Things people think that are from the Bible but are actually not

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

MOC

Member
Mar 20, 2020
78
67
18
#1
Whether Christian or not, some may think they are quoting scripture when they really aren't. The Bible tells us to impress God's words on our heart and soul, thinking about them daily. For the Christian brother or sister, we are to study God's word diligently, memorize it, and obey it. When we get away from doing this, things get distorted, misused, and often miss-quoted. We not only confuse each other, but may lead someone who doesn't know Christ as their Savior in the wrong direction.

God helps those who helps themselves
This is not from the Bible, but is quoted as such many times. Vladimir Putin gave a speech live on national tv quoting this line and making the claim that is was from the Bible. Now, no one is saying that the Russian leader is a God fearing biblical scholar, but think about how many people heard this and who was able to recognize that it was incorrect when Vladimir Putin made this statement? The earliest recording of this saying is from a fable called, "Hercules and the Waggoner."

Cleanliness is next to godliness
This originated as an ancient Babylonian text. Jesus wants us to focus more on the sin in our hearts rather than the dirt on our hands.

Hate the sin, love the sinner
This is a loose quote from Gandhi, not a quote from the Bible.

This too shall pass
This is from the English poem, "The Lament of Doer." Of course there are verses in scripture that remind us that all of us, Heaven, and earth will pass away (Matthew 24:35), but "this too shall pass" is not a direct quote from the Bible.

Money is the root of all evil
1 Timothy 6:10 actually says, "The love of money is the root of all evil." Money is neither good nor bad and being rich is not a sin. The desire to accumulate money above God and others is the sin.

Final thoughts
Sometimes it can be easy to quote scripture wrong, mistakes happen. As Christians we should be careful and consider it very important not only quoting scripture correctly but understanding what it means. Reaching out to the ones who do not know Jesus is our Christian duty, so we need to be mindful in what we say and how we say it. God bless everyone!
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,304
16,297
113
69
Tennessee
#2
Even though it may not be in the bible I tend to agree with the statement that God helps those that help themselves. At times to serve God requires action and not being passive. If you want to accomplish something, even something for God, you have to at least attempt to try. In other words, you have to, with the grace of God, help yourself.

A lot of people actually believe that the bible states that money is the root of all evil when in fact, as you have pointed out, is the love of money that's the root of all evil according to scripture.

Hate the sin but love the sinner attributed to Gandhi seems to have some scriptural basis but perhaps not in those words.

This could be a very interesting thread.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,211
2,547
113
#3
I agree there many wise sayings that are not in scripture but there are many that are of scripture. for instance God helps those who help themselves. Many times the lessons of being lazy is shown throughout scripture, planting and growing crops, Shepherding sheep, fishing for fish to seel or eat these are all important tasks that require diligence and hard work and Jesus used all these in parables as well.

But a lazy person will not be rwarding with kind of fruit and will starve they will not produce crops they have their devoured by wolves they will not catch any fish God doesn't reward the lazy and certainly won't help them in their endeavors. If I asked God to give me money but never gave a dime to someone in need of it would he be inclined to give me a dime? If I asked God for healing but didn't care about anyone but my own self would he be inclined to help me?

But there are also many sayings people spout that may appear wise but are not true like the quote money is the root of all evil when it is only a tool what they person does with it is what makes the difference. The phrase guns kill has always irked me because a gun by itself can only sit there what they person holding the gun does with it is what matters.

As for the matter of killing itself though I am not entirely sure because the motive of killing to me is what makes the difference. killing is a touchy matter in and of itself but I do think there is a difference between killing for evil intent and killing in self defence or to protect
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,348
12,872
113
#4
Money is the root of all evil
This probably gets misquoted a fair bit. Money is neutral, but the love of money is covetousness, which is idolatry according to the Bible.

In this regard it is important to note that there are many billionaires right now who would rather use their money to destroy societies and countries rather than help to build them up and make them stronger (never mind help the poor to come out of poverty). This is so perverse, that it is shocking.
 
Apr 5, 2020
2,273
464
83
#5
Hate the sin, love the sinner
This is a loose quote from Gandhi, not a quote from the Bible.

i think it is a good thing some have adopted this idealism. Even though the Father brings us to the Son, in order for us to become saved and followers of Christ, sometimes it takes someone loving sinners to invite them so they can get that personal welcome from the Father.
 
Jan 17, 2020
4,792
736
113
#6
Many doctrines we assume are true do not come from the bible. Scripture never mentions a "pre-trib rapture.
 

TheDivineWatermark

Well-known member
Aug 3, 2018
10,158
1,974
113
#7
Here's one that it seems I refer to most often (because it is the one I hear most often, I guess). It involves the following verse (and its parallels), which states:

"But concerning that day and hour, no one knows [PERFECT indicative], not even the angels of the heavens, nor the Son, except the Father only."


