The Biblical and Christian Worldview
for the 21st Century

Some Interesting Bible Verses to Consider

Here, I will comment on some Bible verses that are commonly misunderstood or not applied as they should.

I Peter 4:8 “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.”

This verse is often used to counter Jesus’ commands in Matthew 5:23-24 and Matthew 18:15-17 that believers who have offended the other should immediately go and get the matter reconciled.  From Matthew 5:23, the importance of the matter supersedes worship.

But I Peter 4:8 can be re-translated using Jesus own words in another place.  Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).  Thus, love is keeping Jesus’ (all of God’s) commandments of the Old and New Testaments.

Thus, I Peter 4:8 is re-translated, “Above all, keep fervent in ‘keeping all of God’s commandments’ towards one another, because ‘keeping all of God’s commandments’ covers a multitude of sins.”

It is strange that God has provided the precise mechanism for disagreements and hurts between brethren in the verses cited of Matthew 5 and 18, yet Christians still look for excuses not to go.   He even provided for others to be involved should the two offending parties not be reconciled on their own (Matthew 18:16-17).  I have shown by substituting Jesus’ own definition of love in I Peter 4:8 that that verse cannot be used to avoid the “going.”  If fact that verse, as correctly translated here, actually says the opposite.  “Love is the fulfillment of the commands to ‘go’ to each other.

Now, who are you at odds with?  “Go, now, quickly.”  Apart from not knowing some basic doctrines (Hebrews 6:1-3), there is no greater problem in the church today.