Arguing the Scriptures

Every Tuesday evening – unless otherwise announced – a group of our men gather in the cafe to engage in a verse-by-verse study of selected Bible books. Currently, we are concluding a study in the book of JUames. One of the cardinal rules (boundaries, if you will) is that men are not allowed to argue the Scriptures, or to use the Scriptures to cause division and offenses. I’ve watched men’s groups implode over my years of ministry when men used the Scriptures as a baseball bat to hurt others.

The apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 2:4 that his message was not delivered with clever or humanly wise rhetoric but was instead "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power". His goal was for people's faith to be based on God's power, not human wisdom. Anytime men or women become combative when studying the Scriptures, nothing good results. The Word is rendered of none effect. Here’s five reasons we don’t allow this type of bantering during organized Bible study times:

The Bible cannot be left to personal interpretation. The apostle Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:2, "The Bible is of no private interpretation,” meaning that biblical Scripture was not written by human will alone but was divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit. It emphasizes that Scripture is not subject to purely subjective, individual opinions, and its true meaning should be understood through divine guidance and the unified body of the Church. This principle is a warning against private, subjective interpretations that can lead to distortion, rather than a prohibition against individual study.

Those who love to argue Scripture usually reveal unteachable hearts. They feel it their right and duty to set everyone else straight. They possess no or little humility and they don’t care what offenses are created. Afterall, they’re right; and if you don’t believe it, just ask them!

I’ve learned a “trade secret” about individuals who become dogmatic during Bible studies. They become inflexible and unreasonable because often they are hiding behind some unconfessed sin or area of brokenness in their life. Years ago, in my third church, a man became combative while engaging others in Bible study. I soon noticed that his dogmatic approach to biblical interpretation became divisive, and the Lord gave me a word of knowledge that exposed the man’s “real issue.” He was battling a homosexual spirit, and feared exposure. During our studies he used the Scriptures to bring harm and confusion. When I privately called him out, he imploded emotionally and assumed a threatening posture and remained unrepentant and pride-filled. After concerted prayer, the Lord brought an “outsider” into my office one day, who confessed to being the man’s “partner.” Because the man refused to repent, he was ousted from the group.

Some use the Scriptures to manipulate others. Some even use them to bring intimidation. Again, Paul said, I did not come to you with human rhetoric. He also reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:16 that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, not a billy club to drive or harm people. Jesus said, “My Words are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). Even “tough” preaching needs to be delivered in love and brokenness. There is no room in gospel ministry for manipulative, intimidating attitudes. This includes the pulpit.

Those who argue the Scriptures and who have to be right all the time demonstrate rebellious hearts. They cannot be allowed to continue their ungodly, divisive rampages. They must be called out! If they refuse to repent, they must be asked to step aside. The word of God is too precious to allow unruly hearts to bring confusion and upset.

And finally, those who love to argue the Scriptures "strain at a gnat and swallow a camel" (Mathew 23:24). This verse describes hypocrisy, where someone is meticulous about minor details while ignoring major issues. In other words, what they choose to highlight really makes no difference in the scheme of Christian living. They love to major in the minors. Many opinions simply do not matter.

When I and other ministers preach the Word of God, our humanity and imperfections always push to the surface. There’s no such thing as a perfect sermon or an infallible approach to ministry. However, when Scripture has been rightly divided and interpreted correctly within context, God is faithful to take the “engrafted word” (James 1:21) and make an eternal impact in the hearts of listeners. To sit in a Bible study or church service and pick apart the message is not only self-righteous but unkind and unnecessary, and of no effect.

I learned a long time ago, that while I have a sacred responsibility to correctly handle the Word of God, I must above all, walk with a pure heart before the Lord. People will not remember sermons I preach but they will remember the delivery style and the manner in which I conducted myself while in the pulpit. They will remember how I treated them over what I said. Argumentative hearts always drive people away and become of “none effect.”

These are the main reasons I prohibit argumentative attitudes from “leavening the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9)!

In the end, this isn’t about silencing voices—it’s about shaping hearts. The goal is not to win arguments, but to receive truth. When we come to the Word of God with humility, hunger, and a teachable spirit, something beautiful happens: the Spirit of God is free to move, to convict, to heal, and to transform.

Let’s be men and women who handle the Scriptures with reverence, not rivalry…with brokenness, not bravado. There is far more power in a yielded heart than in a sharpened argument. And when we choose unity over division, and love over being right, the Word of God will do what it was always intended to do—bring life.