The Bible records the words and actions of many people, including people who obeyed God and people who disobeyed Him. Therefore, we must not assume that every statement recorded in Scripture expresses God’s approval.

We need to identify who is speaking and understand the purpose of the passage.

What Does the Bible Say?

Genesis 3:4 (KJV)

“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:”

These were the serpent’s words to Eve in the Garden of Eden. The Bible records what the serpent said, but that does not mean God approved of the statement. The passage describes the serpent’s deception.

Consider another example:

Job 42:7 (KJV)

“And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.”

God corrected Job’s friends because they had not spoken rightly about Him.

Example

If you read a conversation in the Bible where someone tells a lie, you should not treat that lie as a teaching from God. Instead, examine the passage to understand what happened and what it teaches.

Remember

The Bible truthfully records what people said and did, but not every recorded statement is approved by God. Always consider the speaker and the context.