Commonly Misunderstood Scriptures

[dmday3000]

I'm working on compiling a list of commonly misunderstood verses in hopes of using these as examples for an upcoming study on Biblical Hermeneutics.

Anyone is welcome to add to the list, please use the following format...

• Scripture reference and test
• Common Quote (if applicable)
• Common misunderstanding and application
• Correct understanding and application

Here's an example...

Romans 8:28

    * the only part of that verse anyone knows about, "all things work together for good"
    * misunderstanding..."everything's gonna be alright no matter what"
    * actually a verse on God's Sovereignty and His purpose for His elect people

[dmday3000]

I Cor 10:23

Common quote
"All things are lawful"

Common understanding
As a Christian I can do whatever I want to, it's just that not everything is edifying for me

Correct Understanding
Paul is actually quoting a common saying of the Corinthian that they used to justify their behaviors. See also
I Cor 6:12-13.

[dmday3000]

James 2:24 and Romans 3:28

Common quote and misunderstanding:
James contradicts Paul on justification by faith, dispensationalists would also use this to point out Paul is preaching another gospel than the one preached by Jesus or James.

Correct understanding:
In context James is describing the evidence of faith, justified here is not speaking of the doctrine of justification, rather justification here refers to one's claim to faith being vindicated by works.

See Luke 10:29 for a similar usage"But the expert, wanting to justify  himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”.

Here the meaning of the Greek "dikaioo" is determined by the context not necessarily the common use of the word.

[dmday3000]

Eph 4:26

Common misunderstanding:

You should not go to bed angry. Settle all disputes before you go to sleep.

Correct understanding:

Considering the context of the verse it becomes apparent that Paul is using a form of writing more commonly found in the O.T., a Synthetic Parallelism.

In a Synthetic Parallelism each line of text builds upon the first line, for example Psalm 24:3-4

Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
    And who shall stand in his holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not lift up his soul to what is false,
        and does not swear deceitfully.

The first line makes a statement, and the following lines then build upon that idea.

In the text in question the first line of the parallelism is,
v26, "Be angry and do not sin;" this gives us Paul's idea or the initial statement. But how do we define and understand this statement, what does it mean? The following lines then must be considered as they build upon the first idea, "do not let the sun go down on your anger" and v27 "and give no opportunity to the devil."

The idea that Paul is saying to be angry at sin and never cease being angry at sin is better supported by the surrounding context. As the statement "give no opportunity to the devil" implies.

What should be noted here is that the above parallelism is followed by two others, all three Synthetic parallelisms can be summed in a larger statement and idea that finds itself in this last verse, v30 "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."