Wresting
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Wresting, in a biblical context, refers to the act of twisting or distorting the meaning of words, particularly the Scriptures. This concept is significant in understanding how individuals may misinterpret or manipulate biblical texts for personal gain or to support erroneous doctrines.

Biblical References:

1. 2 Peter 3:16 · The Apostle Peter warns against the distortion of Scripture, particularly the writings of Paul: "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 of misinterpreting Scripture and the severe consequences that can follow.

2. Deuteronomy 4:2 · The command to neither add to nor subtract from God's Word underscores the importance of preserving its intended meaning: "You shall not add to the word that I am commanding you, nor take away from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you." This directive serves as a safeguard against wresting the Scriptures.

3. Proverbs 30:5-6 · Emphasizes the purity and truth of God's Word, warning against altering it: "Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar." This passage reinforces the integrity of Scripture and the folly of distorting it.

Theological Implications:

Wresting the Scriptures is often associated with false teaching and heresy. Throughout church history, various individuals and groups have been accused of twisting biblical texts to support unorthodox beliefs. This practice is seen as a serious offense because it undermines the authority of Scripture and can lead believers astray.

The Bible emphasizes the importance of sound doctrine and the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers to a correct understanding of God's Word. In John 16:13, Jesus promises that the Spirit of truth will guide His followers into all truth. This assurance is crucial for maintaining the integrity of biblical interpretation.

Practical Considerations:

To avoid wresting the Scriptures, believers are encouraged to approach the Bible with humility and a willingness to be taught. Acts 17:11 commends the Bereans for their noble character in receiving the message with eagerness and examining the Scriptures daily to verify the teachings they received. This model of diligent study and discernment is vital for safeguarding against misinterpretation.

Additionally, the role of the church and its leaders is significant in providing sound teaching and correcting errors. Ephesians 4:11-14 describes the purpose of church leadership in equipping the saints and promoting unity in the faith, so that believers are not "tossed by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming."

In summary, wresting the Scriptures is a grave concern within the Christian faith, with clear biblical warnings against it. Believers are called to uphold the truth of God's Word, relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the support of the Christian community to maintain sound doctrine and avoid the pitfalls of distortion.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Wrest.
Library

Snares of Satan.
... And the discord and division which exist among the churches of Christendom are in
a great measure due to the prevailing custom of wresting the Scriptures to ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /32 snares of satan.htm

Snares of Satan
... And the discord and division which exist among the churches of Christendom are in
a great measure due to the prevailing custom of wresting the Scriptures to ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 32 snares of satan.htm

Womanhood of the Byzantine Decadence
... century, during which it absorbed the kingdom of Thessalonica, Michael Palaeologus,
the usurper of the Nicene throne, succeeded in wresting Constantinople from ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/xv womanhood of the byzantine.htm

An Appeal to the History of Creation True Meaning of the Term ...
... an inquiry. They have found their opportunity, as is usual with heretics,
in wresting the plain meaning of certain words. For instance ...
/.../tertullian/against hermogenes/chapter xix an appeal to the.htm

Rahab's Faith
... We have faith, in another place, wresting with time; Noah, warned of God concerning
things not seen as yet, wrestled with time, which placed his deluge a ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/rahabs faith.htm

The First vision "On Earth"
... of the precious blood of the Lamb; and now, the necessary power is to be exercised
so as to secure all its wondrous results, in wresting the inheritance from ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the first vision on earth.htm

Morn of Beauty, Joyous Morn
... Is the gift of Christ our God. Glory, glory evermore,. To the Christ Who died to
save,. Wresting victory from the grave,". To the Christ we now adore. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the russian church/xx morn of beauty joyous.htm

Refutation of the Impious Interpretations of These Heretics.
... Thus it is that, wresting from the truth every one of the expressions which have
been cited, and taking a bad advantage of the names, they have transferred ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter ix refutation of the impious.htm

My Mind Has as Little Inclination for Writing as Sufficiency
... that the heretic Photinus has written on the same; but with the object, not of
explaining the meaning of the text to his readers, but of wresting things simply ...
/.../my mind has as little.htm

Letter v. --The Fear of Being Wanting in Submission.
... There is no intelligence nor power in the world capable of wresting from the hand
of God a soul He has seized in the rigour of His mercy to purify it by ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter v the fear of being.htm

Thesaurus
Wresting (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Wrest. Multi-Version
Concordance Wresting (1 Occurrence). Ezekiel 9:9 Then said he ...
/w/wresting.htm - 6k

Nicopolis (1 Occurrence)
... only a few miles North of the modern Prevesa, the chief city of Epirus today, the
city which the Greeks bombarded in 1912 in the hope of wresting it from the ...
/n/nicopolis.htm - 10k

Judicial (2 Occurrences)
... are of opinion that "a great man" should be read for "a poor man" as, according
to 23:6 the King James Version, the common fault was "wresting the judgment of ...
/j/judicial.htm - 25k

Lasthenes
... a native of Crete, and raised an army for the king when he made his first descent
upon the coast, and rendered him ultimately successful in wresting the throne ...
/l/lasthenes.htm - 7k

Wrest (8 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To tune with a wrest, or key. 4. (n.) The act of wresting; a wrench; a violent
twist; hence, distortion; perversion. 5. (n.) Active or moving power. ...
/w/wrest.htm - 10k

Wresteth (1 Occurrence)

/w/wresteth.htm - 6k

Wrestle

/w/wrestle.htm - 6k

Extortion (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The practice of wresting anything by force, by
threats, or by any undue exercise of power; undue exaction; overcharge. ...
/e/extortion.htm - 12k

Distortion (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) A wresting from the true meaning. 3. (n.) The state of being distorted,
or twisted out of shape or out of true position; crookedness; perversion. ...
/d/distortion.htm - 7k

Perverse (55 Occurrences)
... of a thing, and in Isaiah 59:3 greater emphasis is gained by the Revised Version
(British and American) "wickedness." In Ezekiel 9:9, "wresting of judgment" is ...
/p/perverse.htm - 22k

Resources
Why was Abraham promised land that belonged to others (Genesis 12)? | GotQuestions.org

Wresting: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Wresting (1 Occurrence)

Ezekiel 9:9
Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of wrestling of judgment : for they say, Jehovah hath forsaken the land, and Jehovah seeth not.
(See JPS)

Subtopics

Wresting

Related Terms

Wresting (1 Occurrence)

Wrestled (6 Occurrences)

Daemon

Agonize (1 Occurrence)

Purity (16 Occurrences)

Wrestling (8 Occurrences)

Wresteth
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