We're all guilty of them. Have you ever caught yourself saying things you know are not correct, but 'cos everyone's saying it, it begins to sound right to you? It all started when as kids, we used to read "My Book of Bible Stories." Raise your hands, and up high in the air, if you never read it. See, the book was meant for kids, so they used illustrations to explain to our young minds the biblical events. Which is a good thing.
Miguel made a comment on my last blog entry. He mentioned something about the apple in the Garden of Eden, that was when this post came to mind. Get your bibles out, if you don't have one, borrow. Also, you may want to bring out all the versions of the bible you have. It's time to do some research.
Misconception # 1:
WAS IT AN APPLE OR AN ORANGE OR GRAPES?
There's no where in the bible where it's written that the fruit Adam and Eve ate in the bible was an apple. The King James Version (KJV) of the bible in Genesis 3 verse 6 just says the woman took of the fruit thereof and did eat. The New International Version (NIV) says when the woman saw the fruit was pleasing to the eye, she took some and ate. There's no talk of it being an apple (which we're used to saying) or orange or grape etc.
Misconception # 2:
HOW MANY WERE THEY, 2 OR 3 OR A 100?
When Jesus was born, and the wisemen went to visit him. There's no account of the bible that says they were 3 wisemen (or shepherds) that went to visit him; but because they brought three gifts of gold, frankincense an myrrh, we've assumed they were three. Also the song, "We Three Kings of Orient Are" make us think they were three wisemen that went to visit Jesus. Check what the different versions have to say and you would see for yourself. Matthew 2 verse 11 just says they came, worshipped him and they presented their gifts to him. Check out Luke 2 verse 8 to 20. Funny thing, is that whenever there's a play of Jesus' birth, every time, you always see the 3 wise men and so this misconception is being passed down from generation to generation, so that it now seems right.
Misconception # 3:
WAS IT ROTTEN TOMATOES OR ROTTEN APPLES?
Another misconception, is the kind of offering Cain brought unto God. Some say he brought rotten fruit and that's why his offering wasn't accepted. Believe it or not, but i've heard some people say that the reason the Lord did not have repect unto Cain's offering was because it was rotten stuff he brought before God. Where in all the versions of the bible, does it say it was rotten tomatoes he brought? See for yourself in Genesis 4 verses 3, 4 and 5
Misconception # 4:
IS SEX REALLY THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT?
I've heard many people saying that the sin Adam and Eve committed was actually fornication, that they had sex. How can? When God had already given them the go ahead in Genesis 1 verse 28 to be fruitful and multiply, in other words, to procreate. They ate of the forbidden fruit in Genesis chapter 3, which was after they were married anyways. See for yourself in Genesis 2 verses 21 to 25. How then can sex be the forbidden fruit they ate thereof?
Misconception # 5:
WAS IT A WHALE OR AN OCTOPUS? (Thanks to Niyi)
Another one is the story of Jonah. I think a common misconception is that he was swallowed by a whale when he was thrown into the sea but the Bible says " a great fish" (no specifics given)- Jonah 1:17
Those are the misconceptions i have caught thus far. It's true that the bible we read now, has been translated from the original, but i still don't see in any of the translations, that the fruit the serpent gave Eve was an apple, that there were 3 wise men, that Cain's offering was rotten and that the sin Adam and Eve committed was that they had sex. Please folks, let's be cautious of how we interprete the Bible. Again, i think it's the children's bible with all the pictures, that make us think this way.
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31 comments:
Interesting blog. I agree with you pertaining to some Bible stories and how they were illustrated to us when we were kids.
Another one is the story of Jonah. I think a common misconception is that he was swallowed by a whale when he was thrown into the sea but the Bible says " a great fish" (no specifics given)- Jonah 1:17
I enjoy reading your blogs and to add to the comments on your previous blog - Many times it is so hard to figure out what to do (should I wait or take action?)God is orchestrating the steps of your life. Just keep trusting Him. He is in absolute control of this situation(your feelings for your friend) and will guide you according to His sovereign will.
Niyi.
hmm another one: was it grape juice or wine that he turned the water to at the wedding?
Very nice blog. Loved it
I like this post!
I am definitely guilty of this!
