15 Things Everyone Thinks Are in the Bible (But Aren’t)
The Bible is one of the most influential books in history, but how much of it do we actually understand? With its teachings being spread and retold over centuries, some famous quotes may have been confused with other sources.
Ever heard someone say “This too shall pass” and assume it’s based on theological text? Or maybe you’ve pictured Noah’s Ark overflowing with every single animal species on Earth. Understanding these and other common misconceptions can help us clarify what the Bible actually says and how it has been interpreted many ways over time.
This post reveals some quotes and ideas that aren’t found in the Bible, despite many believing they’re part of the Christian canon.
1. “This Too Shall Pass”
When you’re going through a tough time, and someone offers you advice, you’ll likely hear something like, “This too shall pass.” Ever wondered if that line came from the Bible?
Truth be told, that exact phrase isn’t from the Scripture, but the Bible is full of verses about how nothing lasts forever, even our suffering. Take Ecclesiastes 3:1, for example: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” This verse captures the same idea: good times and bad times all come and go.
2. People Become Angels When They Die
As children dealing with loss for the first time, we’re often told that our loved one became an angel watching over us. It’s tough to process grief at a young age, so we hold on to that belief, even though it’s biblically inaccurate.
In the Bible, angels are celestial beings created by God, separate from humans. So, while grandpa or grandma might be in a better place now, the Bible doesn’t say they transformed into angels.
3. Satan Runs Hell
We might expect Christian scriptures to label Satan as the overlord of hell, in charge of punishing those who do evil deeds. However, the Bible never said he was in charge.
The Bible describes Hell as a place of separation from God, not necessarily a kingdom ruled by Satan. While Satan is known to be an antagonist in the story, his exact role in hell is a bit unclear.
4. “Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner”
The saying “Hate the sin, love the sinner” gets thrown around a lot in discussions about forgiveness and addressing wrongdoings, yet it isn’t directly found in the Bible.
However, the idea is aligned with religious teachings. In John 8, Jesus confronted a woman caught in adultery but also showed mercy and compassion towards her. So, while this specific saying doesn’t come from the Bible, it still teaches us to call out sinful acts while being kind to the people involved.
5. Suffering Children
Some people misinterpret the verse “Suffer the little children to come unto me” as a description of something bad happening to the children.
But in this case, “suffer” doesn’t mean “allow to suffer.” Back in the day, “suffer” could also mean “allow” or “permit.” So, Jesus was actually saying to let the children come near him.
6. The Seven Deadly Sins
If you’ve seen the anime Fullmetal Alchemist, you might recall the creatures named after the seven deadly sins: pride, greed, lust, envy, wrath, sloth, and gluttony. There’s a notion that these represent biblical themes about the “dark side” of humans.
In reality, though, you won’t find these seven sins listed in the Bible. The concept came from monks and theologians who identified these behaviors as moral problems that lead people away from God. While the Bible doesn’t have a handy “top 7” list, it does talk a lot about avoiding greed, anger, and overindulgence.
7. Eve and the Forbidden Apple
We all know the story of Adam and Eve sneaking a bite of the forbidden apple, except that the fruit might not have been an apple in the first place.
Yes, the Bible describes other plot devices like the Tree of Knowledge, but nowhere does it mention a specific kind of fruit. Some people even speculate that Adam and Eve actually ate a fig because they covered themselves with fig leaves after eating it. Nothing is confirmed, though, and the moral lesson about disobedience still stands.
8. Three Wise Men Bring Gifts to Baby Jesus
I always pictured the nativity scene with three wise men, each bearing a gift for baby Jesus in the manger. However, it turns out I was mistaken.
The biblical narration of Jesus’ birth does mention wise men, but it doesn’t specify how many. The story in Matthew simply refers to “wise men from the east” who followed a star and brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. There’s no mention of their number being three, their royal status as “kings,” or even the specific gifts being tied to individual figures.
9. Don’t Borrow or Lend Money
A surprising credit card bill might make you call out to the heavens above. But seriously, let’s debunk whether the financial advice “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” is really rooted in biblical teachings.
Turns out, this line comes from Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” not the Holy Book. It was a fictional character who offered this nugget of wisdom to his son.
10. God Only Helps Those Who Help Themselves
Have you ever come across the saying, “Help yourself before you try to help someone else?” This saying might be a mainstay on motivational posters, but you can’t credit the Bible for it.
It actually popped up much later in a 1736 publication by Benjamin Franklin. The Bible paints a different picture with its stories about divine intervention (think Noah’s Ark, David and Goliath, and even the birth of Jesus). In the sacred text, it’s clear that God is willing to help even when we haven’t put in the groundwork ourselves.
11. Dante’s Levels of Inferno
Most of us probably have vivid imagery of hell: fiery depths full of miserable souls who have no choice but to spend eternity repenting for their sins. But did you know that this depiction is from Dante Alighieri’s “Divine Comedy,” not the Bible?
The Bible mentions hell, of course, but it doesn’t match the detailed roadmap of Dante’s nine circles. Dante’s Inferno is fictional, while the Bible emphasizes the spiritual consequences of sin and God’s judgment.
12. Money Is the Root of All Evil
There’s a big difference between seeing the importance of financial security and being obsessed with riches (especially if you resort to shady methods of getting it).
A verse in 1 Timothy 6:10 says: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” This means that money itself isn’t evil, but if you sacrifice your values just to earn money, then it can lead you down a dark path.
13. Suicide Is a Sin
Many people believe the Bible has passages that are strongly against suicide. However, the Bible doesn’t explicitly claim that suicide is a sin.
The focus in the Bible is on the value of human life. There are stories of people in despair, like King Saul, who took his own life. But authority figures in the Bible didn’t judge them
14. Noah Had Two of Every Animal on the Ark
The tale of Noah’s Ark is so popular that even preschoolers recognize it. It’s a fun way to introduce them to different animals like elephants, giraffes, birds, and various insects.
However, you might be surprised to know the actual Bible description is more flexible than that. The Bible mentions Noah taking “two of every kind of living creature into the Ark to keep them alive” (Genesis 6:19). The key word here is “kind,” not “species.” The idea is that he brought enough representatives of each animal kind to ensure their survival after the flood.
15. Boasting About Religious Devotion
Have you ever scrolled past a social media post from someone proclaiming their faith in a way that sounded like they were showing off? There are posts aimed to inspire and some aimed to brag — we know the difference when we see it.
The Bible actually discourages bragging about your religious devotion. In Matthew 6:5-6, Jesus warns against praying in public just to impress others. He emphasizes that true prayer is a private conversation between you and God.
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