Why do so many anti-Mormons mis-interpret the Bible?

Question

For instance, Galatians 1:8; Paul is not talking about any one specific angel, as in the angel Moroni. He is using hyperbole (I think that's what it's called). Much like saying "I don't care if God Himself tells me...!" He was referring to how some of the apostles were under the delusion that all Gentile converts to Christ must first follow the Law of Moses thru circumcision. He was telling the Galatians, who believed those apostles, "Even if WE (meaning the apostles and other leaders of the church) or EVEN IF AN ANGEL were to tell you this...". And we keep trying to explain but why won't they listen?

Another is Revelation 22:18, which tey think means don't add to the Bible.

There is also 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, which tey say also means THE BIBLE. But it doesn't.

Rev. 22:18 says that MAN can not add to the book of REVELATION. It does not say taht GOD can't add to His words any time He wants, and it would be considered scripture.

Answer 1

Deuteronomy 4:2
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.


2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

You need to look up the meaning of scripture.

scrip·ture
Pronunciation: \ˈskrip(t)-shər\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin scriptura, from Latin, act or product of writing, from scriptus
Date: 14th century
1 a (1)capitalized : the books of the Bible —often used in plural (2)often capitalized : a passage from the Bible b: a body of writings considered sacred or authoritative
2: something written


http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=1124
1) a writing, thing written
2) the Scripture, used to denote either the book itself, or its contents
3) a certain portion or section of the Holy Scripture



Galatians 1
1Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

2And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

3Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

4Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

5To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

10For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

11But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

12For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

14And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

17Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

19But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

20Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

21Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

22And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

23But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

24And they glorified God in me.


Mormons preach a different gospel than what Paul preached.


****************************************************
From: mormon_4_jesus

Subject: Where in the Bible does it say

Message: That scripture is ONLY the Bible?
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You said:
"There is also 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, which tey say also means THE BIBLE. But it doesn't."

It doesn't what? Mean the Bible.
The entire Holy Bible (King James Version) was inspired by God.

You will not hear me say that other writing were not inspired by God. I will say not everyone who claims to be inspired by God is. It has to line up exactly with the Holy Bible.


It says that we or angel preach another gospel let them be accursed. Read verse 8 & 9. Mormons preach another message.

Don't get me wrong I have known many Mormons they are really nice people. If I didn't know any better and was searching for something I'd probably be a Mormon. I have met with them in my home and we have had dicused the "scriptures" for many weeks. And we agreed on a lot of things. The straw that broke the camels back was the last time they were at my house they told me the original 12 apostles died and that was the end of the church until 12 more were establised here in the U.S.

My Bible tells me that no other foundation can be laid than that which is laid.

Ephesians 2:20
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

1 Corinthians 3:11
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Needless to say I no longer let a different gospel come in the doors of my home again.

2 John 1:10
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

Answer 2

So, when you talk about Paul's letter to the Galatians, what you are saying is that those taught by Christ has the wrong idea about what Christ himself actually taught them, and that Paul, who never met Christ, was setting the people straight?

Really, I think that Galatians is a much more convincing argument against Mormonism than Revelation. Anyone who has studied scripture does know that Revelation 22:18 does not speak of the Bible, but rather that specific prophecy. However, The Book of Mormon is definitely a different Gospel. It does not teach the same plan of Salvation that is outlined in the Bible.

This doesn't mean that I believe the Bible, merely that I see these two books teaching quite different things.

Answer 3

I think anti-mormons would say that you misinterpret the Bible.

Hyberbole as a literary technique, by the way, didn't really exist before the Renaissance. That doesn't mean no one used it, but it was quite rare, and the general population would not necessarily have understood it.

The Revelation scripture, obviously, you have interpreted more correctly than the evangelical front.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 is incorrectly interpreted by everyone, including the LDS Church.

Capitalctu also has a good answer on these specific scriptures.

These common misinterpretations aren't any more or less glaring than the common ones made by the LDS Church. For example, many LDS think that Ezekiel 37 (stick of Judah/Ephraim) refers to the Book of Mormon but entirely forget the context of the verse. The entire chapter is talking about the separation of the two kingdoms (Judah, headed by the Judaic tribe, and Israel, headed by the Ephraimic tribe), who were constantly at war. The prophecy was stating that the kingdoms would one day be rejoined. Israelite and Judaic kings often carried staffs or rods, which is the significance of the "sticks" of Judah (two staffs in one hand; i.e., both kingdoms governed by one King, being the Messiah). There are very few references in Jewish history to a "stick" referring to a scroll or book, but such references to kingdoms and kings are commonplace, especially in 650-700 BC, which was Ezekiel's time. Another LDS misinterpretation is Isaiah 29:13-14, which LDS people also say refers to the BoM. Again, within the context of the chapter, it can easily be understood as referring to the Book of Life, which is protected by the Seventh Seal, to be opened only upon the return of the Messiah.

Misinterpretation is in the eye of the beholder. The LDS Church doesn't have any more authority than the Catholic Church or the Southern Baptist Convention to say which interpretations are correct and which aren't.

