Over the years, a lot of popular phrases have been passed around as if they came straight out of scripture.
However, a good portion of them don’t actually appear in the Bible at all. Some of these sayings are well-meaning, others are used to shut down real feelings, and a few are just plain confusing. Whether you’re religious, curious, or just tired of hearing things that don’t add up, here are 14 sayings about God and religion that people often quote, but that aren’t actually His word after all.
1. “God helps those who help themselves.”
This one’s everywhere, from church pulpits to inspirational fridge magnets, but it’s not biblical. The phrase actually comes from ancient Greek philosophy and was later popularised by Benjamin Franklin. It’s not a verse, even though people often quote it like it is.
The Bible often paints the opposite picture: God stepping in when people are weak, lost, or totally stuck. Stories like the Exodus or the life of Jesus are all about grace, rescue, and support in the face of human struggle, not a reward for self-sufficiency.
2. “Everything happens for a reason.”
This is one of those sayings people use when they don’t know what else to say. It’s meant to be comforting, but it can come across as dismissive, especially when someone’s grieving or going through something awful. And no, it’s not in the Bible.
While the Bible does talk about purpose and God working through chaos, it never says everything that happens was planned or approved by God. There’s a big difference between finding meaning after the fact and pretending every tragedy was divinely arranged.
3. “God never gives you more than you can handle.”
This one gets thrown around a lot in tough times, but it’s not a direct quote from scripture. In fact, many biblical figures—Job, Elijah, even Jesus—went through experiences that were absolutely overwhelming. The Bible does say that God will provide strength or comfort in times of trial, but it never promises that life won’t be too much. Sometimes it is. The promise is more about not being alone in the mess, not being shielded from it.
4. “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
This sounds like something your gran would say while handing you a mop, and it’s definitely not in the Bible. It actually came from a 17th-century sermon by John Wesley, not any ancient scripture. While the Bible has a lot to say about spiritual cleanliness and ceremonial washing in certain traditions, it doesn’t link being tidy with being holy. You can be close to God and still have dishes in the sink.
5. “God works in mysterious ways.”
While this feels like it could be somewhere in the book of Psalms, it’s actually not a Bible verse. It’s a line from a hymn written in the 1700s, and people have been quoting it ever since to explain things they don’t understand. The Bible does acknowledge that humans won’t always grasp what God’s up to, but it doesn’t encourage blind acceptance or vague platitudes. Faith and curiosity aren’t opposites, and the Bible is full of people asking hard questions.
6. “Love the sinner, hate the sin.”
This phrase gets used a lot in religious spaces, especially around judgement and forgiveness, but it’s not biblical. It sounds neat, but it often becomes a way to justify harsh treatment while pretending it’s loving. Jesus didn’t separate people from their mistakes in this tidy way. He showed compassion to the whole person, while also calling them toward growth. The tone was always connection first, not correction first.
7. “God wants you to be rich.”
Some modern teachings suggest that financial success is proof of divine favour, but that idea has more to do with Western capitalism than the Bible. There are plenty of faithful, righteous people in scripture who are poor, and plenty of rich ones who get warned about their wealth. The Bible talks more about generosity, contentment, and looking after those in need than it does about chasing money. It doesn’t promise luxury; it talks about enough.
8. “God won’t give you more than you can bear.”
This is often confused with a verse about temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13), which says God won’t let you be tempted beyond what you can resist. But that’s not the same thing as facing grief, trauma, or life being too much, which the Bible does not downplay. It’s okay to admit when you’re overwhelmed. Biblical characters did it all the time. The idea that strength equals silence is something culture added in, not something God demands.
9. “This too shall pass.”
People love this one in hard times, and while it might feel wise, it’s not from the Bible. It’s more of a proverb or folk saying, possibly rooted in Persian poetry or old English literature, not scripture. The Bible doesn’t shy away from pain or promise that everything will magically get better. What it does offer is presence, and comfort in the middle of the mess, not just a fast-forward button to skip it.
10. “Hate the sin, not the sinner.”
This is often used as a moral loophole, especially in conversations around behaviour or identity. But you won’t find this phrase anywhere in scripture, and the idea of “hating” sin was never framed as a reason to distance yourself from someone. Jesus didn’t walk around categorising people based on what they were getting wrong. He connected, listened, and left space for change, but never at the expense of dignity or relationship.
11. “God only gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers.”
This one sounds motivating in a “keep pushing through” kind of way, but it’s not scriptural. It’s also a pretty heavy thing to lay on someone who’s already going through it. The Bible never says suffering is some kind of compliment. Hard things happen to everyone, not just the strong. And being in pain doesn’t mean you’re meant to prove something. Sometimes you’re just hurting, and that’s allowed.
12. “The Bible says not to judge.”
This one’s tricky. The Bible does say “do not judge,” but it also talks about discernment, accountability, and speaking truth with love. People often quote this to shut down conversations, but that’s not really the full picture.
What the Bible warns against is hypocritical judgement, acting like you’re above someone else while ignoring your own flaws. It’s not saying “never notice bad behaviour.” It’s saying don’t weaponise your standards while pretending you’re spotless.
13. “Faith over fear.”
Source: Pexels This one blew up on t-shirts and bumper stickers, but it’s more of a modern slogan than an actual Bible verse. While the Bible talks about fear and faith a lot, it doesn’t reduce them to a competition where one cancels the other out. In reality, faith often lives right alongside fear. Courage doesn’t mean you’re never scared. It means you choose to keep going anyway. Plenty of people in scripture were faithful and afraid at the same time.
14. “The Lord works in mysterious ways.”
This one’s so common it almost sounds biblical, but it’s actually not in the Bible at all. It was made popular by a 19th-century hymn and caught on from there. It’s usually used when something bad happens and no one knows what to say.
The Bible does talk about mystery and not understanding everything in the moment, but it doesn’t use vague phrases to explain away pain. Sometimes it leaves things open-ended, not to confuse you, but to remind you that not everything has to be fully understood to still matter.
