Distorts
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In the context of biblical teachings, the concept of "distorts" often refers to the twisting or misrepresentation of truth, doctrine, or the Word of God. This can occur through false teachings, misinterpretations, or deliberate alterations of Scripture. The Bible warns against such distortions and emphasizes the importance of adhering to the true message of God's Word.

Biblical Warnings Against Distortion

The Bible contains numerous warnings against those who distort the truth. In 2 Peter 3:16, the Apostle Peter speaks of those who twist the Scriptures: "He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction." This passage highlights the danger and consequence of distorting God's Word.

Similarly, the Apostle Paul warns against false teachings in Galatians 1:7: "which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ." Here, Paul addresses the issue of individuals attempting to alter the core message of the Gospel, leading believers astray.

The Role of False Prophets and Teachers

Throughout the Bible, false prophets and teachers are often associated with the distortion of truth. In the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah confronts false prophets who lead the people of Israel away from God's commandments. Jeremiah 23:36 states, "But you must no longer refer to the oracle of the LORD, for each man’s word becomes his oracle, and so you distort the words of the living God, the LORD of Hosts, our God."

In the New Testament, Jesus Himself warns of false prophets in Matthew 7:15: "Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." These individuals may appear genuine but ultimately seek to distort and undermine the truth of God's message.

The Call to Uphold Truth

Believers are called to uphold the truth and guard against distortion. In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul exhorts Timothy, "Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth." This verse underscores the importance of correctly interpreting and teaching Scripture, ensuring that its message remains unaltered.

The Bereans are commended in Acts 17:11 for their diligence in verifying the truth: "Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true." Their example serves as a model for believers to critically evaluate teachings and avoid distortion.

Consequences of Distortion

The Bible makes it clear that distorting God's Word leads to serious consequences. As mentioned in 2 Peter 3:16, those who twist the Scriptures do so "to their own destruction." This serves as a sobering reminder of the spiritual peril associated with altering the divine message.

In Revelation 22:18-19, a stern warning is given regarding the alteration of prophetic words: "I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." This passage emphasizes the gravity of maintaining the integrity of Scripture.

Conclusion

The Bible consistently warns against the distortion of truth and calls believers to remain steadfast in their commitment to the unaltered Word of God. By adhering to sound doctrine and being vigilant against false teachings, Christians can preserve the purity of the Gospel message and uphold the truth of God's revelation.
Greek
5583. pseustes from the same as NG5574 -- liar.
... Cognate: 5583 (from 5574 , "to falsify, lie") -- properly, a lair; a person
who falsifies, misrepresents (distorts, misleads). Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5583.htm - 7k
Strong's Hebrew
5753a. avah -- to bend, twist
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to bend, twist NASB Word Usage bent (1), bewildered
(1), distorts (1), made my crooked (1), perverse (2), perverted (2). ...
/hebrew/5753a.htm - 5k

5186. natah -- to stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
... down (1), bow (1), bowed (3), came to stumbling (1), cast down (1), decline (1),
defraud (1), deprive (2), deviated (1), distort (1), distorts (1), entices (1 ...
/hebrew/5186.htm - 7k

Library

On Smart Novelists and the Smart Set
... The essential dream of aristocracy is magnificence and valour; and if the Family
Herald Supplement sometimes distorts or exaggerates these things, at least, it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/xv on smart novelists and.htm

None but Jesus
... He that runs may read"; but so dim is man's eye, and so marred is his understanding,
that the very simplest truth of Scripture he distorts and misrepresents. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/none but jesus.htm

The Spirit in which the Following Work Has Been Prosecuted, and ...
... For it is the mass of real contradictions and obscurities, existing in the little
world within, which distorts to our view the great world without, and causes ...
/.../a theodicy or vindication of the divine glory/section vi the spirit in.htm

It is Never Allowable to Tell a Lie; but Lies Differ Very Much in ...
... the man who by his lying puts a traveller on the wrong road, does not do so much
harm as the man who by false or misleading representations distorts the whole ...
/.../augustine/the enchiridion/chapter 18 it is never allowable.htm

The Error of Seneca in Philosophy, and How the Speech of ...
... therefore, is in agreement with philosophy; which renders all things uncertain,
abrogates law, esteems art as nothing, subverts method, distorts rule, entirely ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xv the error of seneca.htm

Whether Heresy is Properly About Matters of Faith?
... Reply to Objection 2: A man is said to expound Holy Writ in another sense than that
required by the Holy Ghost, when he so distorts the meaning of Holy Writ ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether heresy is properly about.htm

Conclusion --Repent Ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand.
... this Union, since Hypocrites Conceal from themselves and Others the Truth they
Know"Hypocrisy Turns all Reforms of Life to Evil"Hypocrisy Distorts the Idea ...
/.../the kingdom of god is within you/chapter xii conclusionrepent ye for.htm

The Mote and the Beam
... criticism. Where that is so, it only distorts our vision and we shall
never see our brother as he really is, beloved of God. If ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hession/the calvary road/chapter 7 the mote and.htm

The Fourth Word from the Cross
... the quivering nerves. Bodily suffering clouds the brain and distorts the
images formed on the mirror of the mind. Even the face ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter xvii the fourth word.htm

Ephesians v. 15, 16, 17
... I give thee spiritual drink; for drunkenness even cuts off the articulate sound
of our tongue; it makes us lisp and stammer, and distorts the eyes, and the ...
/.../homily xix ephesians v 15.htm

Thesaurus
Distorts (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Distorts (2 Occurrences). Deuteronomy 27:19 'Cursed
is he who wrests the justice due to the foreigner, fatherless ...
/d/distorts.htm - 6k

Distracted (3 Occurrences)

/d/distracted.htm - 7k

Distortion (1 Occurrence)

/d/distortion.htm - 7k

Resources
Why is it so hard to understand the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Can God lie? | GotQuestions.org

How can I overcome the pain of past abuse? | GotQuestions.org

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