You know what? When I get home tonight, I am going to read my bible and check these things out PLUS the Jonah thing as well.
I really liked this, well done girl and have a great week :-)
very good post! I never thought about the wise men....lolol
Yeah, it is imperative for us to read the bible for ourselves....
I actually still think it was an apple adam n eve ate, even though the bible does mentions "the fruit", ha those books of bible stories, lol, great post!
Go xoxo Go xoxo Go.. Preach on Pastoress.LOL
I think the stories abt the kids is just to jolt their imagination,cos I dont think u will be able to tell a 3yr old kid that wisemen came to give 3 gifts to Jesus and the kid wont ask u how many were the wisemen.
Anyway nice post xoxo ..U have a nice week
I have thoroughly enjoyed your blog, but it is true, grown men and women still make the mistakes.
Bijou..thanks for calling me out ooo ... It's true the bible doesnt state what fruit was eaten but blame it on my catholic upbringing... There is some disagreement to-date that the word in latin used to describe the tree "Malum" stands for apple. Upon further investigation, as an adjective, "Malum" means evil and as a noun "Malum" means apple....Though a few would argue that if it was an apple they would have called it "Malus".
Anyway thanks for bringing that to my attention.
Bijou,
I am actually tripped!
You have blown my mind big time...
That was cool and very incisive.
But tell me how did you get to know this? What lead you this path of misconception. Its not everyone who reads the bible that thinks of checking the right words and the interpretation thereof.
The greatest misconception is the use of the phrase "Born Again". People say I am Born Again and I fringe; I always wonder what they actually mean. Instead of saying I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God, they say I am born again.
Jesus used the phrase only once in the bible and it was used in explaining the concept of appreciating the Kingdom of God. If you are not born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God. Being born again only allows you to see the Kingdom not even become a citizen.
It is like visa to foreign country which allows you the right to visit a country and appreciate its culture, structure, etc. Thats what born again does. You have to be born of the spirit to enter into the kingdom of God.
When you use words wrongly, you will not be able to accurately appropriate the word for your benefit. Thats why most people think the word of God does not work.
Oga Dipo this one wey u come add join pass me o.
@Xoxo ..Ijebu Womens Association-Secretary general ..thank u very much for telling me to "HIt the Gym" ... U dan join Belle and Buki now to start to dey call me Ijebu wannabe abi ..No wahala.
@Anon: Thanks for throwing in the story of Jonah. I'd have to check that one out, even though i believe u, and add to the list.
@ Abbey: Wasn't it wine, that was turned to water? Since the bible was translated from i think Hebrew, what was wine then may not be the same thing as the wine a.k.a. ogogoro people shack now. It could've been wine made from grapejuice, which would make it non-alcoholic who knows?
@the Iya Ijebus, Uzo: Thanks, see for yourself, the different points noted and spread the word.
@Biodun: Till this day, people still say apple so u're not the only one, even though 'twas just fruit mentioned.
@NB: My personal person, thanks. You're a Pastor/ Evangelist in the making too. How far with Sunday now, u still dey fear Pastors or na Sunday TV ministry on TBN be ur own thing?
@TLOASCM: U're right, even grown men and women still say these things. It's hard for them to change what they've known all their lives, so they're kinda stuck.
@Miguel: HA! Professor Spicy, i didn't mean to call u out like dat nau. I was just trying to tell 'em that when i read ur comment, that was when my gist lightbulb came on. So in a way, this post was inspired by you. U should get an award for that u know. Hope u no vex o? Malus or Malum? Hmmm... 1st time hearing that. I'd look it up. So u were once a Catholic boy? Was a staunch Anglican or Episcopalian too, until i left home. Church was already becoming a routine for me, u do the same things repeatedly and i was getting bored with it already. U recite the same things every Sunday, Nicene Creed, the Doxology and the likes, even in Latin. Catholics and Episcopalians have similar mode of worship. So what made u switch denominations?
@ Dipo Tepede: Uncle Dipo, how family o? Anyways, at my Wednesday bible study last Christmas, that was when my bible study leader brought the 3 wise men thing to my attention. We were talking about reading the bible and interpreting it. He later stressed on the fact that we need to read the bible for ourselves, and after asking the Holy Spirit for understanding, we should then try to make sense of what we've read, even if it means using a concordance and finding out the original words in Hebrew etc.
