Selective evidence fallacy: Verse context matters

Whenever studying excerpts of the Bible (or any book for that matter), one should always look at the context in which that excerpted segment is taken. Every part of a document has been "woven" together with "texture", like a garment without a seam.

John 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. [kjv]

οι ουν στρατιωται οτε εσταυρωσαν τον ιησουν ελαβον τα ιματια αυτου και εποιησαν τεσσαρα μερη εκαστω στρατιωτη μερος και τον χιτωνα ην δε ο χιτων αραφος εκ των ανωθεν υφαντος δι ολου [gnt]

… contexta … [v]

The word "context" comes from the Latin "contextus" ≈ "joining together, weaving together" which comes from the Latin "texere" ≈ "to weave, to make". The English word "texture" is from the Latin word "textura" ≈ "weaving, web, texture".

John 19:23

All

KJV: Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

Greek: οι ουν στρατιωται οτε εσταυρωσαν τον ιησουν ελαβον τα ιματια αυτου και εποιησαν τεσσαρα μερη εκαστω στρατιωτη μερος και τον χιτωνα ην δε ο χιτων αρραφος αραφος εκ των ανωθεν υφαντος δι ολου

Latin: milites ergo cum crucifixissent eum acceperunt vestimenta eius et fecerunt quattuor partes unicuique militi partem et tunicam erat autem tunica inconsutilis desuper contexta per totum

Wessex: Þa þa cempen hine a-hengen hye nämaen his reaf & worhtan feower daeles aelche kempe aenne dael. & tunekan. Sye tuneka waes un-ä-siwed. & waes al awefen.

Wycliffe: Therfor the knyytis whanne thei hadden crucified hym, token hise clothis, and maden foure partis, to ech knyyt a part, and a coot. And the coot was without seem, and wouun al aboute.

"A text without a context is a pretext for a proof text". Dr. Carson who attributes it to his father, a Canadian minister.

The "proof text" refers to some text used to "prove" some (personal) claim or belief.

This is often done by "cherry picking" verses that support one's personal view which is a form of "confirmation bias". Another name for this deception is that of "selective evidence".

More: Selective evidence fallacy: Cherry picking

More: A biased view about being unbiased

Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. [kjv]

και προσελθων ο πειραζων ειπεν αυτω ει υιος ει του θεου ινα οι λιθοι ουτοι αρτοι γενωνται [gnt]

… costnigend… hlafe … [wes]

4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. [kjv]

ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν γεγραπται ουκ επ αρτω μονω ζησεται ο ανθρωπος αλλ επι παντι ρηματι εκπορευομενω δια στοματος θεου [gnt]

This as an offer of "wealth". The Old English word "costian" ≈ "try, prove, examine".

The devil quotes scripture. Jesus detects the deception and quotes back scripture. Context is important!

More: Matthew 4:1-11 Examining evil temptations