properly interpreting scripture is one of the most important tasks we can undertake. I learned a good deal from this book, and it also reinforced some concepts I already knew about.
Read this book skeptically to make sure the author's interpretations are valid. I think they are, but you do not want to read this as scripture because it's not; it's an interpretation.
I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in learning more about how to faithfully handle the word of God and who wants to learn if some of the scriptures they've always heard quoted are being used properly.
Read this book skeptically to make sure the author's interpretations are valid. I think they are, but you do not want to read this as scripture because it's not; it's an interpretation.
I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in learning more about how to faithfully handle the word of God and who wants to learn if some of the scriptures they've always heard quoted are being used properly.
June 8, 2019
Eric J Bargerhuff does a great job breaking down certain verses and applying them to their original context and explaining them with a proper interpretation. Freeing him self of any personal or cultural biases, Eric truly interprets each verse that he focuses on in this book to give the proper exhaustive meaning and the true Biblical interpretation of what God is truly communicating to His people. “The Most Misused Verses In The Bible” is a must read for all who want to correctly understand and rightly divide the Word Of truth.
April 8, 2022
Strong Teaching on Interpreting
Bargerhuff provides a thorough understanding of the importance of good interpretive methods for the Bible. He highlights many of the key verses that are used in popular Christian circles. Some of the choices near the end seem random but by large his heart as a teacher of how to read the Bible is reflected. I do think also some tangents were unnecessary in certain chapters but these were late in the book and does not deter from the main content.
Bargerhuff provides a thorough understanding of the importance of good interpretive methods for the Bible. He highlights many of the key verses that are used in popular Christian circles. Some of the choices near the end seem random but by large his heart as a teacher of how to read the Bible is reflected. I do think also some tangents were unnecessary in certain chapters but these were late in the book and does not deter from the main content.
March 14, 2017
Excellent book.
I often felt that the verses the author selects to expound on are, in fact, taken out if context. This book helped me greatly in underrated these often quoted verses in their context. I highly recommend this book to new and mature believers alike. Sculpturaly sound doctrine.
I often felt that the verses the author selects to expound on are, in fact, taken out if context. This book helped me greatly in underrated these often quoted verses in their context. I highly recommend this book to new and mature believers alike. Sculpturaly sound doctrine.
August 5, 2019
Great Reminder for Contextual Teaching
So many of us have taken Scripture out of context for our own application and teaching at times. The author brings us back to application of sound references to the Scripture and the practice of actually taking the Word fully in its meaning.
So many of us have taken Scripture out of context for our own application and teaching at times. The author brings us back to application of sound references to the Scripture and the practice of actually taking the Word fully in its meaning.
April 6, 2020
¡Eye opener!
Great info! Great wealth of knowledge. He doesn't give his expertly personal opinions and ideas. He really researches the verse using the Bible to interpret the meaning. Such as what is the context involving the verse. Are there other biblical references in support for the desirable interpretation of the verse.
Great info! Great wealth of knowledge. He doesn't give his expertly personal opinions and ideas. He really researches the verse using the Bible to interpret the meaning. Such as what is the context involving the verse. Are there other biblical references in support for the desirable interpretation of the verse.
July 26, 2017
Easy to read. The author illustrates the proper way to interpret Scripture by looking at several misunderstood verses throughout the Bible. He uses tools that he describes in more detail in the conclusion.
March 5, 2018
Helpful in avoiding misinterpreting bible verses
The author helps us to see how verses can be misused and gives us examples as well as showing us better ways of reading and using scripture
The author helps us to see how verses can be misused and gives us examples as well as showing us better ways of reading and using scripture
January 15, 2019
A critically needed book.
July 7, 2021
Eric J. Bargerhuff, The Most Misused Verse In the Bible: Surprising Ways God’s Word Is Misunderstood. Print Edition. Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 2012. 172 pp. $12.99
Since Adam and Eve were confronted by Satan in the Garden of Eden to the present day, the proper interpretation and application of Scripture has been misused and misapplied by both saints and sinners alike. The misuse and misapplication of Scripture happens for many reasons, some want to twist and bend Scripture to win an argument, others use it to try and encourage, and some just do it to excuse sin and create false doctrines. Eric. J. Bargerhuff, a pastor and member of both the Society for the Advancement of Ecclesial Theology (SAET) and the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS), writes a much needed, non-technical work dealing with some of the most popular verses of Scripture that have been misapplied over the years.
