A few days ago, I wrote about how some people interpret Scripture by distorting its meaning without considering its various contexts. In this case in 3 John 2 , the literary context was not considered at all.
Splicing Scripture
Here's another way people distort the intended meaning of Scripture -- by splicing Scripture. That is, people gather verses here and there in various parts of the Bible and presto! --- a doctrine has been formulated. With this kind of gathering together and splicing together of unrelated verses (with different contexts) to form a supposed "truth" in the Bible, no wonder we have different kinds of beliefs all around us conflicting and/or agreeing with one another.
Misuse of Scripture
With this kind of method of Bible interpretation, anybody can prove that their personal opinion is biblical -- the "truth." With this kind of method, we can prove that black is white or white is black. That is one of the most common method people use in Bible interpretation. Oftentimes, they already have formed their own personal opinions and ideas and then they open the Bible not to understand what the Bible is truly saying but instead, they look for verses in the Bible to give support to their already-formed and pre-conceived personal ideas.
Of course, as long as the verses grouped together to form a doctrine are truly related and the various contexts have been considered, I have no problem with that. My issue is, when people group together unrelated verses to form their own personal opinions and branding it as "biblical" and "coming from God." That is the problem. It's putting into the Bible their own ideas instead of allowing the Bible to so speak to us its intended meaning.
Do it quickly!
To illustrate this point, here's an outrageous and funny example. By grouping together a set of three unrelated verses in the Bible, a non-biblical interpretation comes out. Here it is:
- Matthew 27:5 - So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
- Luke 10:37 - The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
- John 13:27 - As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him...
So there you are, three unrelated verses in the Bible grouped together and presto! We have a new "doctrine." What are you waiting for? It's in the Bible right? It's "biblical" right? Jesus himself said it! Go and do likewise! Hang yourself! And do it quickly!
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