In Part 1, I pointed out that Ron asked an interesting question: “What are the ten most misunderstood Bible verses or passages?” In that blog, I considered the first five verses and passages.
In this blog I will consider the second five verses or passages that I think are the most misunderstood, along with a brief explanation and a link to an article or blog on the subject.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Many think that Paul was saying that whoever believes that Jesus died for our sins and rose again on the third day is born again. That would mean that the message of John 3:16 is no longer true. There is a different saving message today. Paul changed the message.
However, the word saved in 1 Cor 15:2 is a present middle passive, unlike Eph 2:8 where he uses a perfect middle passive (“you have been saved”). It should be translated, “by which you are [being] saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you…” Notice that continuing to believe Paul’s message about Jesus’ death and resurrection is necessary in order to stay saved in the sense Paul means! Paul is talking about being spiritually healthy. We must retain belief in Christ’s resurrection and our own, as the rest of 1 Corinthians 15 shows, in order to remain spiritually healthy. See this article.
Romans 10:9-10. Zane Hodges has done some groundbreaking work on the book of Romans. He has shown that the words save and salvation in Romans refer to deliverance from God’s wrath in this life. In fact, the subtitle of his commentary on Romans is Deliverance from Wrath. Verse 10 is clear that one is justified or declared righteous by faith alone, but that confession is also needed in order to be saved from God’s wrath in this life. See this article.
Philippians 1:6. Calvinists think this verse is a promise that all believers will persevere in faith and good works until death. It says nothing of the kind. Paul is saying that the good work that the church in Philippi did in supporting his gospel ministry (Phil 1:5) will have ongoing impact until the Judgment Seat of Christ. See this article.
Philippians 4:13. Athletes love to have a tattoo of this verse. But what did Paul mean when he said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”? He did not mean he could run the four-minute mile, fly, jump over a house, or understand every language. Look at the context. In the previous verse he wrote, “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” The all things in verses 12-13 are the hard times and the good times. Whatever God brought Paul’s way, he could handle it in the power of the Holy Spirit. See this article.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Many turn this passage upside down. Paul was not saying that the carnal believers in Corinth were living exemplary lives. After all, later in this same chapter he chastised them for visiting temple prostitutes. His point was that they were no longer slaves of sin in their position (v 11). They would inherit the kingdom, that is, they would rule with Christ in the life to come, if they did not live in slavery to sin’s bondage (vv 9-10). All believers sin. But this vice list and the parallel ones in Gal 5:19-21 and Eph 5:5-7 highlight those who are walking in darkness, not in the light (1 John 1:5-10). See this article.
Keep grace in focus by using clear Scripture to help you understand difficult texts.
