2 Timothy 2:14-18 New King James Version
Approved and Disapproved Workers
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to [a]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and [b]idle babblings, for they will [c]increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
It seems that whenever anyone quotes from the Bible, it is automatically out of context, or that whatever the Bible says, Christians just believe the opposite.
For example, It says homosexuality is wrong – Christians don’t. It says women should not speak in church – Christians don’t believe this either. Have I now found the right context, do I believe the opposite of whatever the Bible says?
I think one of the biggest issues that we have in Christianity today is that so many “Christians” are biblically illiterate and very liberal in their theology.
So they don’t know or comprehend what the Bible says, and even when they do, they will pick and choose what they want to believe, usually based on feelings, friends’ experiences, or cultures outside the Church.
Actually, I am glad to mention the 1 Corinthians text in your question. For, in response to it, if you put it into the correct context, you will see that the belief of women not speaking at all in church is in fact taking that little paragraph out of context.
1 Corinthians is a reply letter from Paul to the Corinthians. Part of it is what was reported to Paul from members of Chloe’s house-church, and part of it was in response to a previous letter written to him asking about certain issues.
In 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, Paul is addressing the need for order and quiet during the worship service.
Understanding the Bible IN Context
In the context of this passage, the women did not understand everything being preached…it was over their heads.
But instead of asking their OWN husbands (v.35), they were asking other men and other women’s husbands, disrupting the order worship and disturbing the men they were asking, who really wanted to listen.
Notice, IN CONTEXT, Paul tells them they should shut up and wait until after they get home, where they should ask their OWN husbands for understanding.
Paul says it is disgraceful for them to speak in church because the focus is supposed to be fully on the Lord…their disturbances are preventing this (this is also in sync with Paul’s talk about the head coverings).
If you have doubt of this, then notice women were not the only ones Paul tells to shut up in service, but also prophets who were speaking out of turn, as well as those speaking in tongues without interpreters…something you will experience in many tongues-promoting churches, and you will notice the rebuke from Paul if you keep this paragraph in the context in which it was written.
So you see, Paul was not saying that women (in general) should not speak in church (indefinitely), but that these particular women needed to quiet their mouths during worship so as to stop disrupting the focus from Christ.
Misconceptions By Reading the Bible Out Of Context
As for homosexuality, you are correct in saying that it is wrong.
However, I suggest so many people attack gays with the Bible that people’s compassions cause them to see scripture incorrectly, judging it or counting it wrong.
Then they start believing whatever they want (or feel is right), instead of what the Bible actually says.
I think if they were to focus on 1 Corinthians 6:11 (“And that is what some of you WERE. But you were washed, sanctified, and justified…”), instead of the verses before it, they will see that it is not a means of tearing gays down in particular,
but helping the Corinthian Christians understand such is not the behavior of those within the Body of Christ — there is supposed to be a transformation by the Holy Spirit — a cleansing, sanctification, justification, and transformation.
Those behaviors mentioned in this chapter are those of the culture outside the Church, thus are unacceptable among those called to be Holy, as God is Holy.
On that note, notice also that Paul does not only mention homosexuals, but many other types of people, also (wrongdoers, idolaters, adulterers, the sexually immoral, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, slanderers, swindlers).
I suggest it is wrong when somebody pulls out parts of scripture and goes after certain groups mentioned in the text, leaving out the others mentioned (notice, people will focus on gays, but say nothing to their buddies who get drunk every weekend or their friends living with their “hetero”-sexual partners).
Sin is sin, and it leads to death, period.
Everybody needs to acknowledge their sin, repent, and accept Jesus Christ as Lord (and their Lord and Savior) if they wish to be cleansed from sin.
Also, you cannot lead somebody to repentance by “attacking” them with the Bible, and nor will they recognize their need to repent if sin is continuously candy-coated as something less serious and deadly than it is, by people who claim to know the only One who can save them from it.
What Happens When You Take the Bible Out of Context?
2 Timothy 2:14-18 The Message
14-18 Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God’s people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul. Hymenaeus and Philetus are examples, throwing believers off stride and missing the truth by a mile by saying the resurrection is over and done with.
Ever felt confused or misled when reading Scripture? You’re not alone. In this sobering reminder, we’re warned of common mistakes believers make when interpreting the Bible—from ignoring the original language to ripping verses out of context. Before you build your beliefs, learn how to study God’s Word carefully, prayerfully, and accurately—because accurate truth really matters.
The Bible also says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” So how can anyone claim sinless perfection?
Be very careful to study to understand the languages of the Bible.
Secondly, don’t take a single verse and run with it out of context. Many people have made that mistake.
Some even say, “I’ll just open the Bible, and whatever verse my eyes land on—that’s the verse for me today.”
But Scripture isn’t a lottery.
You need to read the Bible consistently, daily, and in its entirety.
Always ask yourself these questions:
-Who were the original readers?
-What was the author trying to communicate to them?
-What issues or problems were being addressed?
For example, the Apostle Paul was often answering specific questions sent to him by the churches, like the one in Corinth.
Understanding the context of those questions is essential.
Again, don’t isolate a verse.
Do not put it through a vegetable chopper or a deli meat slicer.
Read it in its full context.
Check it against https://www.blueletterbible.org/
Check it against https://www.biblestudytools.com/concordances/strongs-exhaustive-concordance/
Only after doing that should you apply it to your own life. But don’t start by asking, “What does this mean to me?” That can easily lead you astray.
Instead, ask:
-Why was it written?
-What is the context?
-How can I rightly apply this truth today?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …
Praying …
Psalm 119:9-16 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
9 How can young people keep their way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
do not let me stray from your commandments.
11 I treasure your word in my heart,
so that I may not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes.
13 With my lips I declare
all the ordinances of your mouth.
14 I delight in the way of your decrees
as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 