The verse (and its parallels) does (do) NOT say, "no one CAN EVER know" or "no one WILL EVER know" (or, as I've heard some suggest, "it is IMPOSSIBLE to ever know" or "it is FORBIDDEN to be known")...

The word "know" is in the "PERFECT indicative," so is not communicating anything like the aforementioned options commonly repeated.




[note: I've posted about this before, but just a brief blurb here so that it doesn't turn into a long convo in this thread: I believe the CONTEXT is His Second Coming to the earth (NOT "our Rapture," in this CONTEXT), and that Jesus supplied FURTHER INFORMATION on THIS SUBJECT (the Subject of the above-quoted verse) in the LATER "Revelation of Jesus Christ, which GOD GAVE UNTO HIM [unto Jesus] to SHEW unto His servants...," which includes timing elements and various time-stamps/-markers and so forth, so that, in the future, those who are existing IN and EXPERIENCING the trib years LEADING UP TO His Second Coming to the earth CAN [potentially] come to know such a thing... as I understand it; IOW, this is not a "blanket statement" that is true for all times, but that the "PERFECT indicative" is true until something / some information (supplied by God Himself via His Word) comes along that changes that status, and I believe that is exactly what has taken place in the LATER writing of the Revelation... that is, I believe Jesus Himself has known ever since His resurrection/ascension and then later provided further information on THAT Subject, in the Revelation (Rev1:1, etc)--written well-after His ascension]



Perfect Tense -

"ACTION COMPLETED at a SPECIFIC POINT of TIME in PAST (●) with results CONTINUING into the PRESENT (▬►). In certain contexts the results are PERMANENT."
 

Blade

Well-known member
Nov 19, 2019
1,609
575
113
#8
But some are based on truth "And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh."

And for the one... never says pre, mid or post" caught up. Not sure why one has to only point out the one they do not believe in. As if mid post are written? :)

Back to OP.. not the same but.. like the lion will lay with the lamb. No clue how lion got in place of wolf.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,211
2,547
113
#9
Here's one that it seems I refer to most often (because it is the one I hear most often, I guess). It involves the following verse (and its parallels), which states:

"But concerning that day and hour, no one knows [PERFECT indicative], not even the angels of the heavens, nor the Son, except the Father only."


The verse (and its parallels) does (do) NOT say, "no one CAN EVER know" or "no one WILL EVER know" (or, as I've heard some suggest, "it is IMPOSSIBLE to ever know" or "it is FORBIDDEN to be known")...

The word "know" is in the "PERFECT indicative," so is not communicating anything like the aforementioned options commonly repeated.




[note: I've posted about this before, but just a brief blurb here so that it doesn't turn into a long convo in this thread: I believe the CONTEXT is His Second Coming to the earth (NOT "our Rapture," in this CONTEXT), and that Jesus supplied FURTHER INFORMATION on THIS SUBJECT (the Subject of the above-quoted verse) in the LATER "Revelation of Jesus Christ, which GOD GAVE UNTO HIM [unto Jesus] to SHEW unto His servants...," which includes timing elements and various time-stamps/-markers and so forth, so that, in the future, those who are existing IN and EXPERIENCING the trib years LEADING UP TO His Second Coming to the earth CAN [potentially] come to know such a thing... as I understand it; IOW, this is not a "blanket statement" that is true for all times, but that the "PERFECT indicative" is true until something / some information (supplied by God Himself via His Word) comes along that changes that status, and I believe that is exactly what has taken place in the LATER writing of the Revelation... that is, I believe Jesus Himself has known ever since His resurrection/ascension and then later provided further information on THAT Subject, in the Revelation (Rev1:1, etc)--written well-after His ascension]



Perfect Tense -

"ACTION COMPLETED at a SPECIFIC POINT of TIME in PAST (●) with results CONTINUING into the PRESENT (▬►). In certain contexts the results are PERMANENT."
I like the point you made it is true no one will know perfectly the day or hour there is a rason we have to take take the entire word of God into consideration like the parable Jesus spoke of about knowing the seasons. In fact your entire post has sound reason to it
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,211
2,547
113
#10
But some are based on truth "And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh."

