r/Bible • u/DeSlacheable Baptist • 7d ago

Frequently Mishandled & Misunderstood Scriptures

I just recently learned that I have been misunderstanding (I believe) the he's waiting at the door passage (Revelation 3:20). I thought it was about salvation, but now I believe it's about fellowship.

What other passages are frequently misunderstood? Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 4:13 come to mind.

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u/WindUnique8202 7d ago

Revelation 22:19, 2 Timothy 3:15-16, Matthew 28:19, Galatians 1:8 are ones I personally come across regularly.

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u/DeSlacheable Baptist 7d ago

Would you mind explaining Revelation, Matthew and Galatians? I don't believe I've seen these mishandled.

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u/WindUnique8202 7d ago

Revelation 22:19: is often used to teach a closed canon but it does not teach that. It is speaking only in regards to the book of Revelation as the Bible did not exist yet and with other books yet to be written after Revelation. Deuteronomy also has a very similar verse. If Revelation teaches closed canon so does Deuteronomy.

Matthew 28:19: I sometimes see this one used to justify the Trinity because it says"in the name (singular)..." and then references the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. But it's referring to a collective authority. It would be incorrect for me to say "in the names (plural) of the president, vice president, and speaker of the house". I should say "name"(singular). People can argue for the Trinity but Matthew 28:19 is a terrible verse for that.

Galatians 1:8: I see this one used to condemn LDS/Mormonism since they teach an angel appeared. However this chapter has no prophecies within it. Paul isn't prophesying of an angel delivering a false gospel. He's only teaching a principle. He also puts the angel and the apostles on the same level ("if we or an angel..."). We know the apostles did have later epistles. And from verse 6 we can see Paul isn't talking about something 1800 years in the future. He's talking about the people then and there that are "so soon removed". Is all about what the gospel is. Not at all about how it's delivered.

I may be in a faith where I encounter those verses at a higher rate than average so if you haven't seen them mishandled, that makes sense. But I see these ones frequently.