Bargerhuff states that his purpose in writing this book is that people will learn how to properly interpret and apply God’s Word so that we may rightly determine the will of God and thus glorify God. He developed this book from a sermon serries he preached at Clearwater Community Church. Bargerhuff holds to the literal, historical, grammatical method of interpretation and delivers a balanced, non-reactive, book to help educate people on the dangers of poor interpretation. Chapter 1 deals his purpose for writing, while explaining how the issue of misinterpretation of poor interpretation has been around since the Fall of Adam and Eve. In chapters 2 through 18 he deals with the seventeen verses that are regularly mishandled by even some well-meaning Christians today. These chapters state some of the common misconceptions regarding the verse, but Bargerhuff then provided an explanation of how the verse should be interpreted using the literal, grammatical, historical method.
For the purposes of the book there was not much to dislike. May be in a future edition Eric may devote a short chapter to explaining the literal, grammatical, historical method in depth. His use of the method is clearly seen by anyone familiar with this method of interpretation, but for those without that background they may not find the book as useful. The book has many merits due to the works easy to read writing and short chapters. Pastorally speaking it will be a helpful tool to supplement a Sunday School class on how to study the Bible, given as a way to encourage people to think through how they interpret Scripture, or even to just read, no matter what their understanding of biblical interpretation.
Since Adam and Eve were confronted by Satan in the Garden of Eden to the present day, the proper interpretation and application of Scripture has been misused and misapplied by both saints and sinners alike. The misuse and misapplication of Scripture happens for many reasons, some want to twist and bend Scripture to win an argument, others use it to try and encourage, and some just do it to excuse sin and create false doctrines. Eric. J. Bargerhuff, a pastor and member of both the Society for the Advancement of Ecclesial Theology (SAET) and the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS), writes a much needed, non-technical work dealing with some of the most popular verses of Scripture that have been misapplied over the years.
Bargerhuff states that his purpose in writing this book is that people will learn how to properly interpret and apply God’s Word so that we may rightly determine the will of God and thus glorify God. He developed this book from a sermon serries he preached at Clearwater Community Church. Bargerhuff holds to the literal, historical, grammatical method of interpretation and delivers a balanced, non-reactive, book to help educate people on the dangers of poor interpretation. Chapter 1 deals his purpose for writing, while explaining how the issue of misinterpretation of poor interpretation has been around since the Fall of Adam and Eve. In chapters 2 through 18 he deals with the seventeen verses that are regularly mishandled by even some well-meaning Christians today. These chapters state some of the common misconceptions regarding the verse, but Bargerhuff then provided an explanation of how the verse should be interpreted using the literal, grammatical, historical method.
For the purposes of the book there was not much to dislike. May be in a future edition Eric may devote a short chapter to explaining the literal, grammatical, historical method in depth. His use of the method is clearly seen by anyone familiar with this method of interpretation, but for those without that background they may not find the book as useful. The book has many merits due to the works easy to read writing and short chapters. Pastorally speaking it will be a helpful tool to supplement a Sunday School class on how to study the Bible, given as a way to encourage people to think through how they interpret Scripture, or even to just read, no matter what their understanding of biblical interpretation.
February 16, 2018
I was excited to read this book and hopeful that it would fill a particular niche as a book to recommend lay people with little biblical training. Unfortunately, this isn’t the book I was looking for. The interpretation was reasonably good most of the time, although it lacked depth and was often overly simplistic. It felt a bit more like being spoon-fed than being taught how to rightly read Scriptures. The verses chosen ranged from frequently misused verses, to verses that probably aren’t used much at all, to verses that are more controversial. It seems to me to be unfair to put controversial interpretations in the same category as misused interpretations. Overall, I just felt that the book was lacking. A much better book that serves a similar purpose would be Fee and Stuart’s How to Read the Bible for All its Worth. It encourages critically engaging with the text in a way that this book did not.