And for the one... never says pre, mid or post" caught up. Not sure why one has to only point out the one they do not believe in. As if mid post are written? :)

Back to OP.. not the same but.. like the lion will lay with the lamb. No clue how lion got in place of wolf.
Again as I said in my post above sound reason. But AAt this point I think we should not derail the thread any further and with that one I never understood is one that some refer to for creation which came first the chicken or the egg. it is true that in this universe nothing can smiply came from nothing something else has to either create it or exist before it can be created but the thing is God has always existed and this is a conundrum that many have debated but then again God is not of this universe is he?
Besides who in the world could settle if the egg or chicken came first it's an endless circle
 
Jun 10, 2019
4,304
1,659
113
#11
Even though it may not be in the bible I tend to agree with the statement that God helps those that help themselves. At times to serve God requires action and not being passive. If you want to accomplish something, even something for God, you have to at least attempt to try. In other words, you have to, with the grace of God, help yourself.

A lot of people actually believe that the bible states that money is the root of all evil when in fact, as you have pointed out, is the love of money that's the root of all evil according to scripture.

Hate the sin but love the sinner attributed to Gandhi seems to have some scriptural basis but perhaps not in those words.

This could be a very interesting thread.
And cleanliness is taught in the bible also no doubt on that, may not be the same word for word Cleanliness is next to godliness , but God did teach about being physically clean in the Bible.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,211
2,547
113
#12
And cleanliness is taught in the bible also no doubt on that, may not be the same word for word Cleanliness is next to godliness , but God did teach about being physically clean in the Bible.
True they did wash their feret and hands a lot not just with water either they used fragrances herbs and oils as well. Although I always wondered without a toothbrush how did they brush their teeth?
 
Jun 10, 2019
4,304
1,659
113
#13
[QUOTE="MOC, post: 4210992, member: 295105"."

Cleanliness is next to godliness
This originated as an ancient Babylonian text. Jesus wants us to focus more on the sin in our hearts rather than the dirt on our hands.
[/QUOTE]

the statement might be a reference to deuteronomy none the less clean is God’s command in quite a few places in the Bible like below,

Deuteronomy 23

12You must have a place outside the camp to go and relieve yourself. 13And you must have a digging tool in your equipment so that when you relieve yourself you can dig a hole and cover up your excrement.

14For the LORD your God walks throughout your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, lest He see anything unclean among you and turn away from you.
 
Jun 10, 2019
4,304
1,659
113
#14
True they did wash their feret and hands a lot not just with water either they used fragrances herbs and oils as well. Although I always wondered without a toothbrush how did they brush their teeth?
Good question from what I have read rough cloth and water, made tooth picks from sticks and something about sage was used also. And Maybe they had less of all the sweet stuff like today that can rot out your teeth pretty fast, the additives in food that cause increased acids from breaking down the sugars
 

Didymous

Senior Member
Feb 22, 2018
5,047
2,099
113
#15
True they did wash their feret and hands a lot not just with water either they used fragrances herbs and oils as well.

Why do you believe this?
 

DJ3

Member
Jun 22, 2019
88
21
8
#16
i think it is a good thing some have adopted this idealism. Even though the Father brings us to the Son, in order for us to become saved and followers of Christ, sometimes it takes someone loving sinners to invite them so they can get that personal welcome from the Father.
Sin does not exist without a sinner. Sin is a concept (James 1:14) it does not exist unto itself but from the mind of the sinner. Should we love sinners? Yes, because sinners are still made in the image of God. But unforgiven sinners will face the wrath of God regardless of our love.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,211
2,547
113
#17
Good question from what I have read rough cloth and water, made tooth picks from sticks and something about sage was used also. And Maybe they had less of all the sweet stuff like today that can rot out your teeth pretty fast, the additives in food that cause increased acids from breaking down the sugars
That does make sense I never thought of that of that plus they had a strict food designed they weren't supposed to eat a lot of red meat and as for sweet things I rarely ever read them eating it honey and sugar cane are about all I can remember and that was not something they seemed to eat a lot
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,211
2,547
113
#18
Why do you believe this?
Because I have researched it. have you ever done an in depth study on the common practices of the Jews? It is actually quite fascinating plus the Egyptians themselves practiced this although they used fragrances and oils much more because they were a prominent people like a high point of society kind of sort
 

Didymous

Senior Member
Feb 22, 2018
5,047
2,099
113
#19
Because I have researched it. have you ever done an in depth study on the common practices of the Jews? It is actually quite fascinating plus the Egyptians themselves practiced this although they used fragrances and oils much more because they were a prominent people like a high point of society kind of sort
How about the bible?
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,211
2,547
113
#20
How about the bible?
I had feeling that was what you were going for, the bible is scarce on the things they used but it does speak of them
Jer 2:22

22Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, says the Lord GOD.
Honestly on normal daily occasions they mainly used water and soap made from bees wax and certain herbs but for special occasions they used more special things like oils and fragrances. especially when it is a person being honored like at a wedding or like with mary and Jesus. Herbs were often used for many things they were not as primative as people might believer they were aware of how to use nature.