Bible Myths from My Comment Section Part 1: 25 Things You Thought Were in the Bible (But Aren’t)
A myth-busting journey through scripture, culture, and centuries of distortion.
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Most believers grow up with a version of the Bible that’s not just edited—it’s reinvented. Sermons, songs, and Sunday school stories blend with cultural assumptions until tradition feels like scripture. But what if many of the most widely believed "biblical truths"... aren't actually in the Bible at all?
This article is a collection of 25 short, researched entries—each verified against mainstream biblical scholarship—that reveal the gap between what people think the Bible says and what it actually says. It’s not about mocking faith—it’s about freeing minds from inherited assumptions. If truth matters, then tradition must make way for clarity.
Let’s begin.
#1
CLAIM: The Bible never says there were three wise men.
FACT: It says magi came bearing gifts—but gives no number. The idea of “three kings” came from the number of gifts and a Christmas carol written in 1857. They’re not called kings, they aren’t named, and they visit Jesus in a house, not a manger. The nativity scenes most people cherish are built on tradition, not scripture.
#2
CLAIM: “God helps those who help themselves” is a Bible verse.
FACT: It’s from Benjamin Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanack. The Bible often says the opposite—emphasizing care for the poor, the powerless, the widow, and the orphan. Christianity today often sounds more like capitalism than compassion. But that wasn’t the original message.
#3
CLAIM: “Spare the rod, spoil the child” is in the Bible.
FACT: That phrase comes from a 17th-century poem by Samuel Butler. While Proverbs does mention a “rod,” in ancient context, it referred to guidance—not beatings. Shepherds used rods to guide sheep, not strike them. Sadly, this misquote has been used to justify abuse under the guise of godly discipline.
#4
CLAIM: “The truth shall set you free” encourages open-mindedness.
FACT: In John 8:31–32, Jesus says this only after “If you hold to my teaching…” In context, the “truth” is theological submission—not intellectual or scientific inquiry. It’s not an invitation to explore—it’s a demand to obey.
#5
CLAIM: Mary Magdalene was a prostitute.
FACT: The Bible never calls her that. In 591 CE, Pope Gregory I conflated her with an unnamed sinner—smearing her legacy. She was actually a devoted follower of Jesus and the first witness to the resurrection. This was less a case of confusion and more an act of patriarchal erasure.
#6
CLAIM: The Bible always condemned homosexuality.
FACT: The word “homosexual” wasn’t added to any Bible until 1946. The original Greek words—like arsenokoitai—are rare and debated, often linked to exploitation or temple abuse. Modern condemnation of LGBTQ+ people rests on mistranslation and projection—not faithful reading.
#7
CLAIM: The rapture is in the Bible.
FACT: The idea of believers vanishing into the sky before tribulation was invented in 1830 by John Nelson Darby. It gained popularity through fiction like Left Behind. The Bible talks about resurrection and renewal, not escape. Rapture theology is modern fanfiction with ancient branding.
#8
CLAIM: Lucifer is another name for Satan.
FACT: The term “Lucifer” appears once—in Isaiah 14—referring to a Babylonian king, not a fallen angel. The Latin translation introduced “Lucifer,” and later Christian tradition twisted it into a Satan origin story. Ancient Jewish readers never made that connection.
#9
CLAIM: Jesus was born in a stable.
FACT: The Bible never mentions a barn, animals, or hay. It simply says he was laid in a manger. In 1st-century homes, animals often slept in the lower room of the house—so “no room at the inn” could have meant “stay with family.” The rustic nativity scene is a European invention.
#10
CLAIM: There’s only one set of Ten Commandments.
FACT: The Bible contains at least three versions: Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5, and Exodus 34. Each list differs. Ironically, the one labeled “These are the Ten Commandments” (Exodus 34) includes rituals like “Do not boil a goat in its mother’s milk.” The list you memorized is curated—not original.
#11
CLAIM: The Bible is one book.
FACT: It’s a library of texts written by dozens of authors, across multiple centuries, languages, and cultures. It includes poetry, law, myth, history, letters, and apocalyptic visions. To treat it as a single, unified work is to ignore its deeply human origins.
