This should not surprise us, as Peter says:
"they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction." (2 Peter 3:16b)The Greek word translated "wrest" is στρεβλουσιν (strebloo). It has the notion of "turning" or "twisting", as of one being tortured on a rack.
This is an incredible metaphor! It says that people will "torture" God's Word until it gives the false confession they are seeking. We see this today, in the modern prosperity Gospel, among others.
The end of the verse tells us what to make of this. The end result of twisting Scripture is destruction.
2 comments:
Hey Ned,
It's been a long time since I've commented on your blog. Hopefully all things are well.
I find 2 Peter 3:16 interesting because it talks about Scripture and the caution not to interpret it incorrectly "unto their own destruction."
I guess I would see this verse as a direct contradiction to "Sola Scriptura" and that you need an authority to guide you in the correct interpretation of Scripture.
Just want to know your thoughts.
I can't complain :)
I don't think it is so much "incorrectly" as "tortured".
If you consider 1 John 2 ("ye need not that any man teach you") and Acts 17:10-11 (the Bereans comparing Paul's new Scriptural utterings with the Old Testament) - I think it's clear that those honestly seeking to find God's Will can find it in the Bible.
Of course, as fallible humans we will have disagreements on interpretation. But, as Christians, we agree on the fundamentals. I talk about this some in an older post.
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