When studying a Bible it can be easy to get caught up in one verse and then that becomes a sweeping "truth" or assessment of what you believe to be true. 

Now, there are certainly examples of the power and accuracy of one verse. These would include:

• John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
• Exodus 34:6 "The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness."

But there are also examples of pitfalls from looking at only one verse without using context. Context of the chapter, the surrounding chapters, the book itself, and the entire Bible.

Here is an example from Jonah, where looking at only a verse or two can harm your thoughts about God. 

Jonah 4:5-8 5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. 6 Now the Lord God appointed a plant[a] and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort.[b] So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. 7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

Reading only these verses, without any other context would lead the reader to think that God is a trickster. That God plays games with people and desires to cause them harm physically and mentally. This can be very damaging to a believer in Christ, and more damaging to a person who doesn't know much about God.

However, if you looked at the context (chapter, book, Bible) you will find out that:

1. Full chapter context: In Chapter 4, before this you would have read that Johan was complaining to God about why he would bless and not punish a sinful nation. Also, after these verses, you see God explain that He has love for all. This was just a way God was proving a point to Jonah that it's all in His control.
2. Book context: The entire book of Jonah shows us that God is creator, destroyer, and that He has control over all things. He is salvation to those who seek Him. He is a God of love and grace, and He doesn't desire to stop anyone from knowing Him.
3. Bible context: The Bible shows us who God is from start to finish. This book helps us to see that God desires to rescue us. Which is indeed the theme of the Bible. 

When reading your Bible, be sure to not take verses in without understanding their context.