#12
CLAIM: Jesus was a Christian.
FACT: Jesus was a Jewish rabbi who taught Jewish apocalyptic ideas. He followed Jewish law, attended synagogue, and referenced Hebrew scriptures. The term “Christian” was applied to his followers later—first in Antioch (Acts 11:26). Christianity is about Jesus, but Jesus wasn’t part of it.
#13
CLAIM: The Bible forbids tattoos.
FACT: Leviticus 19:28 forbids marking the body as part of mourning rituals for the dead—practices from neighboring pagan cultures. Applying this to modern tattoos is a stretch, especially since most Christians ignore the other rules in that chapter, like not wearing blended fabrics.
#14
CLAIM: The Bible is anti-abortion.
FACT: Abortion is never directly addressed. But Numbers 5 outlines a priestly ritual that induces miscarriage in a woman suspected of infidelity. If anything, the fetus is treated as property or potential—not a person with full rights.
#15
CLAIM: The Bible says life begins at conception.
FACT: Genesis says life begins with breath—“God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” Hebrew law doesn’t count a fetus in census or legal status. The obsession with fetal personhood is a modern political issue, not a biblical one.
#16
CLAIM: The Bible forbids divorce.
FACT: Both the Old and New Testaments allow divorce under certain conditions. Jesus discouraged it but made exceptions (Matthew 19:9). Paul even tells believers to allow it if an unbelieving partner leaves (1 Cor. 7:15). Churches often weaponize “God hates divorce” without offering context.
#17
CLAIM: God wrote the Bible.
FACT: The Bible was written, edited, and compiled by humans. Even the parts said to be “God-breathed” are claims within the text—not external evidence. The only place God is said to write anything directly is the Ten Commandments—and even that varies by account.
#18
CLAIM: Jesus always preached peace.
FACT: He said, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matt. 10:34). He disrupted systems, rebuked leaders, and upended expectations. His message wasn’t passive—it was radical and dangerous enough to get him killed.
#19
CLAIM: The Bible is all literal history.
FACT: It contains myth, poetry, allegory, and parable. The Garden of Eden resembles Mesopotamian origin myths. Job is a poetic thought experiment. Revelation is apocalyptic symbolism. Literalism is modern—not original.
#20
CLAIM: Jesus was white.
FACT: He was a brown-skinned, Aramaic-speaking Jew from the Middle East. The white Jesus of Western art is a colonial projection that shaped theology and politics, reinforcing cultural dominance.
#21
CLAIM: Biblical marriage is one man and one woman.
FACT: The Bible includes polygamy, concubines, and arranged marriages. Abraham, Jacob, David, and Solomon all had multiple wives. “Biblical marriage” means whatever the culture wanted it to—just like today.
#22
CLAIM: The Bible teaches democracy.
FACT: It describes kings, patriarchs, and theocracy—not voting rights or equal representation. Concepts like individual liberty and human rights are Enlightenment values—not biblical inventions.
#23
CLAIM: Christians must tithe 10%.
FACT: Tithing was an Old Testament system to support Levites, festivals, and the poor. In the New Testament, giving is voluntary and based on ability (2 Cor. 9:7). The 10% rule survives mostly for church budgets.
#24
CLAIM: The Bible prohibits women from leading.
FACT: Deborah was a judge. Junia was called “outstanding among the apostles.” Priscilla taught theology. Yet, selective reading has silenced women and weaponized Paul’s letters. The Bible is both empowering and patriarchal—it depends which parts are emphasized.
#25
CLAIM: The Bible is pro-capitalism.
FACT: The Bible commands debt forgiveness, communal sharing, and prioritizes the poor. Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and money.” The prosperity gospel is a modern invention, not a biblical truth.
📬 Don’t miss Bible Myths Part 2! This kind of research, writing, and myth-busting takes time and energy. If you find it valuable, your support is deeply appreciated. Upgrade today for only $6.66 a month (yes 666 was intentional). I appreciate you! Upgrade now and I’ll email you when Part 2 is released.