The Most Misused Verses in the Bible
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
—Philippians 4:13
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
—Jeremiah 29:11
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good.”
—Romans 8:28
These and a surprising number of well-known Scripture passages are commonly misused or misunderstood. Even well-intentioned Christians take important verses out of context, and pastor Eric J. Bargerhuff has seen the effects: confusion, poor decisions, and a distorted view of God’s Word.
In this concise yet thorough book, Bargerhuff helps all of us understand what these verses meant when they were written so we can apply them accurately today. Providing fascinating historical and scriptural insights, he shows how to read God’s promises and instructions in context and appreciate even more the Bible’s eternal message.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
- Places commonly used verses into their biblical context
- Provides application for these verses when they are understood correctly
- Includes a wealth of scholarship and years of scriptural insight
- Where It All Began
- Judging Others
- Plans to Prosper You and Not to Harm You
- Where Two or Three Are Gathered
- Ask for Anything in My Name
- Working All Things Together for Good
- If My People Who Are Called by My Name
- Jesus As the Firstborn Over All Creation
- Money Is the Root of All Evil
- No More Than You Can Handle
- Train Up a Child
- I Can Do All Things
- An Eye for an Eye
- The Prayer Offered in Faith
- Repent and Be Baptized
- Guarding Your Heart
- Where There Is No Vision
- Lifting Up the Name of Jesus
- Conclusion: Handle With Care—Using Scripture Appropriately
Top Highlights
“Yet even on a much smaller scale, well-intentioned Christians have misquoted the Bible and misunderstood its meaning, leaving behind a trail of confusion and faulty decisions pertaining to God’s will for one’s life. Many a theological heresy has resulted from the misuse or misinterpretation of Scripture, and this can happen no matter how noble the intentions of its interpreters.” (Page 15)
“This verse is discussing the divine revelation of God that has come down to us from heaven. It’s about how God has chosen to speak to humankind by means of supernatural revelation, the revelation that was directly given by God to the prophets and apostles of old who wrote it down for us, which is what our Bible is today.” (Page 150)
“Without a doubt, a future ‘heavenly hope’ exists for those who have placed their faith and trust in Christ alone for their salvation. This, to me, is the best application of these verses for one who lives by faith today.” (Pages 40–41)
“Therefore, to ‘guard the heart’ is to protect one’s life from unhealthy influences that can easily corrupt our character” (Page 142)
“So the popular notion that ‘God will never give us more than we can handle’ is in reality a blatant falsehood—a lie. He will give us more than we can handle, and this for the express purpose of bringing us to the end of ourselves so that we realize our very life, breath, and sustaining power comes only from God all the time. Jesus clearly said, ‘Apart from me you can do nothing’ (John 15:5).” (Pages 94–95)
Eric Bargerhuff has done the church a great service in selecting a list of verses we are prone to misuse and patiently and winsomely explaining what they really mean and how they actually apply to us. This is a book that is long overdue and I gladly commend it to you.
—Tim Challies, pastor, author
Every now and then [a book] comes along that makes me think, ‘I cannot believe it took this long for someone to write this book.’ Such is the case with Eric Bargerhuff’s latest. . . . By looking at the most commonly used and abused verses of Scripture, Pastor Bargerhuff brings clarity to these passages, and in doing so provides his readers with the accompanying benefit of an applied hermeneutics text.
—Modern Reformation
The scholarship behind looking at the verses is impeccable . . . This is a book that should be a part of any vital study library.
—Portland Book Review
Eric 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).