On the Born-again (BA) issue, i agree that being BA is like the visa to heaven, but that doesn't make u a citizen of heaven. If a sinner prays the prayer for salvation right this minute, and accepts Jesus as his Lord and personal Savior, he's a BA and he's going to heaven but that doesn't necessarily mean he's a citizen of heaven. Using the word BA, comes from Jesus' teaching to Nicodemus, so i don't think it's completely wrong to say u're BA. Now what qualifies u to be a citizen of heaven? Is it abiding by the 10 commandments, winning souls for Christ, having a daily quiet time etc. Getting to heaven is one thing, another is wearing a crown in heaven, more like being given an award for faithful service etc. Is that what u mean by being a citizen of heaven? Please, do shed more light on this, so i know where u're coming from.
@NB: My personal person. How far now? Check out the luff message i dedicated specially to u on TLOASCM's comment section.
@ Bijou
family is fine. Thanx for asking. Hope your studies is going ok?
Where do I begin from?
Kingdom of God is not only heaven oooo.
Kingdom which means King's Domain.
Kingdom of God means the domain where God is the King so simply anywhere God is the King is the Kingdom of God which simply means God influences reign in that domain.
If you read the first four book in the new testament which gave account of Jesus that is Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. You will realize that Jesus used the Kingdom of God more than 20 times in one of this gospel alone (e.g Luke)as oppose to born again which was used once only in one gospel that is John.
Bible says God does not dwell in structures made with hands but dwells in us that is we are the temple of the living God. We that accept Jesus as the Lord of our lives are influenced by God so we are part of God's domain which means we are citizen of the Kingdom. God influences us through the His Spirit in us.
The kingdom is not a physical kingdom like the ancient Roman Empire. Let me use some sentences in the scripture to support this. We have been transfered from the Kingdom of Darkness to the Kingdom of light. Thy Kingdom com, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Jesus used so many parables to describe the Kingdom of God; the kingdom of God is like a man that went out to sow, the kingdom of God is like a man who shared talents, you can not see the kingdom of God if you are not born again.
We are suppose to exemplify the kingdom of God on earth. Born again is just a way to explain the entrance to the Kingdom of God on earth. Born again was not the emphasis....
The phrase born again was used by Pastors as a misconception and most believers has been conditioned to it.
(The kingdom of God was used interchangeable with Kingdom of heaven.it means the same thing if you check the greek translation)
IF YOU NEED MORE EXPLANATION, I WILL BE GLAD TO LET YOU KNOW....
@ dipo,
I couldn't help but join this debate. Your emphasis and reitaration of the point "Kingdom of GOD" is true and is very important, but to be able to work in the Kingdom of God [ a domain where God is King - ] we must be born of the Spirit and Blood. Without being born again, rebirted (old self die to sin and new self live), the Kingdom of God is unattainable. What xoxo is trying to say [girl I hope you don't mind my assumption] is to be "citizens of God's Kingdom" as you quoted it is imperative to be born again. For you see you are fully aware that our old self must die so that God can begin a new work in our lives. We need to tear down (jud 6vs 25),we need to uproot (Jer 1 vs 10), we need to completetly die to sin, before God can build in our lives. This is the emphasis of being born again, because without being born again, the workings of the Lord for His kingdom cannot be made manifest in our lives. Jesus Emphasises the Work of God's kingdom, because the enemy has blinded the hearts and mind of the people (1Cor. 4vs4) prventing them from seing God's glory, and that is why Jesus came to prech and to heal to show to the people there is A God that is greater than theirs (kingdom of the enemy). In order to work in God's kingdom, it is a prerequsite to be born again, and be led by the spirit. People can be born again, but until their relationship with God increases and until they allow God to increase in there life (by spending time in God's presence Psa 91 vs 1), they will not be fully equiped to work in the Kingom of God. So you see dying to sin is important, Jesus had to die, and his blood shed, when the priests entered the temple they had to shed blood, so unless a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God, in terms of getting to heaven and also interms of living for God on this earth. We all have our understanding on things. xoxo is right in that being born again is very important just as you right that we are called to work in God's Kingdom (1 Cor 15 vs 58;). But we cannot work in God's kingdom uness we are born again. Our God is a God of order, remember how David tried to bring the ark of the Lord to Jerusalem, the first time he was unsucessful (i sam 6 vs 1-11), because the pattern was wrong, he was successful the second time (1 Chr 15 vs 1-29). The Lord has given us rules on how to get there, we just need to get it right.
