How to Handle Tough Passages
The Bible is a big book and it contains passages that are both easy and hard to understand.
Easy ones are clear and explicit. When there are a lot of similar, easy passages, these tend to be fundamental doctrines.
Harder passages take careful consideration of the passage’s context as well as comparisons to other similar verses. However, many hard passages can still be understood through diligent Bible study.
Then, there are passages that seem near impossible to understand. They seem like they don’t fit the context or there doesn’t seem to be any other place in the Bible that gives clear supporting information. These passages are hard for everyone, even “the experts” or writers of Bible commentaries.
One of these tough passages is 1 Corinthians 7. To start, in the first verse, we learn that Paul is addressing things that were written in a letter to him before.
“[1] Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” – 1 Corinthians 7:1
Right off the bat, we learn there are some things we don’t know about and there is an odd instruction. While further reading gives some context, we don’t have all the information.
Additionally, we learn later in the passage that there is an unknown “present distress.” People speculate, but it is impossible to know for sure.
“[26] I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.” – 1 Corinthians 7:26
This precedes a long passage that handles marriage, re-marriage, and somewhat contradictory advice that seems to indicate staying single is better than marriage. We know that marriage is a beautiful institution of God and is instructed in other places as a good thing:
“[14] I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.” – 1 Timothy 5:14
Whether single or married, the point of the chapter is to be content in Christ and abide in your earthly circumstance (Php 4:11-13, 1Co 7:20-24). This theme is clear and repeated multiple times. In Christ, you are complete, regardless of your marital status (Col 2:10).
Now, just because we come across a tough passage, doesn’t mean we throw it out or don’t seek to understand it to the best of our abilities. After all, all Scripture is profitable (1Ti 3:16).
What should we do when we face an extremely difficult passage?
Find, if any, verses in the Bible that may provide clarity. A concordance or Bible study software is your best friend here. Try to develop a loosely held interpretation if your study doesn’t provide the clarity you desire.
After you’ve done your due diligence, it can be helpful to consult other commentaries or resources on the subject, at least to gather what other potential explanations could be. Don’t do this first, as this will most definitely bias your interpretation. Additionally, Bible commentators are not the arbiters of truth. Even if you respect the teacher, it doesn’t mean they’re right. Beware of teachers who confidently plant a flag in extremely tough passages.
Don’t sacrifice the clarity of fundamental doctrines or “easy verses” for the sake of trying to solve the hard. Many try this approach and develop heretical teachings that can be cancerous to their own or others Christian walk. Don’t twist or change the verses to fit your worldview either. Redefining words, adding to them, or subtracting from them is the wrong approach to Bible study and shows you care more about supporting your opinion than you care about conforming to God’s truth.
When all is said and done, sometimes there is no clear explanation. Sometimes it is better not to know than to have a terrible answer. Being dogmatic on an uncertain passage showcases pride, and regardless of whether or not a passage is clear, we always need humility before God in Bible study because He is always true.
“…let God be true, but every man a liar;…” – Romans 3:4
