Verses Out of Context

Verses Out of Context are scripture verses that are used thoughtlessly without regard for the first intent of the verse. The popular usage of verse is not necessarily wrong, for their are frequently additional principles that are true. However, by using these verses as "Christianese," the first purpose of the verses is too often unknown. These pet verses, used out of context, tend to help other non biblical doctrines. This page is an ongoing list of scriptures showing the first reason of the verse so that we may understand God and our salvation correctly.

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Prov 23:7 KJV)

The popular understanding of this verse is "what you think, determines who you are" This secondary meaning is true, and valuable to know, as it is fundamental to genuine Christian discipleship. However, the reason the proverb was written was not for our change, but to understand other people. The proverb is a warning to use discernment in how you deal with others. In its full context it reads this way:

Prov 23:1-8 1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
(KJV)

Notice that verse 1 is a warning for those dining with someone in authority. Verse 2 admonishes restraint in eating, while verse 3 warns that the food, or power, or wealth of the ruler should not be desired, for it is misleading. Verse 4 continues with the advise that wealth is not the answer to life, and one should not be guided by natural logic. Verse 5 declares that wealth has the tendency to disappear. Verse 6 forbids joining in purpose with the greedy, nor to desire what they have. Verse 7 is our verse out of context. In context it is a warning that the flattering words in part b of the verse are not the truth of this rich ruler's heart. What he thinks is the truth, not what he says. Verse 8 concludes that if you are decieved by him, then the benefit you thought you had gained will come up and be lost. Therefore, the verse "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he," is a warning for spiritual discernment. Ultimately, it is a warning on choosing your friends wisely.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD". (Isa 55:8 KJV)

This verse (and verse 9) from Isaiah 55 are often quoted as a proof of the omniscience of God. Again, God is all knowing, and the secondary principal is correct. However, that is not what the Lord was saying through Isaiah to the Jewish priests. His statement is on God's moral purity, not his infinite knowledge. And the passage is an exhortation for them (and us) to be morally pure and that God is promising to do so in a way they will not understand. The general context to remember first is that the second half of Isaiah is wholly about the Messiah to come, and what He will do. Isaiah 53 is famous as the chapter of the cross. Isaiah 54 expands the work of the Messiah in joining the Gentiles to the Jews. Isaiah 55 is the call for all to come participate in the gift of Messiah. Starting with 7 the context reads:

Isa 55:7-11
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
(KJV)

Verse 7 is the call to repentance both in deeds (way) and heart (thoughts). Verse 8 contrasts the wicked with the Lord whose ways (deeds) and thoughts (heart) are completely unlike the wicked. So unlike the wicked is God to them that He uses the similie of His thoughts and ways as being higher than the heavens above the earth (v. 9). The context shows that the verse speaks of His purity and holiness, not His intelligence. Furthermore, it speaks, in verses 10 and 11 of His will, which does not change. Specifically, He is going to give us His same purity in His Son, Jesus Christ, the Messiah. And (v. 11) the work of Christ willl succeed.

"(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (2 Cor 5:7 KJV)"

This famous verse is quoted by every believer without truly understanding the full significance of it’s meaning. Too many Christians have not learned to keep the full context in mind when reading a verse. The full context is not only the chapter which the verse is within, but also the previous chapters, the point of the full book, and ultimately the spirit of the entire Bible.

For the vast majority of Christianity, this simply means that we trust God, no matter what the circumstances, and that we believe whatever promise of the Bible that we are clinging to in that circumstance. That simple understanding of this verse is acceptable, but is weak and pale to what Paul is actually saying. Let us consider the full context of Paul’s statement. To do so, let us back up to chapter 4:11-18.

2 Cor 4:11-18

11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

In verse 11, Paul tells the Corinthians addresses the bottom line of salvation, we die with Christ so that Christ may live in us instead.

13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

In verses 13 & 14, Paul quotes Psalms116:10 which is a messianic psalm expressing the Messiah’s faith in His own resurrection from the dead. Verse 14 makes it clear that Paul is confident that he and all believers will be raised from the dead. On the surface, this refers to the future, but Paul is also referring to the present. Consider verse 16.

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Paul interweaves their current plight with eternity. Which is why he says the inward man is renewed day by day. Which is why he concludes with verse 18.

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (KJV)

The eternal is always present, but the temporal passes away. Verses 11 & 18 are the spirit of chapter 5:7. The verses I have omitted are references to the Corinthian church, and are noteworthy that reason we walk by faith and not by sight is for the benefit of others as well as our selves. But let us continue through the next chapter.

2 Cor 5:1-11
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

In verse 5:1-3 we have the metaphor of the tabernacle as the human body. Peter used the same metaphor in 2 Peter 1:13-14, and Jesus and Paul made the same metaphor of the temple as the human body (John 2:19 and 1 Cor. 3:17). So, in other words, Paul is saying, if our bodies die, we have another body made by God. Therefore he longs to dwell in that body made by God, or the glorified body.

4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

In verse 4 Paul clarifies that he does not want to physically die, but rather have that immortal body cover the mortal body. And in 5 he acknowledges that it is both God who has given us already this immortal body and His own Spirit as the promise of our having this immortality.

6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Verses 6 through 8 bring us to the point. In 6 he says that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. Most people think Paul means that we will experience God only when we die. That is contrary to Scripture. Jesus that He would always be with us (Matt. 28:20) and that the Comforter would abide with us forever (John 14:16). We are already in the presence of God. So, Paul, is not talking about physically dying, but keeping his attention always on the Lord.

Verse 7 specifically means that we believe that we have died already with Christ (I am crucified with Christ: Gal. 2:20 - we have been baptized in His death and resurrection: Rom:6:3-4). But just because we see our selves alive, does not change the truth of the Scriptures. When Paul quoted Psalms 116:10 in Chapter 4:13, he is reiterating the principle again here. We confess the eternal truth, not the temporal that we have already died, and have already been raised with Christ.

Verse 8 is his conclusion that we are absent from the body already when we believe that we have already died with Christ and are already present with the Lord. Verse 8 is another verse that is taken in its weakest sense. It is true that when we physically die we will see the presence of the Lord, but what Paul is actually saying is that he wants his faith in the eternal truth to be without the influence of unbelief so that he fully experiences the supernatural life of the immortality to come.

9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. (KJV)

Verse 9 is Paul’s acknowledgment that it takes effort to walk by faith to experience this presence of God, but regardless of his success, he labors to please God. For verse 10 is the reminder that what we believe will be judged by Christ. And getting back to the verses I did not comment on in Chapter 4, it is for the sake of others that we walk by faith so others will have a good report at Christ’s judgment.

To walk by faith and not by sight means that you believe that you have already died, and disregard the physical life that we have now, so that we can walk more in the supernatural body already given to us.