QUESTION:
CAN ONE VERSE DISPROVE THE REST OF WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS?
ANSWER:
One verse cannot and should not be used to disprove or cancel the rest of the Bible.
There is a growing danger among modern religious movements—and even in individual Bible readers—of building an entire theology around a single verse or two. Throughout history, many cult leaders have claimed that they were “enlightened” by one passage of Scripture, and in doing so, ignored the broader counsel of the Word of God. This form of selective Bible reading does not lead people to the truth—it leads them into deception.
The Bible warns us not to be tossed around by every wind of doctrine. We are not called to extract isolated verses to support our personal views. We are called to listen, study, and obey “the entirety of Your word” (Psalm 119:160), for it is truth.
The Dangers of Isolated Theology
One of the most dangerous trends in modern Christianity is the tendency to latch on to a single verse or two and disregard everything else. Some teachers today base their entire ministry or religious system on one misunderstood passage. They twist the Scriptures to fit a personal belief rather than letting the Bible shape their theology.
Jesus warned about this kind of misuse. In Matthew 22:29, He told the Sadducees, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.” They were experts in one portion of Scripture but failed to see the full picture.
Paul likewise warned the Ephesian church: “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). We are to learn from the entire Bible, not cherry-pick.
One Verse Cannot Cancel the Rest
The Bible was not written as a set of isolated soundbites. It is a unified message inspired by the Holy Spirit. When one verse seems to contradict another, it is not because one is true and the other is false—it is because we must learn to harmonize the Scriptures.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
To uphold one verse while rejecting others is not only poor theology—it’s dangerous. The devil himself used this method when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. He quoted Psalm 91:11-12, but Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16—“It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” (Matthew 4:7). Jesus demonstrated that Scripture must interpret Scripture.
The Importance of Harmonizing Verses
Let’s look at a few examples where apparent contradictions exist, but the solution is not to discard verses, but to harmonize them.
1. Salvation: Repent or Believe?
Some argue that salvation comes by repentance, while others argue for faith alone. But what does the Bible say?
- Jesus said: “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5).
- John the Baptist preached: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2).
- Peter said: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).
- Paul said: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
Are these contradicting each other? Not at all. The truth is, genuine faith is always accompanied by repentance, and true repentance always results in faith. We are saved by grace through faith, but the kind of faith that saves is not intellectual assent alone—it is a repentant, surrendered faith that trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ.
If we focus only on “repentance,” we may end up with people who try to change their ways without ever trusting in Christ. If we focus only on “believe,” we may end up with unrepented believers who still live rejecting God in their hearts.
The complete Gospel message calls for both repentance and faith, as Paul preached:
“Testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).
2. Jesus: Is He God or Man?
Another example is the question of Jesus’ nature. Some verses clearly teach that Jesus is God:
- “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
- “And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:28).
- “Who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God” (Philippians 2:6).
Yet others seem to portray Jesus as lesser than God:
- “My Father is greater than I” (John 14:28).
- The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do” (John 5:19).
- “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32).
These are not contradictions. They are expressions of Jesus in His humanity. The eternal Son of God became flesh (John 1:14) and lived in submission to the Father during His earthly ministry. He did not stop being God, but He chose to lay aside His glory to fulfill the plan of redemption (Philippians 2:7-8).
To deny His divinity because of His humanity—or to deny His humanity because of His divinity—is to fall into serious error. The full truth is that Jesus is fully God and fully man.
The Entirety of the Scriptures Is Truth
“The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever” (Psalm 119:160).
This verse is the foundation of sound theology. We must build our understanding of God not on fragments, but on the whole Word of God. That means we must read, study, and obey the entire Bible, not just our favorite parts.
Selective Reading Leads to Doctrinal Error
Many people are guilty of confirmation bias when reading Scripture. They already have a belief in mind and then search for verses to support that belief—ignoring any that seem to challenge it. This is a subtle form of rebellion, choosing what is agreeable and discarding what is uncomfortable.
God calls us to be transformed by His Word, not to transform His Word to fit our preferences.
As Paul exhorted Timothy:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Rightly dividing the Word of Truth means not isolating a verse, but interpreting it within the full counsel of Scripture.
Final Thought
One verse cannot and should not be used to disprove or cancel the rest of the Bible. The Scriptures are not in conflict—they are in harmony. When we encounter challenging passages, we don’t pick sides. We study, compare, pray, and seek the truth as a whole.
Many cults and false teachings have emerged because someone took a single verse and made it the foundation of a doctrine, ignoring the broader teaching of the Bible. We must be careful not to fall into the same trap.
Whether it’s the question of salvation, the nature of Christ, or any other theological issue, we must always go back to this principle: “The entirety of Your word is truth.” Every verse matters, and every truth must be held in balance.
So, let us read the Bible as it is—a unified revelation of God’s truth—and let our theology be shaped by the whole counsel of His Word.
