Unveiling the Supernatural: Understanding the Bible's "Weird" Parts

Most of us approach the Bible with filters. We strain out the strange, uncomfortable, or unfamiliar passages, focusing only on what makes sense to our modern minds. This filtering happens in Sunday schools, sermons, and Bible studies across the world - not as a deliberate plot, but as a natural human tendency.

The problem is that we view Scripture through what's familiar rather than allowing it to speak on its own terms. We let our traditions shape our understanding instead of letting the Word shape us. This approach is ultimately faithless because we're speaking into the Word rather than letting it speak to us.

Why Do We Misunderstand the Bible's Context?

The Bible is a theological, literary mosaic. Looking at just one corner doesn't reveal the whole picture. Yet that's exactly how many of us read Scripture - examining isolated verses without understanding their place in the wondrous whole.

A critical mistake we make is believing that the history of Christianity is the true context of the Bible. We quote Augustine, reference Church Fathers, or cite Reformation thinkers when discussing biblical passages. But none of these provide the proper context for interpretation.

What Is the Proper Context for Biblical Interpretation?

The only proper context for interpreting the Bible is the context of the biblical writers themselves - people who lived in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean between 2000 BC and 100 AD. Every other context is alien to the biblical writers and therefore to the Bible itself.

Even our cherished creeds can sometimes lead us astray. For example, the Apostles' Creed attributes creation to God the Father, while Colossians clearly states that Jesus created all things. Creeds serve a useful purpose in summarizing theological ideas, but they aren't inspired and can't substitute for the biblical text.

The Supernatural Realm in Scripture

Perhaps the most significant area where modern Christians filter Scripture is in our approach to the supernatural. The 19th century did tremendous damage to the church by desensitizing us to the theological importance of the unseen realm.

Many Christians claim to believe in the supernatural but think and live like skeptics. We find talk of the supernatural world uncomfortable, especially in evangelical congregations outside the charismatic movement. The believing church has bent under the weight of its own rationalism, adopting a worldview that would be foreign to biblical writers.

What Does Psalm 82 Really Tell Us?

Consider Psalm 82, which begins: "God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment." Many theologians interpret "gods" here as human leaders of Israel, but this reading doesn't make sense of the full passage.

The psalm describes God judging these "gods" and declaring, "like men you shall die." If these were merely human leaders, this wouldn't be a punishment - humans already die! The proper understanding requires us to accept that the biblical writers believed in a divine council and lesser divine beings.

Why Do We Skip the "Weird" Parts of the Bible?

There are numerous passages throughout Scripture that pastors and teachers simply skip because they're "too weird." For example, 1 Peter 3:18-21 mentions Christ preaching to "spirits in prison" who disobeyed during Noah's time. Rather than wrestling with what this means, many teachers simply move on to more comfortable passages.

This approach creates a disconnect. We claim to believe every word of the Bible while simultaneously ignoring significant portions of it. We affirm supernatural events like the virgin birth while dismissing other supernatural elements of Scripture.

What Are Some of the Bible's Strangest Passages?

The Bible contains many passages that seem strange to modern readers:

• The "sons of God" in Genesis 6:1-4
• Jesus calling Peter "Satan" (Matthew 16:23)
• Paul telling the Corinthians they will judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3)
• Women needing to cover their hair "because of the angels" (1 Corinthians 11:10)

These passages aren't peripheral to Scripture - they're central to understanding the biblical worldview. If it's weird, it's probably important.

How Should We Approach Difficult Biblical Passages?

When we encounter difficult or strange passages in Scripture, we shouldn't skip them or rationalize them away. Instead, we should:

• Recognize our modern filters and set them aside
• Try to understand the ancient worldview of the biblical writers
• Allow Scripture to challenge our assumptions
• Be willing to sit with tension and uncertainty

Sometimes this approach will create internal conflict as we discover that Jesus said things that challenge our comfortable theology. For instance, Jesus claimed that having the Holy Spirit with us is better than having Him physically present (John 16:7). This contradicts many of our worship songs that focus exclusively on seeing Jesus face to face.

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to approach Scripture with fresh eyes. When you encounter a passage that seems strange or uncomfortable, resist the urge to skip it or explain it away. Instead:

• Read it carefully: What does the text actually say (not what you've been told it says)?
• Research the context: What would this have meant to the original audience?
• Reflect honestly: How does this challenge your current understanding?
• Respond with humility: Be willing to adjust your theology based on Scripture, not the other way around.

Ask yourself: What "weird" parts of the Bible have I been avoiding? How might my understanding of God and His work be incomplete because I've filtered out the supernatural elements of Scripture? What would it look like for me to embrace the full biblical worldview, including its supernatural dimensions?

Remember, if we truly believe every word of Scripture is inspired, we can't pick and choose which parts to take seriously. The strange passages might just be the ones we need most