As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. (2 Peter 3:16)

Twisting Scriptures

The Bible contains 13 letters from the apostle Paul, which do not represent all that he wrote during his ministry. Paul mentions in his letter to Colosse that the brethren should read an epistle from the church in Laodicea. There is little doubt that Paul was a prolific writer, as he taught the gospel throughout the Roman Empire, both through personal ministry and through letters written to individuals and churches. The early church faced persecution from many fronts, including false teachers who took the writings of Paul and distorted what he wrote to their own gain.

Peter is the apostle who warns the saints of those who take the writings of Paul and twist his words to their own destruction. Paul, like Peter, was an inspired writer who received the message from the Holy Spirit and wrote it down for others to read. The writings of Paul can be a little tedious at times when discussing deeper matters of faith. What the untaught and unstable teachers would do is, through their ignorance, try to explain Paul’s writings. The result would end in confusion and false doctrine. When unlearned men try to explain the word of God through their own wisdom, truth seldom reigns free.

Pride exalts the heart to twist the words of God to suit an agenda or doctrine that is based on human wisdom. Twisting the scriptures is what Satan did with Jesus. It is remarkable to consider that Satan can quote scripture, but he effectively presents enough truth to make the lie more palatable. That is how he deceived Eve in the garden by twisting the words of God to suit his evil desire. Distorting the word of God has been the mantra of the devil from the beginning. He has convinced unlearned and unstable hearts to believe his lie to their own destruction. What is dangerous about the wiles of the devil is his ability to persuade people to believe in false teaching and accept it as truth.

It is difficult to convince some that there is error in the religious world. The explanation is given that everyone has a right to their interpretation of scripture. What that means in effect is that everyone is allowed to take the word of God and mold it to their own desires. The art of twisting scripture is as old as error, and it is the reason for religious division today. Why are there so many different kinds of churches? It cannot be the will of God that believers in Jesus Christ divide into different sects and religious faiths, and yet the religious world embraces the right to twist the word of God to fit their own dogmas. Truth is singular. There is one body of truth. Religious leaders tout the way men approach God as they see fit. This runs counter to what Jesus taught. He said there was only one way to the Father, and He was that way. Human wisdom has twisted that truth.

When a man twists the word of God, he does not change the word. He merely dresses it up in different garments. Peter is very clear on the consequences of changing the word of God. Every person who twists the scriptures to fit their needs finds destruction at the end of the road. The clarity of truth is that it breaks apart every effort to distort its character. Like an anvil that is impervious to the blows of many hammers, the word of God remains the same and unchanged. Attempting to modify, add to, or take away from the word, or present the gospel in any form other than the pure truth of the word, will face the wrath of God. Religious leaders must be very clear about the consequences of teaching doctrines not found in God’s word. The followers of religious movements will find eternal heartache if they follow the teachings of those who distort the word. There is one body of truth. Do not trifle with the power of the gospel lest there be a day of great destruction.