10 More Popular Bible 'Verses' That Aren't Actually in the Bible
After readers responded to an initial round-up of some of the most commonly cited phrases that are either misquotes or have been wrongly attributed to the Bible, it became abundantly clear that another installment of 10 popular Bible "verses" was in order.
1. "When praises go up blessings come down"
Their's no scripture in the bible that says, when the praises go up blessings come down.. Good preaching but bad teaching..
— Tim Clinton (@TimDClinton) January 23, 2013
The phrase, which is the title of a few popular worship songs, may sound like a line from the Book of Proverbs, but it's not in the Bible. Some have suggested that its Scriptural link can be found in Psalm 67, a song that calls on God's people to praise Him and for Him to bless His people.
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2. "God helps those who help themselves"
God doesn't help those who help themselves. He helps those who turn to him.
— Rick Warren (@RickWarren) April 16, 2013
While this phrase sounds like it definitely comes from Scripture, it actually isn't recorded anywhere in the Bible. The phrase "God helps those who help themselves" is credited to the Greek storyteller Aesop (and Benjamin Franklin). It's been suggested the phrase is a favorite among pickpockets and shoplifters.
3. "God will never give you more than you can bear"
This common phrase appears to be a misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 10:13: "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." Is the verse about victory over temptation, or a pass on utterly difficult situations?
4. "Touch and agree"
While the King James Version of Matthew 18:19 partially states "That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing...," the phrase has come to mean, to some Christians, that they are to literally touch, make physical contact, when petitioning God to show their agreement on a matter.
5. "This too shall pass"
Is this something God said to Moses as he led the Hebrew people out of Egypt? Nope. It's a proverb — and not a proverb from the Bible. Instead, the phrase is said to have its roots in Sufism but also has been linked, wrongly, to King Solomon.
6. "Love the sinner, hate the sin"
A general attitude professed by Christians, but not actually a passage of Scripture. The phrase, attributed to Saint Augustine ("with love for mankind and hatred of sins"), was also adopted by Mohandas Gandhi in his autobiography The Story of My Experiments with Truth as "hate the sin and not the sinner."
7. "A fool and his money are soon parted"
The author of the Book of Proverbs is not responsible for this saying, which actually has its roots in an old British proverb.
8. "To thine own self be true"
You can search the Bible all day for this one, but you won't find it. Instead, try "Hamlet," the Shakespearean tragedy. "This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man," says Polonius to his son, Laertes.
9. "Charity begins at home"
While not included in the Bible, the popular saying was expressed by 14th century British theologian John Wycliffe (in German): "Charite schuld bigyne at hem-self."
10. "A penny saved is a penny earned"
This phrase seems like it may come from the Book of Proverbs, but "a penny saved is a penny earned" is not in the Bible at all. It's believe the saying goes as far back as the 17th century, although some wrongly claim that Benjamin Franklin coined the phrase. Franklin did write "a penny saved is twopence dear" ... as well as "fish and visitors smell (stink) in three days."
