Smile2Jannah Extra

How misused: Repeatedly misinterprets God's 'rest' on the seventh day as implying fatigue or weakness, rather than a cessation of creative activity and an establishment of a pattern for humanity.

Scripture's answer: The biblical account of God 'resting' (שָׁבַת, shabbat) on the seventh day signifies the completion and cessation of His creative work, establishing a divine pattern for humanity's Sabbath rest, not exhaustion or physical limitation (Gen 2:2-3; Ex 20:8-11). God does not tire (Isa 40:28).

How misused: Cited as evidence that Jesus supports a Unitarian understanding of God akin to the Islamic Shahada, explicitly denying the Trinity. It isolates the verse from its Christological context where Jesus also claims oneness with the Father (John 10:30, 14:9).

Scripture's answer: John 17:3 states, 'And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.' This verse affirms the Father as 'the only true God' but does not negate the divinity of Jesus Christ. In the broader context of John's Gospel, Jesus asserts His divine equality and unity with the Father (John 1:1, 10:30, 14:9, 20:28), stating that 'whoever has seen me has seen the Father' (John 14:9). The verse is about the unique relationship between the Father and the Son, not a denial of the Son's co-equality in the Godhead.

How misused: Claimed that Paul encouraged slaves not to seek freedom, misinterpreting the nuance of his advice within a specific cultural context.

Scripture's answer: 1 Corinthians 7:21 advises slaves, 'Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it. But if you are able to gain your freedom, take advantage of it instead.' Paul's advice acknowledges the reality of slavery but encourages freedom if possible, and ultimately calls believers to spiritual freedom in Christ, not perpetual servitude (1 Cor 7:22-23; Gal 3:28).

How misused: Implies that Jesus' authority was 'given' to him at this point, thereby denying his inherent co-equality and eternal divine authority. The wording 'all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me' is interpreted as a temporal conferral of authority rather than a declaration of his incarnate authority following his resurrection.

Scripture's answer: Matthew 28:18 states, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.' This declaration, made after Jesus' resurrection, signifies the full manifestation and exercise of His inherent divine authority in His incarnate, glorified state. It does not imply a lack of authority before the incarnation or a temporary, subordinate authority, as Yeshua is eternally God, co-equal with the Father (John 1:1-3, 10:30, 14:9).

How misused: Misrepresented as Jesus teaching 'immoral actions' or 'rape and pay' laws, linking it incorrectly to Jesus and ignoring its Old Testament context as a compensatory law protecting the victim within ancient legal frameworks, distinct from modern understandings of rape.

Scripture's answer: Deuteronomy 22:28-29 is a law from the Torah regarding a man who rapes a virgin not betrothed. It mandates that he must pay her father fifty shekels of silver and take her as his wife, never to divorce her. This was a compensatory law in ancient Israel, designed to provide for the victim in a society where an un-betrothed, non-virgin woman would have severely diminished prospects. It is a punitive measure against the man, not an endorsement of rape, and is part of the Mosaic Law given to Israel, not a teaching from Jesus. The Torah teaches justice and protection for the vulnerable (Ex 22:16-17).

How misused: Misrepresented as a command to indiscriminately kill disbelievers, similar to a 'Taqiyya' argument, to project Islamic violence onto Christianity.

Scripture's answer: Exodus 22:20 (KJV 22:19) states, 'Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction.' This refers to idolatry within ancient Israel, a covenant violation within a specific socio-religious context, not a universal command to kill all disbelievers or 'Taqiyya' (lying) for Christians. The context is national idolatry, not interfaith violence in general. The Torah defines specific boundaries for Israel's covenant with God (Ex 20:1-6).

How misused: Claimed as an irreconcilable contradiction regarding the death of Judas, demonstrating biblical unreliability.

Scripture's answer: Matthew 27:5 states Judas 'hanged himself.' Acts 1:18 states he 'fell headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines spilled out.' These accounts are complementary, not contradictory. Matthew describes the *method* of death (hanging), while Acts describes the *result* or *consequence* of that hanging (e.g., the rope broke, he fell, and his body burst open). Ancient historical accounts often provide different details of the same event without contradicting the core narrative (e.g., Josephus, Antiquities 12.1.2; see also Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 1.7.3).