Friendship and brotherhood between people is a theme that is often described in the Bible. Numerous verses pointed to the striving for brotherhood between all people. At least that’s what a collection of Bible verses from the evangelical church suggests. But for this you had to reach into your bag of tricks again.
Inhalt / Content
Misuse of Bible verses
The Bible serves again and again to supposedly underpin theses, opinions and hypotheses, which, however, cannot be reconciled with the Gospel. However, this only succeeds by using individual verses that have been taken out of context, by using verses from the very corrupt Bible editions, by presenting verses in abridged form and by the readers not taking the Bible into their own hands and reading it Just check statements.
Arbitrary use of verse fragments
The deception by euphonious fakes
The online magazine of the evangelical churches in Germany shows such an example. The readership is presented with a collection of 10 Bible verses, all of which are placed in the context of friendship between people. “The Bible illuminates the topic in all its facets”, as “evangelisch.de” wrote. The magazine now wants to have compiled the “most beautiful Bible verses” from the verses contained in the Bible about friendship between people.
In this case, some of the verses presented are indeed in the context of friendship, but obviously it was necessary to misuse some verses, which are in a completely different context, to get a higher number.
Supposed Bible verses about friendship
Listed below are the “most beautiful” Bible verses quoted by EV Magazine in the context of human friendship. Then the same Bible verse, but in full and from the translation “King James Version” based on the original text “Textus Recptus” (TR).
Proverbs 18:24:
“Many so-called friends only do you harm, but a real friend is closer to you than a brother.”
Proverbs 18:24 (TR):
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
This verse presented is actually about so-called friends who are so called but are totally unreliable and a true friend who can be trusted more than one’s own brother.
Song of Solomon 2:3:
“Like an apple tree among wild trees, so is my friend among young men.”
Song of Solomon 2:3 (TR):
“As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.”
Here the verse is completely taken out of context. In this context, it is not a question of friendship between people, but of the bride’s longing waiting for her groom. What is clearly meant here in a figurative sense is the church of God (bride) waiting for her bridegroom (Jesus Christ). This representation between Jesus Christ and His people as bride and bridegroom is often described in the gospel.
Song of Solomon 2:2:
“Like a lily among thorns, so is my friend among girls.”
Song of Solomon 2:2 (TR):
“As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.”
Zischen “Mädchen” und “Töchtern” liegt schon beim ersten Blick ein Unterschied. Wie im vorangegangenen Vers beziehen sich die Töchter (nicht Mädchen) auf die Gemeinschaft innerhalb des Volkes Gottes (die Braut). Die Angesprochene Freundin gehört zu diesem Volk Gottes.
Ephesians 4:32:
“But be kind and affectionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God forgave you in Christ”
Ephesians 4:32 (TR):
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you..”
This appeal applies to the church in Ephesus, i.e. to the people who declare their willingness to follow Jesus Christ. But the simple confession is not enough, but a whole series of measures that prove the true following of Jesus. The mutual mercy within this church is part of it.
Proverbs 19:22:
“A kind person is worthy of love.”
Proverbs 19:22 (TR):
“The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.”
The word “love” doesn’t appear at all. Added to this is the verse that has been shortened by more than half. The correct statement is self-explanatory.
Romans 12:10:
“In dealing with one another, let warmth and fraternal love be expressed. Outdo one another in showing respect to one another.”
Romans 12:10 (TR):
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
In terms of content, the verse presented agrees with the actual statement. But this verse also stands in the context of the Christian community, the community in Rome, in the following of Jesus. This is already shown in the immediately following verse: “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10:
“So it’s better in twos than alone; for they have good reward for their toil. If one of them falls, his companion will help him up. Woe to him who is alone when he falls! Then there is no one else to help him up.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (TR):
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”
This verse is presented in the context of interpersonal relationships, but is not exclusive to friendship. According to “Love your neighbor”, every human being is there to lend a helping hand to the other.
Proverbs 17:9:
“He who covers up trespass makes friends; but he who stirs up a matter divides friends.”
Proverbs 17:9 (TR):
“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.”
The “friendship established” and the “love sought” are both in the same context here.
Proverbs 27:9:
“Anointing oil and incense cheer the heart, the kindness of a friend cheers more than fragrant wood.”
Proverbs 27:9 (TR):
“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.”
The “fragrant wood” and the “hearty counsel” are two very different things, but convey the same message here.
Job 2:11:
“But when Job’s three friends heard of all the calamities that had come upon him, they came, each one from his own place … For they had become one to go to mourn and comfort him.”
Job 2:11 (TR):
“Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.”
The verse presented and the “unity” of these three friends (“they had become one”) has the potential to be interpreted as humanity “united” in brotherhood, rather than emphasizing the purely spatial aspect. Because when it came to consolation, the three friends were not so unanimous as to be able to define them as “one”.
The true context is suppressed
Arbitrarily putting Bible verses in any context – misleading
While the evangelical magazine artificially increases the importance of friendship between people with its exclusive choice of verses, the actual message of individual verses is completely lost. There is not even a trace left of a people of God opposed to paganism, let alone addressed.
The motive behind it is clear. Mankind is to be united in an intimate, brotherly family. Everyone has to think and act “inclusively”. No separation, but a union of the human family, so the agenda. But what does the gospel say about such a “trustworthy intimacy” of all people, of every religion and worldview? Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:34:
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”
Jesus Christ speaks here of separation between people, i.e. the people of God and paganism and the godless.
Revelation 18:4:
“Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
Here “the loud voice from heaven” is calling people to leave Babylon, that is, to have no fellowship with her.
Ezra 10:11:
“Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.”
Strange wives are false religions of the Gentiles. Here, too, there is a clear call not to cultivate any community, let alone friendship with these peoples.
2 Corinthians 6:16-18:
“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
Probably the clearest passage in the Bible about separation is Paul’s call to the church in Corinth. Peter emphasized the separateness of God’s people (law-abiding and testimony of Jesus), as already described in Psalm 135:4 and Titus 2:14, so in 1 Peter 2:9:
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”.
Exclusivity instead of inclusivity
There is no talk here of a “reconciled mush” in the practice of an “alternative religion”. Any calls to associate with, befriend, and hold ecumenical “worships” with all sorts of religious communities are exactly the opposite of what God’s will is and how it is described in the Gospel.
Of course, friendship between people is very desirable. The commandment of charity alone forbids harming another human being. But this pushed union to a globally fraternal family has the goal of common rebellion against God. However, this goal will never be achieved in the end anyway.
Everyone is responsible for themselves
Only the Bible can provide the truth
In order to get to the bottom of the “secrets” of fragments of verse presented in this way, the only thing that helps is taking the initiative to read the Bible independently. Such verses must always be read in context. Only in this way can the “misinterpretation” in favor of a third-party agenda be recognized as such. In the end, everyone has to be accountable individually and not “included” in an informal collective. Everyone is responsible for their own actions.
Bible verses from King James Version
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