Thats my take o things.
@ the life of a stranger called me
Wow, you are actually right except one thing.
I never said bijou was wrong but that the kingdom of God is not only heaven.
Born again is a prerequisite to the Kingdom of God- that is exactly what I have been saying. The prerequisite is not the main thing.
Because I have to be an intern to be a doctor does not mean when I become a doctor, you still call me an intern.
Jesus emphasis is the Kingdom of God not born again. Why are you interested in the visa not the citizenship status.
This is exactly why I fringe when people say I am born again. What will being born again get you, just the chance to see the Kingdom of God. You have to be born of the spirit to enter the kingdom. When you enter the Kingdom, you have the full rights to do all you can.
I am sure you can see the misconception.
Paul said it better in Galatians when he said a child is not different from the servant because he is still under guardiance.
As a Nigerian, entering US with a VISA does not make me different from a Nigerian. I am still a Nigerian, I am only able to see US not become a US citizen.
Thats exactly what born again is. You can see the Kingdom of God but you are not part of the Kingdom.
Jesus taught us to pray by saying "Thy Kingdom come"
thats as easy as I can make it.
I fully understand what you say, but there are cold turkey christians. I use this word christians losely. When you feel out a form, you are asked your religion, the majority of the western world or people who are not the others, tick christinity. But they forget Christianity is a relationship with God, not a box that is ticked. So most people claim they are christians when they have never heard about Jesus. I say this, when I was very young back home in the UK, most of my friends had never heard about jesus, yet they considered themselves christians. So you see, this is why the word born again is used constantly to differentiate, the ones that have been rebirted, and the ones who tick it as a box option. So even though your take on it is correct, we must differentiate ourselves, not just by calling ourselves that, but by our lives, so that those that tick it as a box, will then move to being rebirted and building a relationship with God. We must stand out, and by using the word, we are making our light attract the attention it deserves.
I am sorry thats another wrong way to go about things.....
If born again is to differentiate you from a norminal christian then I believe using words like Son of God, Citizen of the Kingdom of God will carry more weight and will actually make a norminal christian think things through.
Born again confuses the people you are witnessing to the more. You can read in any of the letters by the apostles that such phrase (born again) was never mentioned because it did not make sense. it does not add up to anything.
If US is the most superior country on Earth why should I say to the world that I have a US VISA instead of saying I am a US citizen
Please, lets stop getting things twisted. it doesnt make us effective as a whole. We are regarded as a bunch of unserious people who dont even know our constitution-the bible not to talk of following it.
This will be my last entry on this point; how can we witness to a non-beliver who claims they are christians, without actually showing them the way..I am not questioning your reasons but why can't they both co-exist!!!. The point is, greater is He that is in you, and others will come to that light, whether you are born again or citzen of the kingdom, the point is the word of God is still being preached and we people are getting saved.
Madam i trip o! that's some serious research girl! I admire that! Some people even say that the great fish was a submarine...and the chariot of fire in the first aeroplane.
Chie Uncle Dipo dan make "Life of a stranger" talk well well now.Which kain comparison is been Born again to getting a Visa to the US.
@Xoxo ..I dan reply ur luff ltr jere moi dear.
@Uncle Dipo and Aunty TLOASCM: I'll be back. Just got home and i'm knackered (like my Britico people would say). I need to re-read the points noted very well.
@ NB: You use ur cunning way to ignore my question abi? I'll repeat it again. How far with Sundays? I saw ur luff letter jere, but if u join a dance class, u'll most likely be the only bloke in class, don't u think tongues would start wagging?
@ TLOASCM
We are on the same boat working in the vine yard of the Lord. So we are just sharpening each other to be better warriors.
Let me take you to John Chapter 3, so you can fully understand what I am trying to say. Nicodemus saw the great things Jesus had done, so he came to him in the night to ask him how he did this great things.
