Hard Words – The truth isn’t always easy to hear
I attend an aquafit class regularly. My goal is to work out five days a week, but it doesn’t always work that way; sometimes life gets in the way.
I have been attending for a couple of years now, and have gotten to know the “regulars” to some degree or another. During the 15-minute gaps between one class ending and the next class starting, there is a brief informal social time. Usually, it’s just polite, casual social chit-chat.
Sometimes, though, we get into some deeply theological questions. Many of the regulars know that I served as a pastor, and they will, at times, ask me a question or share a struggle.
Recently, a lady was discussing how much she dislikes some of Paul’s teachings and how she believed they were “slipped into” the Bible by Constantine. We talked about the formation of the canon.
Then we got to the heart of the matter: she didn’t like a verse where she felt Paul was being incredibly misogynistic. We had a further conversation about the need to understand the cultural context in which Paul was writing and the background of what was happening. There were some hard words there.
By then, the class was about to start, so she ended with, “That might be so, but I don’t think his writings should be in the Bible.”
When I got home, I was discussing the conversation with Kathy. She reminded me of what Peter said about Paul and his writing.
Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:14-18
Peter clearly accepted Paul’s teaching as Scripture. Peter also admitted that some of the things Paul said may be difficult to understand, but we ignore them or twist them at our peril. There can be hard words in the Bible.
God didn’t give Scripture for us to pick and choose what we like or don’t like on a whim. We aren’t to ignore its teaching. If there is something we don’t like in Scripture, we need to reexamine our own hearts and understanding.
The Holy Spirit inspired the entirety of the Word, and we can trust it. The Word is the revelation of God, and when it disagrees with our likes or understanding, we are the ones in the wrong.
Read the Word. Read the word. Read the Word. Trust the Word, even the hard words.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed,
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
From Gleanings From The Word (Kevin Corbin, 2001– ), a Scripture-based devotional work.