A science journalist was reporting the results of research about a drug, which had shown positive effects on animals. Understanding the limitations of such results, she wrote: “In a discovery that will have no implications for human health, scientists announced today…” Her editor looked at her aghast and said, “Listen, what’s the use of being accurate if no one’s going to read beyond the first sentence?” The drug might theoretically impact humans. So the introduction was rewritten, “In a breakthrough that could have significant medical benefits, scientists announced today…” Consequently many readers would misinterpret the findings.
Such issues are not uncommon. Even highly qualified, credentialed scientists can ‘discover’ things that are subsequently shown to be false. This is despite their best efforts to be rigorous in their work. There are several causes for this—for example faulty equipment, incomplete data, misinterpretation of data, or just bad luck with a ‘chance’ result. And, worse still of course, unscrupulous people can knowingly present fake claims. Unfortunately, disclaimers which retract spurious results attract a lot less attention than the original ‘exciting’ claims, and so people can harbour incorrect beliefs for many years. For example, some people still believe that a meteorite contained evidence of primitive life on early Mars. The original paper was published in 1996, but the scientific community no longer believes the evidence to be persuasive.
So the chain goes something like this: data are collected, they are analysed and interpreted, and then they are conveyed first to experts and then to non-experts and lay people. And we can make mistakes.
What does this have to do with the Bible?
The Bible Message
The Bible contains messages and we try to understand them. Just as in scientific research, we can make mistakes. Bible words are like the data, they need to be read, analysed and interpreted; and then we pass on our understanding to other people. Books and articles present studies of the Bible, which can be accurate or inaccurate—sensational or realistic.
Now we believe that the Bible itself comprises the words of God Himself, and so is accurate, totally error-free. Given this premise, the onus is on us to try to interpret and communicate it accurately. Admittedly, for some parts of the Bible (such as prophecies of things yet future) this is not always easy, but this is no excuse for not trying.
First of all, then, we need to read for ourselves. If somebody tells us something about the Bible message we do well to check it. Indeed, please check the references in this article: examine whether they are fairly presented.False prophets were common in Israel
(Jeremiah 5:31, 14:14; Lamentations 2:14; Ezekiel 22:28). Jesus warned his hearers to be wary of them (Matthew 7:15, 24:11); and the apostles warned about them
(2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1). The Jews of Berea were commended because when receiving the Gospel message they ‘received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so’
(Acts 17:11).
And false prophets, like scientists, may not be knowingly fake but genuine and misguided.
Getting It Right
We like positive and exciting news. The Gospel IS good news! The English word “gospel” originally meant ”good message”. The Greek word that is translated “gospel” in our Bibles is euaggelion. It was used, for example, of a doctor saying that a problem was not serious, or when a battle had been won.
But it is not good news if the original message is distorted or only partially presented. We need to be especially careful about simplistic summaries or blanket assurances that everything is fine. For example, some say that God loves us whatever we do. The Bible does say that God loves the whole world (John 3:16)—but it does not say that He will therefore tolerate whatever we do.
The message “repent or perish” (Luke 13:1–3; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 2 Peter 3:9) may not be popular. Indeed we may not want to read beyond it, but if God commands us to repent (Acts 17:30), then who are we to argue?
In fact, the true Gospel message about Jesus and the Kingdom of God
(Matthew 4:23, 9:35, 24:14; Mark 1:1, 14,15; Acts 8:12) can become obscured and lost in vague and incorrect pleasantries. In his letter to Timothy, Paul warned that people would develop ‘itching ears’, not wanting to receive the true teaching of the apostles (2 Timothy 4:3). And God warned about adding to or taking away from His words (Deuteronomy 12:32; Revelation 22:19).
Like the over-optimistic beliefs about science, erroneous thinking about religion can become widespread and entrenched in societies.
Even earnest Bible students can mis-interpret, or take verses out of context, and so distort their meaning. Quoting single verses is dangerous. We would probably all agree that it would be silly to encourage people to follow the advice of Job’s wife, ‘Curse God and die’ (Job 2:9). But although not so obvious we can make similar mistakes. So it is critically important to try to establish the original meaning, by studying context: the immediate context of nearby verses and the broader context of the rest of the Bible. We must, prayerfully, make every effort not to “get it wrong”.
Anna Hart