When Scripture Is Misunderstood
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14
What We Notice—and What We Miss
During a visit to an Amish church, I attended what I thought would be a worship service. Instead, the congregation gathered for a full-church Bible study.
The room was divided by gender, with men on one side and women on the other. The discussion was thoughtful, and many questions came from the men.
But something stood out.
While the facilitator addressed both sides of the room while teaching, when it came time for questions, he turned only toward the men. The women remained silent.
Later, when asked about it, he responded that women were allowed to ask questions—they simply never did. But after reflecting further, he realized something deeper was at play. The women had been taught that if they had questions about Scripture, they should ask their husbands at home.
That belief was rooted in a passage from 1 Corinthians 14.
And it raises an important question for all of us:
Are we reading the Bible the right way?
When Translation Shapes Meaning
One of the challenges in reading Scripture is that we are not reading it in its original form.
The New Testament was written in Greek, a language that did not include punctuation like we use today. There were no commas, periods, or question marks. Translators had to interpret the tone and intent of each sentence.
This matters.
In 1 Corinthians 14, verses 34 and 35 are often translated as instructions:
“Women should remain silent in the churches…”
But there is a problem. Paul references a “law” that does not exist in the Old Testament. This raises the possibility that these verses may not be commands at all—but questions being quoted back to Paul.
When we continue reading, Paul responds:
“Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?”
Then he goes on to affirm that all—brothers and sisters—should be eager to speak and share what God has given them.
When read in context, the passage tells a very different story.
Scripture Through the Lens of Jesus
Throughout history, interpretation has always shaped how Scripture is understood.
Even within the Bible itself, we see reinterpretation. Peter re-reads Hebrew Scriptures in light of Christ. The Gospel writers frame Jesus’ life differently depending on their audience.
And we do the same.
We no longer follow many Old Testament laws literally—dietary restrictions, sacrificial systems, clothing rules—because we understand them through the life and teaching of Jesus.
So when we encounter passages that seem to exclude or harm others, we must ask:
What did Jesus do?
What did Jesus teach?
In the Gospels, Jesus consistently elevated those who were overlooked.
He welcomed women as disciples.
He taught them directly.
He entrusted them with proclaiming the resurrection.
A Living and Growing Understanding
The Bible is not just a static document. It is a living witness to God’s relationship with humanity.
It contains human voices, human struggles, and human questions alongside divine inspiration.
Because of that, it requires engagement.
We are invited to read carefully. To ask questions. To seek understanding. To wrestle with difficult passages rather than ignoring them or accepting them at face value without context.
As Christians, we place ourselves under Scripture—but we also read it with wisdom, humility, and an awareness of how it came to be.
What This Means for Us
How we read Scripture shapes how we live.
If we read it without context, we risk misunderstanding its message.
If we read it through fear, we may use it to exclude.
But if we read it through the lens of Christ, we discover something different.
We discover a call to love.
A call to unity.
A call to lift one another up.
Scripture becomes not a tool for division, but a guide toward community, humility, and peace.
Reflection
Where might God be inviting you to look more deeply at Scripture and seek understanding through the life and teachings of Jesus?
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