Did God Really Say?

Bible Teachers—This is a lesson to the importance of rightly teaching God’s Word. 

In Genesis 2:15-17, God places man, Adam, in the garden.  God explains the trees in the garden-the fruit of every tree was good for him to eat, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  THEN God created woman, Eve.  Adam would have had to rightly share the Word of God with Eve.  But Eve, when confronted with a question of “Did God really say....?” she fails to accurately repeat what God said to Adam. (Genesis 3:1-7)   Eve added to what God originally said.  God actually said “You can’t eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Eve told the serpent they couldn’t eat it or even touch it.  The rest, unfortunately, is history and the fall of mankind.  

Did Adam add his own spin to the story as he was telling it to Eve? Or did she add her own twist to it? We can’t know for sure, but it should encourage those of us who teach The Bible to take it seriously! We should make every effort to understand what God is saying before we share it with others.  We shouldn’t be adding our own spin to it in a way that changes God’s original meaning.  

James 3:1 says “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”  Whether you are a teacher at home, in children’s church, in Sunday School,  a Bible blogger, or a pastor, there is a weighty responsibility to rightly teach God’s Word to your audience.  One addition or subtraction on our part can lead to confusion when it comes to the whole truth of God’s Word.  Bible literacy has become so important to me, and the best place to find understanding from God is from His Own Word.  Don’t be afraid to study the Bible on your own.  But if that seems too overwhelming, find a Bible teacher you can trust and learn from them.  Bible study is not easy, but it is simple—God’s Word for your good and His glory.