Optical illusions

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

I read earlier this week that an optical illusion isn’t really an optical illusion at all. The truth is that the eye sees exactly what is on the page; it’s the brain that misinterprets what it is. What does this have to do with scripture? I’m glad you had the same question I did!

When I read that statement I started thinking about how we read and misinterpret scripture on a regular basis. I’m using the collective “we” here; I’m not necessarily saying that you or I do it, but that Christian society as a whole collectively misinterprets scripture after the eye clearly sees it for all its worth. Jesus made mention of this when He taught by making statements like “...seeing they do not see...” (Mark 4:12, Matthew 13:13). Jesus knew (because He’s God) that the brain would misinterpret what the eye beheld.

So, let’s get back to our scripture. The point that I’m getting to here is that I’ve seen this scripture a number of times, but it wasn’t until tonight that I realized what it meant. We use the word “correction” as a synonym for punish, chastise, or discipline, but I’m not sure that’s the proper interpretation. The word in the original text is “epanorthōsis” (ep-ä-no'r-thō-sēs) which means “restoration to an upright or right state, correction, improvement of life or character”. The question I have is how do we use scripture, that is loaded with the imagery of Jesus Christ and His grace, to “correct” one another’s character?

The answer is not what you think. It’s not by using scripture as a billy club to beat into people’s heads; it’s not by laying rules and regulations on people, further burdening them in their time of trouble or struggle. No, instead it is by correcting them, or as I’d rather put it, restoring them to an upright state by reassuring them of the finished work of Jesus Christ. It is by filling them with the encouragement and love found in the Bible in passages like “as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). The way we use scripture to “correct” someone is by reassuring them of their improved life and character. This is done by reminding them, and ourselves, that we are seated with Christ, in Christ (Ephesians 2:6), made perfect by His works, by His sufferings, and by His sacrifice.

The culmination of all of this: the use of scripture for doctrine, reproof, correction, edification, and instruction in righteousness (His righteousness) is found in the very next verse of the passage. “That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 2:17). When we use scripture to correct the misunderstanding of the mind that a change in behavior will bring about perfection, we begin to see the perfection that has been bestowed upon us through Christ.

It’s not a correction of behavior or a new set of rules that needs to be preached to the Christian; it’s a consistent, steady reminding of the finished work of Jesus Christ and His unending grace and continual instruction in Christ’s righteousness that makes the man (or woman) of God perfect! If you think that doing more, giving more, fasting more, praying more, not swearing, not drinking, or not lustfully looking at another will bring you closer to Christ, you’ve misinterpreted what your eyes saw as plain as day. The truth is this: where sin abounds, grace super-abounds (Romans 5:20)!