proof-texting
n.— «It seemed that anyone could really make the Bible support just about whatever they wanted it to. They could control the text, using it as a tool to prove certain beliefs (a practice often referred to as “proof-texting”). As a result, whenever Scripture seemed to go outside of the boundaries of what it was “supposed” to be saying in a certain passage, I was left with a big problem. In fact, the parts of the Bible which fell outside of the few, favorite “proof-text” verses with which I was familiar were completely confusing.» —“Learning How to Read the Bible (Part 1)” by Ryan Issakainen Ryan Issakainen’s Blog (Wheaton, Illinois) Feb. 16, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Twice a day the River Thames recedes, revealing a muddy shoreline. Hobbyists known as mudlarks stroll the surface searching for objects that have found their way into the river over the centuries, everything from ancient Roman jewelry to modern...
In the 15th century, the word respair meant “to have hope again.” Although this word fell out of use, it’s among dozens collected in a new book of soothing vocabulary for troubled times. Plus, baseball slang: If a batter...