Using Scripture to Justify Personal Biases or Preconceptions

The practice of using Scripture to justify personal biases or preconceptions often stems from a misunderstanding of biblical interpretation and a tendency towards self-righteousness or presumption ^{[1, 2]}. The Bible itself is presented as divinely inspired and authoritative, given by God through the Holy Spirit ^[4]. However, human interpretation can distort its intended meaning, leading individuals to align biblical texts with their pre-existing views rather than allowing Scripture to challenge and reshape them.

One common manifestation of this issue is self-righteousness, which the Bible describes as hateful to God ^[2]. Individuals prone to self-righteousness often audaciously approach God, seek to justify themselves before others, and reject God's righteousness in favor of their own ^[2]. This attitude can lead to interpreting Scripture in a way that validates one's own moral standing or prejudices. For instance, the Pharisee in Luke 18:11, who boasts of his own piety, exemplifies this self-righteousness ^{[2, 6]}. Such an individual might selectively quote verses that appear to support their moral superiority or condemn others, while overlooking passages that call for humility, grace, and self-examination.

Presumption is another related characteristic that can lead to misusing Scripture. Torrey's Topical Textbook defines presumption as a characteristic of the wicked, seen in opposing God, willful commission of sin, self-righteousness, spiritual pride, and esteeming one's own ways as right ^[1]. When individuals operate under presumption, they may interpret biblical texts to confirm their own "rightness" or to justify actions that are, in fact, contrary to God's will. This can involve planning for the future without acknowledging God's sovereignty (Luke 12:18; James 4:13) or even pretending to prophecy (Deuteronomy 18:22) ^[1]. The builders of Babel are cited as an example of presumption ^[1].

The problem of misinterpreting Scripture to fit personal biases is not new. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, addresses misrepresentations of his teaching on justification by faith ^[11]. Some critics suggested that if salvation is by faith alone, apart from works, it might seem to allow believers to sin freely, as their sin would be forgiven upon confession ^[11]. Paul clarifies that such misunderstandings are baseless, indicating that true faith leads to a transformed life, not a license to sin ^[11]. This historical example highlights how even core theological doctrines can be twisted to support a preconceived notion—in this case, a perceived permission for moral laxity.

The human tendency to rationalize and justify one's own actions and beliefs is deeply rooted. Josephus notes that "calumny deludes men, but men's own actions are a clear demonstration of their kindness. Words indeed, in their own nature, may be either true or false, but men's actions expose their intentions nakedly to our view" ^[3]. This observation underscores that while words, including scriptural interpretations, can be manipulated, true intentions are revealed through behavior. When Scripture is used to justify harmful biases, the actions that follow expose the underlying intentions.

Pride, closely linked to self-righteousness and presumption, is identified as a sin hateful to God and Christ ^[6]. It can originate from self-righteousness, religious privileges, unsanctified knowledge, inexperience, or the possession of power or wealth ^[6]. Pride defiles a person and hardens the mind ^[6]. When pride is present, individuals may resist interpretations of Scripture that challenge their worldview or require personal change. Instead, they may seek out interpretations that affirm their existing status, beliefs, or prejudices, effectively using the Bible as a tool to reinforce their ego rather than as a mirror for self-correction.

The concept of "sin" itself is crucial here. The Psalms indicate that all human beings are born sinners, and while the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it ^[7]. Paul further elaborates on universal sinfulness, stating that both Gentiles and Jews are "under sin's power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own" ^[9]. This universal condition of sin means that everyone is susceptible to bias and the temptation to twist truth. When individuals "commit sin," they are described as being "of the devil," not by birth, but by imitation ^[8]. This highlights that the act of sinning, which includes misusing Scripture, aligns one with destructive forces.

The Scriptures are given by inspiration of God and are called the "Word of God" and the "Word of truth" ^[4]. Christ himself sanctioned the Scriptures by appealing to them and teaching from them ^[4]. This divine origin and authority mean that Scripture is intended to be a guide for truth, not a flexible text to be conformed to human desires. When individuals interpret Scripture, they are called to exercise judgment, but this judgment must be exercised responsibly ^[10]. The weakness of private judgment is not an argument against its use, but against its abuse ^[10].

The conscience, which witnesses in man and accuses of sin, plays a role in how individuals engage with Scripture ^[5]. A pure conscience is a goal for believers, and the blood of Christ is presented as the means to purify it ^[5]. However, a defiled or hardened conscience can lead to a distorted understanding of biblical truth, making it easier to justify biases.