August 5, 2023
I'm always wary when a book starts off by distancing itself from the "feel good" churches that teach a "convenient" Gospel. It annoys me because it's cliche and makes the author seem very smug as if they are a true suffering servant as opposed to the majority of Christendom who we're supposed to believe are lukewarm, submissive to majority culture, and non-fruit bearing. Meanwhile the fruit born out of many conservative churches is government sanctioned coercion and hatred.
I do think it is important to study God's Word and be conscious of how we are presenting Christ, so I do believe this is a good impulse, but I didn't need teaching moments from the authors life to illustrate his points as scripture can speak for itself.
I did appreciate especially the chapter on 1 Corinthians 10:13 (Tempting us more than we can handle) but I can't imagine there isn't a better resource for proper interpretations of commonly misused verses.
2.5
I do think it is important to study God's Word and be conscious of how we are presenting Christ, so I do believe this is a good impulse, but I didn't need teaching moments from the authors life to illustrate his points as scripture can speak for itself.
I did appreciate especially the chapter on 1 Corinthians 10:13 (Tempting us more than we can handle) but I can't imagine there isn't a better resource for proper interpretations of commonly misused verses.
2.5
December 29, 2021
Eric made some good points but ...
The way this book was written gives the impression that the author is just sharing his "opinion" there is not much reference to "source" of his arguments outside of using other Bible verses.
I've read similar books and those authors strive to give credit to their sources outside of the Bible; be it an article, another book or a paper submitted by another great mind.
If there was one thing I would want is reference to more of the source material that helped to drive the ideas he's communicating.
With that said the verses of scripture addressed in this book would make for good conversation; healthy debate even, among followers of Christ.
The way this book was written gives the impression that the author is just sharing his "opinion" there is not much reference to "source" of his arguments outside of using other Bible verses.
I've read similar books and those authors strive to give credit to their sources outside of the Bible; be it an article, another book or a paper submitted by another great mind.
If there was one thing I would want is reference to more of the source material that helped to drive the ideas he's communicating.
With that said the verses of scripture addressed in this book would make for good conversation; healthy debate even, among followers of Christ.
March 23, 2023
Context is very important to me in any space of reference: School, work, but most importantly, Biblical matters. I had to correct a sister in Christ last year during an accountability meeting when she referred to the “won’t give you more than you can bear” verse. This book by Mr. Bargerhuff affirmed my correction and it was sound, thank God.
I sought, and still seek, to under Scripture contextually and this book only reminds me to continue being vigilant for misinterpretations of verses wherever I go.
I sought, and still seek, to under Scripture contextually and this book only reminds me to continue being vigilant for misinterpretations of verses wherever I go.
February 20, 2019
Very well written and easy to read. I appreciated Bargerhuff's writing style and the way he pastorily tackled each misused passage of Scripture. Furthermore, I love the exhortation at the end of the book to be people who know the word, understand the word, and rightly apply the word to every situation.
July 17, 2019
This book was most informative not in its explanation of the proper meaning of these verses but in its explanation of how less-Biblically-versed people might interpret them. I was fortunate enough not to come to the table with many of those misconceptions, and it's helpful (and sobering) to know that many others do.
December 30, 2021
While I appreciated him correcting many verses taken out of context I did notice he used one verse out of context and I have experienced many people using 2 Corinthians 5:17 out of context. He didn't even explain the context of that verse at all. Perhaps he should update this book and include the proper context of this verse.
January 3, 2018
For a reader who doesn't have any theological training at all, or is not well read in Biblical texts and interpretations, this book is a great tool to discover just which texts many take out of context or are completely misunderstood.
June 28, 2017
Gives vary basic explanations of the verses. I would have loved to read something that dug a little deeper into these verses.
April 8, 2018
Though it sometimes comes off a little dry, this book gives numerous examples of Bible verses that are too frequently misunderstood. Some of them might surprise you!
April 28, 2018
Decent read. Good for believers who haven't grappled with the texts he reviews. A good, popular treatment.
March 13, 2019
I could see this being useful for a new Christian. Some of his examples felt like a stretch. 6.9/10.
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