{"id":43939,"date":"2025-10-14T01:25:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T07:25:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/?post_type=blog&p=43939"},"modified":"2025-09-12T11:39:03","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T17:39:03","slug":"caution-fake-bible-verses-ahead","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/blog\/caution-fake-bible-verses-ahead\/","title":{"rendered":"Caution: Fake Bible Verses Ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"

What if the Bible verse you just shared on Instagram \u2026 isn\u2019t in the Bible?<\/p>\n

I recently saw a reel<\/a> where a seminary student was asked if certain verses were real. One read, \u201cMatthew 18:19: He prayed for her, she prayed for him, and God smiled knowing that their names are already written next to each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sounds nice, right? But it\u2019s not in the Bible. The real Matthew 18:19 says, \u201cAgain I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seeing this obvious discrepancy kind of freaked me out. I\u2019ve never considered the possibility of people rewriting Bible verses. Honestly, I was shocked by how many people commented \u201cAmen\u201d to the fake verse \u2014 assuming, no doubt, that the verse was actually part of Scripture. The seminary student did an Instagram search and found dozens more pseudo-verses. He wrapped up the reel by urging viewers toward biblical literacy.<\/p>\n

You’ve been duped<\/h4>\n

I didn\u2019t know fake verses were a thing, but I guess I shouldn\u2019t be surprised. I grew up in the era of the commercial<\/a> that joked, \u201cThey can’t put anything on the internet that isn’t true.\u201d Back then, it was clearly satire. But today? I worry that our culture has lost discernment. Too often, we fail to question what we scroll past.<\/p>\n

After the above incident, I saw another reel<\/a> where a pastor shared with his congregation his concern that if he added to the Bible during a sermon, most wouldn\u2019t notice because they didn\u2019t have their Bibles in front of them. His point? We need to know Scripture ourselves \u2014 thoroughly and accurately \u2014 especially in a world of reels, memes and even AI generated content.<\/p>\n

I think generally I\u2019m a pretty curious person. I question things before I accept them, though there are times I share something I learned with my husband and he\u2019ll say, \u201cCite your source.\u201d Often it\u2019s a reel I\u2019m referencing, so I\u2019m definitely not perfect in vetting my sources.<\/p>\n

I do, however, feel some conviction about how often I just believe what I see when I\u2019m scrolling. That fake verse from Matthew would have made me pause, but if I\u2019m honest, I don\u2019t always double-check or validate everything I consume.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t always carry my Bible to church, either. \u00a0While I don\u2019t think most pastors are out to trick us or use verses out of context (though they too are sinners and make mistakes), just like the seminary student pointed out, a knowledge of God\u2019s Word is crucial. Here are a few suggestions to help you increase your biblical literacy.<\/p>\n

1. Look it up yourself.<\/strong> When you read or hear a biblical passage or reference, look it up in a physical Bible or on a trusted Bible app like YouVersion. See with your own eyes whether that verse says what the person said it did; it\u2019s a good habit to have.<\/p>\n

2. Use discernment.<\/strong> If you hear something that sounds \u201cscriptural\u201d but you aren\u2019t sure, listen to that check in your spirit and dig for the truth<\/a>. If you only know a few words of the verse or concept, google them and find the source. Be cautious of trusting the AI summary at the top. Let it be a tool to help you identify the Bible passage, then look it up (see point number one).<\/p>\n

3. Ask questions.<\/strong> Ask questions of trusted mentors or spiritual leaders. If you hear or see something that you aren\u2019t sure about, ask them to help you understand. It\u2019s OK to ask questions. One of my favorite sayings is that \u201cthe truth is unafraid of questioning.\u201d If it\u2019s biblically sound and scripturally correct, then the proof will be there. And like my husband reminds me: cite your source!<\/p>\n

4. Know the context.<\/strong> Biblical accuracy isn\u2019t just about knowing a single verse; it\u2019s about knowing the surrounding narrative (the verses leading up to and following the verse in question), the author, and the audience. A study Bible and other reference books<\/a> can be a huge help with this. These elements<\/a> help you fully understand what was originally intended by the text. If you know the original intent, it\u2019s easier to determine whether what you\u2019re seeing online or elsewhere is being taken out of context.<\/p>\n

To spot a counterfeit, know the real thing<\/h4>\n

Scripture tells us to have God\u2019s Word written on our heart<\/a>. It is crucial for us to know what God\u2019s Word actually says so we can discern truth from lies.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to memorize the Bible or learn it all in one sitting. Simply by spending consistent time in God\u2019s Word and referencing your Bible when verses are mentioned, you\u2019ll be surprised to find how quickly it is stored in your mind and heart and able to be recalled (Psalm 119:11<\/a>). I\u2019m always shocked when I can finish my pastor\u2019s sentence as he quotes Scripture. I don\u2019t know when or how I learned most of the verses I have memorized, I just know they come out of nowhere because they are written on my heart.<\/p>\n

So the next time you hear or see a verse quoted, pause and look it up<\/a>. It may be the habit that keeps your faith rooted in truth. Let\u2019s follow that seminary student\u2019s advice and work to be a generation that is biblically literate.<\/p>\n

Copyright 2025 Focus on the Family. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

People are taking the Bible out of context \u2014 or worse \u2014 making it up entirely. Here\u2019s why knowing God\u2019s Word is critical to avoiding the danger of false teaching. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102,"featured_media":43941,"menu_order":0,"template":"","categories":[4,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43939","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faith","category-spiritual-growth"],"yoast_head":"\nCaution: Fake Bible Verses Ahead - Boundless<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"People are taking the Bible out of context and\/or making it up entirely. 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