Mis-contexted

Last Friday night i answered a question revolving around context and spoke about the two most misquoted verses in all of the bible.

Context matters. Without awareness of what is beside a passage, any point can be twisted.

Psalm 14:1 is a good example of the importance of context? Here the bible, technically, says "there is no God." But in context, the meaning falls into place.

The two most common offenders, normally, written on mountaintop-sunset-beach-waterfall clad posters?

Jeremiah 29:11.

This verse is often equated with the grand plans that God has for His followers. But in context, the "plans God had," was 70 years in exile. Not exactly a holiday!

This exile would ultimately be used to turn the people back to God. Here is the positive, not a motivational poster inspiration.

Romans 8:28.

The worst, out-of-context, offender.

This verse could say that those who love God will be healthy, happy, wealthy, popular, famous and successful. Nothing bad will happen.

Read with the next verse, verse 28 makes sense.

Whilst admittedly wordy, the point is that all situations (good or bad) will be for our benefit if they make us more like Jesus (the "to be conformed to the likeness of His Son" bit).

The way that i have learnt more about God and about following Him is the only way any of this could be of any good and how Romans 8:28, ultimately, makes sense.