Scriptures I Misunderstood Until I Read Them in Context – Part 1

Welcome to a new series on Walking by Faith with Char called “Scriptures I Misunderstood Until I Read Them in Context.” In each post, I’ll share a verse I once misunderstood, what I discovered as I studied it in context, and how God used that discovery to deepen my faith. My prayer is that this series encourages you to become a student of God’s Word alongside me.

Key Scripture

“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”

— 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV)

Introduction

I don’t know about you, but I’ve taken many Scriptures from the Bible and used them out of context. We are taught about context clues in school, yet somehow we forget to use them when we’re reading the Word of God.

Sometimes we take certain verses and apply them to justify our own lives or even the lives of others without first asking what the passage actually meant.

Lately, this has been weighing heavily on my heart.

As I was reading 1 Corinthians 14:33, I felt the Lord gently correcting me. For years, I had applied this verse to situations where I didn’t have peace about a decision because I had often heard people say, “If you don’t have peace about it, it’s not from God.”

But when I read the chapter in its entirety, I realized Paul wasn’t talking about personal decision-making at all.

Understanding the Context

Paul was writing to the church in Corinth because their worship services had become disorderly. Believers were speaking over one another, exercising spiritual gifts without order, and creating confusion during their gatherings.

Paul’s desire was for the church to worship in a way that reflected God’s character—a God of peace, order, and not confusion.

As I continued reading, I realized I had been applying this verse in a way Paul never intended.

That doesn’t mean the verse isn’t relevant to my life. It means I first need to understand what God was saying to the original audience before I can rightly apply it to my own life.

That realization led me to ask the Lord:

“What are You saying in this passage? What did it mean to the people it was originally written to? And now that I understand the context, how should I apply this truth to my life?”

Confusion vs. Uncertainty

One thing God has been showing me is that there is a difference between confusion and uncertainty.

Confusion, in the context of this passage, refers to disorder and chaos. Uncertainty, however, is something many of God’s people experienced while faithfully following Him.

Abraham left his homeland without knowing where God was leading him.

Moses questioned whether he was the right person to lead Israel.

Mary didn’t understand everything the angel told her about becoming the mother of Jesus, yet she trusted God anyway.

None of them had the full picture, but they still walked by faith.

That encouraged me because I’ve learned that following God doesn’t always mean I’ll have every answer before I take the next step. Sometimes He simply asks me to trust Him.

Walking by faith doesn’t mean having complete certainty—it means having confidence in the One who is leading me.

Becoming a Student of God’s Word

I believe God is calling me to become a student of His Word—not just someone who reads isolated verses, but someone who seeks to understand the whole counsel of Scripture.

I don’t want to simply know Bible verses; I want to know God’s heart.

That requires slowing down, reading passages in context, asking questions, and allowing God’s Word to shape my understanding instead of fitting Scripture into what I’ve always believed.

The more I study Scripture in its proper context, the more I discover the beauty, consistency, and faithfulness of God throughout His Word.

A Challenge for This Week

As you read your Bible this week, don’t stop at one verse.

Read the verses before it and after it.

Ask yourself:

• Who is speaking?
• Who are they speaking to?
• What is happening in this chapter?
• What was the author’s purpose?
• How should I apply this truth to my life today?

You may be surprised by what God reveals when you slow down and study His Word in context.

Looking Ahead

Over the next few posts, I’ll be diving into Scriptures I Misunderstood Until I Read Them in Context.

My prayer is that, through what God has been teaching me, you’ll be encouraged to dig deeper into His Word alongside me.

I don’t claim to know everything, but I do know this: every time we study God’s Word in its proper context, we gain a greater understanding of His character, His truth, and His heart for His people.

And I think that’s a journey worth taking together.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your Word and for the way it continues to teach, correct, and transform me. Forgive me for the times I’ve read verses without taking the time to understand their context. Give me a heart that longs to know You more deeply and a desire to rightly handle Your truth.

Teach me to slow down, ask questions, and allow Your Word to shape my life. May I never settle for knowing only isolated verses but seek to understand the fullness of Your message. As I walk by faith, help me to trust You even when I don’t have every answer, knowing that You are always faithful.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.