Jesus told him he has to be born again to experience this great things. What Jesus was saying is that this great things can only be manifested when you are in the Kingdom of God (When you allow the God through His Spirit to rule in your life).
So he told him that to see this Kingdom, he must be re-born. Now the emphasis is the Kingdom not the fact that he had to be re-born.
To be re-born is just a pre-requisite to the Kingdom. John did not use born again but uses words like repent.
Jesus has used so many other parables to describe the Kingdom of God. 90% of Jesus teachings is about this Kingdom.
Like you said, others will come to you when they see the light in you just like Nicodemus saw the light in Jesus. So when they ask you how come you are so blessed?
Will you tell them they have to be born again? or they have to be a citizen of the Kingdom?
Well, this what Jesus told Nicodemus- You must be born again to see this this Kingdom and you must be born of the spirirt and water to enter this Kingdom.
@ Xoxo ..to answer ur question ..I am working on that o,but I am doing a training now on saturdays and sundays from 8am-5pm and I still have like 3 or 4 weeks left on it.I shd be back on track on that issue after that.
Xoxo I no mind make tongues wag o,at least me I no say I straight pass ruler and action is better than words like my ppl always say.
@ NB: I hear you, i'd ask again, after 5 weeks. I'll mark that on my planner. "Action is better than words", Hmmm... I wouldn't say anything further.
ohhh my goodness that pic brings back memories, u have inspired me to do sumn u know...cheers babes.
Gosh I love this post, these misconceptions sha? I'm not extremely versed with the bible like that - sadly but I do know my bible stories and verses and some passages sha...so all in all I can't really answer these questions and be confident I'm right but I would have thought
1 = Fruit; 2 = 3; 3 = Rotten fruit; 4 = I dont know; 5 = Whale?
Gosh this has made me think I really am not sure at all and your answers make me question all what I've considered correct all along. Hmmmm :-/
A very thought provoking post. Your blog is awesome.
@Mona: Do check them out in ur bible, so that u'd see for urself. Iron sharpeneth iron, we're all learning together from one another.
@Ms. May: Thanks, i'd pay a visit to ur blog and leave my mark there.
LOL@ Xoxo ... does Online and TV service count?
If what you say is true then hear this:
If we assume thing based on our limited knowledge of any subject, it is then allowed to say that we only use what we are used-to to describe any situation. Now, the case of the fish...
how possible (regardless of GOD) for a man to be swallowed by a big fish and stay alive for the number of days stated?
What happened to the Natural Laws of digestion?
Have we give a thought that the "big fish" could possibly be a submarine? or some underwater-craft?
Man can only describe an event/visual based on his/her experiences (in illusion and in reality).
There's more... OPEN YA MIND!!! but its SCARY OUT THERE!!!
Am LOVING IT (your blog, not McDonalds)
Blog on!!!
See UnNaked: http://unnaked.blogspot.com
The Bible is under attack from all sides. Satan knows it tells the truth about him, the victory that Jesus had at the cross, and what will happen in the future. As such, Satan has and still is making every attempt to destroy the Word of God. What better way to do this, than to change the meaning of the Bible over time with different bible versions; each version as it comes along claiming it is the truth and the most accurate of all the versions up until that point.
The line must be drawn where we say, "If the King James Bible was good enough for 400 years, then it is still good enough for me." For by it men and women have been saved and the knowledge of God imparted unto them. When new bible versions come along, they always take something away that is never replaced, only to be lost forever. If you believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, then stand up for it. Take a stand and speak out against these new bible versions. An objection often raised against the "King James Only Crowd" is that people learn something from the other (modern) versions, too, and that some even get saved: but I dare say that this occurs in spite of these errant versions, not because of them!
The Authorized Version of 1611, or, in other words, the King James Bible, stands alone in its uniqueness, integrity, and fidelity to the truthfulness of God’s Word. Among reasons why this writer holds this conviction is because of the great harm done not only to the Word of God, but the detriment wrought in the local church in its public worship, and, of course, because of the confusion created in countless group and individual Bible studies. After all, it could be said: How do you think your professor would think or feel if all of his students used different textbooks in his class?! In our case, God is our Great Professor! He alone is the one true God, who has walked among us upon this earth and left us the living and enduring legacy of His Word and His Spirit. Until He comes, Amen.
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