Things Not To Do With The Bible

Things not to do with the Bible can be drawn from Satan’s attack on Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.

1) Question (or slander) it. “Has God indeed said…?” the devil asked (3:1), when both he and Eve know full well God had! In effect, Satan seeks to ridicule God’s Word, in the process casting doubt on His goodness.

2) Add to it. “Nor shall you touch it…” (3:3a)–which God had not said (cf. 2:17). Eve has begun to take Satan’s side, representing the Lord as unfairly harsh.

3) Subtract from (or weaken) it. “Lest you die (3:3b, lest perhaps, in case you might). But God had said “You shall surely die” (2:17). Eve weakens the impact of God’s holy Word, implying a possible inconsistency on His part.

4) Reject (deny) it. “You will not surely die” (3:4). Satan builds on Eve’s growing uncertainty, now impugning God as a liar.

5) Disobey it. “She took of its fruit and ate (3:6a). Eve replaced God’s standard with her own, in essence becoming her own god.

6) Tempt others to disobey it. “She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate” (3:6b). The tempted becomes the tempter, urging the devil’s ways upon another. Eve, the first missionary!

7) Evade responsibility for it. “The woman whom You gave me…she gave me of the fruit….The serpent deceived me…” (3:12-13). Denying responsibility for sin stands in the way of true repentance and reconciliation. It is one more of the things not to do with the Bible.