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Presumption — A characteristic of the wicked -- 2Pe 2:10. A characteristic of Antichrist -- 2Th 2:4. Exhibited in Opposing God. -- Job 15:25,26. Wilful commission of sin. -- Ro 1:32. Self-righteousness. -- Ho 12:8; Re 3:17. Spiritual pride. -- Isa 65:5; Lu 18:11. Esteeming our own ways right. -- Pr 12:15. Seeking precedence. -- Lu 14:7-11. Planning for the future. -- Lu 12:18; Jas 4:13. Pretending to prophecy. -- De 18:22. Pray to be kept from sins of -- Ps 19:13. Saints avoid -- Ps 131:1. Punishment for -- Nu 15:30; Re 18:7,8. Exemplified Builders of Babel. -- Ge 11”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Righteousness — Man is prone to -- Pr 20:6; 30:12. Hateful to God -- Lu 16:15. Is vain because our righteousness is But external. -- Mt 23:25-28; Lu 11:39-44. But partial. -- Mt 23:25; Lu 11:44. No better than filthy rags. -- Isa 64:6. Ineffectual for salvation. -- Job 9:30,31; Mt 5:20; Ro 3:20. Unprofitable. -- Isa 57:12. Is boastful -- Mt 23:30. They who are given to Audaciously approach God. -- Lu 18:11. Seek to justify themselves. -- Lu 10:29. Seek to justify themselves before men. -- Lu 16:15. Reject the righteousness of God. -- Ro 10:3. Condemn others. -- ”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 13, section 4: actions; for calumny deludes men, but men's own actions are a clear demonstration of their kindness. Words indeed, in their own nature, may be either true or false, but men's actions expose their intentions nakedly to our view. By these, therefore it will be well for thee to believe me, as to my regard to thee and to thy house, and not to believe those that frame such accusations against me as never came into my mind, nor are possible to be executed, and do this further by pursuing after my life, and have no concern either day o”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conscience — Witnesses in man -- Pr 20:27; Ro 2:15. Accuses of sin -- Ge 42:21; 2Sa 24:10; Mt 27:3; Ac 2:37. We should have the approval of -- Job 27:6; Ac 24:16; Ro 9:1; 14:22. The blood of Christ alone can purify -- Heb 9:14; 10:2-10,22. Keep the faith in purity of -- 1Ti 1:19; 3:9. Of saints, pure and good -- Heb 13:18; 1Pe 3:16,21. Submit to authority for -- Ro 13:5. Suffer patiently for -- 1Pe 2:19. Testimony of, a source of joy -- 2Co 1:12; 1Jo 3:21. Of others, not to be offended -- Ro 14:21; 1Co 10:28-32. Ministers should commend themselves to that of their pe”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Pride — Is sin -- Pr 21:4. Hateful to God -- Pr 6:16,17; 16:5. Hateful to Christ -- Pr 8:12,13. Often originates in Self-righteousness. -- Lu 18:11,12. Religious privileges. -- Zep 3:11. Unsanctified knowledge. -- 1Co 8:1. Inexperience. -- 1Ti 3:6. Possession of power. -- Le 26:19; Eze 30:6. Possession of wealth. -- 2Ki 20:13. Forbidden -- 1Sa 2:3; Ro 12:3,16. Defiles a man -- Mr 7:20,22. Hardens the mind -- Da 5:20. Saints give not away. -- Ps 131:1. Respect not, in others. -- Ps 40:4. Mourn over, in others. -- Jer 13:17. Hate, in others. -- Ps 101:5. A hindrance to”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 10:15: Appeal to their own powers of judgment to weigh the force of the argument that follows: namely, that as the partaking of the Lord's Supper involves a partaking of the Lord Himself, and the partaking of the Jewish sacrificial meats involved a partaking of the altar of God, and, as the heathens sacrifice to devils, to partake of an idol feast is to have fellowship with devils. We cannot divest ourselves of the responsibility of "judging" for ourselves. The weakness of private judgment is not an argument against its use, but its abuse. We should t”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 3:8: 3:8 some people even slander us: Paul is referring to misrepresentations about his teaching on justification by faith. If a person is made right with God by faith alone, through God’s grace and apart from works, it could seem as if the Good News allows believers to sin because their sin is forgiven when confessed (see 6:1). One of Paul’s purposes is to help the Roman Christians understand that such misunderstandings are without basis.”

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