Answer 4

Better question - why do so many Mormons misinterpret the Bible?

Not sure what you're getting at with the Gal. passage. Don't see how that verse would apply to anit-Mormonism - at least not by anyone who has actually read the passage and not just heard from somewhere...

The verse in Rev. does mean only the prophecy of Rev. and not the entire Bible.

The passage in Timothy does mean the Bible, though. Actually, in Paul's frame of reference, only the Torah would qualify, as that was all the scripture they had at the time.

Answer 5

Why do so many Mormons believe their 3 books above and beyond the Bible? By what authority do the Mormons maintain their own human priesthood which Christ did away with at the Cross and replaced with the New Covenant where He is our high priest which removes the need for an imperfect human priest?
By what authority do Mormons believe to communicate with the dead when God's Word says it is an abomination to communicate with the dead?
By what authority do Mormons believe they can achieve perfection when Jesus Himself said that all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God? No works can make a human into a God...when Joe Smith wrote his little fantasy, he had not actually read the entire Bible. That is why his book is so flawed and goes against the Word of God. PLUS--history has already proven that story false...but the Holy Bible has provided information that historians used to discover facts...such as the ancient city of Ur.

Answer 6

First of all I'm not against Mormons> I don't agree with doctrine. I believe the Bible is the word of god. I have problem with Mormons who think they know every thing. People can believe in what they want. I don't have problem with it. Galatians 1: 6-9 is what lead me out of Lds church. I"m Free a person, and happy of who I'm in Christ, thanks Jamie

Answer 7

I agree. The referance to Galatians means in gal. 1:7 "some people" refers to the judaizers: Judaizers is a pejorative term used, particularly after the third century, to describe Jewish Christian groups like the Ebionites and Nazarenes who believed that Greek followers of Jesus needed to go through circumcision - a shorthand term to describe the oral tradition of conversion of a Gentile into Jew in order to be able to keep the Jewish Law.
in Gal. 8 "eternally condemned" the greek word (anathema) originally referred to a pagan temple offering in payment for a vow. Later it came to represent a curse (see verse 9 romans 9:3 )
This scripture best describes not to listent o angels or worship angels like putting moroni on top of every temple.
colossians 2:18
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of ANGELS, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
2 Cornithians 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Dt. 4:2 Dt.12:32. in referance to Rev. 22:18. Some mormons claim that Joseph smith used the urim and thummin to translate the Bof M story of the use of the Urim and Thummin: "An examination of the foregoing eyewitness testimonies produces the following consensus on the method of translation of the Book of Mormon:
(1) Nephite interpreters often called "Urim and Thummim" were found with the plates on Hill Cumorah; [my note: The words "Urim and Thummim" were never used to describe the stones until after the Book of Mormon was published. Even then the term was first used by people other than Joseph Smith.]
(2) these interpreters were used first in the translation of the plates;
(3) the portion translated by use of the interpreters was copied into 116 pages of foolscap and was later lost by Martin Harris;
(4) because of the loss of the first 116 pages of translation, the interpreters were permanently taken away [June/July 1828];
(5) the Book of Mormon that we have today was translated by use of the seer stone;
(6) Smith translated by placing the seer stone in a hat and covering his face with his hat to darken his eyes;
(7) the plates were not used in the translating process and often were not even in sight during the translation;
(8) other persons were sometimes in the room while Smith dictated to a scribe; and
(9) [almost] all witnesses agree to these facts.
Here is the real use of the Urim and Thummin:For example, in 1 Samuel 14:37 Saul asks, " Shall I go down after the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel?" The King James version of the Old Testament states, "He answered him not that day" : the stones, when drawn, were mixed in color. Other references to this sort of decision making are found in Exodus 28:90, where it states "and thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummin; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the Lord: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually"; in Leviticus 8:8, we read, "and he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and Thummin."
2 Tim. 3:16 actually only means the O.T. because at the time the N.T. wasn't evne added to the bible at the time.
Somethings to consider.

Answer 8

misinterpretations come from people reading based on someone else's belief. Would you please read the Bible with a fresh mind, uninfluenced by some 1/2 truth you heard? Start with a prayer, grateful we have scriptures to read. Ask for the truth to reveal itself to you in the reading you are about to do so that you will grow closer to GOD's love.

Answer 9

The problem lies with the writings of their companion book The writings of Joseph Smith.They follow after the wrong teachings. The Bible Is the only truth. God has said It Is a dangerous thing to add or take away from His word.

Answer 10

The mormon "edition" of the Bible is edited - why would that be necessary?
Do you think that earning your way to becoming a "god" is in line with Christianity?
And, we die on our own, no eternal marriages - God ordains things that way, we do not revise it.
And Jesus was incarnated through the Holy Spirit, and is the Son of God - no human man involved.

These are flaws that are opposed to Christianity that are believed by Mormons.
Wake up.

Answer 11

what does rev 22/18 mean then???
Im not anti, but I feel that once you start putting
your faith into Joseph Smith or John ???...
It does take away from the new testament.
you can pray and get meaning from god,
I dont carry a book that my pastor wrote and
hand it to people along with the bible.