A sober warning from Scripture

Twisting Scripture is not a minor mistake. The Holy Spirit says some “distort” the Scriptures “to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). This is deadly serious because God’s Word is His voice, not ours.

Jesus declared, “the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). He affirmed, “not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (Matthew 5:18). “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). “The sum of Your word is truth” (Psalm 119:160).

Why twisting happens

At the root, twisting Scripture arises from unbelief and pride. The serpent’s first move was to undermine God’s Word (Genesis 3:1–5). The same strategy repeats through human tradition and worldly philosophies that displace God’s authority (Mark 7:6–9; Colossians 2:8).

False teachers exploit this, “secretly introducing destructive heresies” (2 Peter 2:1–3). “The Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits” (1 Timothy 4:1). The pressure to please people rather than God fuels compromise (Galatians 1:10).

- Ignorance of Scripture (Hosea 4:6)

- Pride and novel ideas (1 Timothy 6:3–4)

- Human traditions over God’s commands (Mark 7:8–9)

- Philosophies empty of Christ (Colossians 2:8)

- Desire-driven teaching that tickles ears (2 Timothy 4:3–4)

- Demonic deception masquerading as wisdom (2 Corinthians 11:13–15; 1 Timothy 4:1)

Common distortions to watch

The enemy quoted Scripture to Jesus but ripped it from context (Matthew 4:6–7; Psalm 91). Misuse often sounds biblical.

- Isolating verses from context while ignoring the passage, book, and whole canon (Acts 20:27)

- Redefining words God defines, especially sin, grace, and faith (Isaiah 5:20)

- Elevating experience, dreams, or traditions above the written Word (Jeremiah 23:28–29; Mark 7:9)

- Pitting one text against another rather than harmonizing all that God has said (Psalm 119:160)

- Allegorizing away historical claims and miracles (2 Peter 1:16)

- Selective silence about hard texts that contradict preferred narratives (Acts 20:20, 27)

- Using obscure passages to overturn clear ones (Deuteronomy 29:29)

Paul’s ministry model stands as a corrective: “we do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God” (2 Corinthians 4:2).

Rightly handling the Word

“Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman, who accurately handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). This is a call to careful, humble, persistent labor.

Like the Bereans, receive the Word eagerly and “examine the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true” (Acts 17:11). God feeds us through His Word: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

- Pray for illumination (Psalm 119:18; 1 Corinthians 2:12–13)

- Read in context: paragraph, book, covenant, and whole Bible (Luke 24:27)

- Let clear texts govern difficult ones (2 Peter 3:16; Deuteronomy 29:29)

- Observe grammar and history; explain plainly (Nehemiah 8:8)

- Use Scripture to interpret Scripture with cross-references (Psalm 119:130)

- Submit to sound teachers and a faithful church (Hebrews 13:7, 17; Titus 1:9)

- Memorize and meditate to resist sin (Psalm 119:11)

- Obey what you know; light increases with obedience (John 7:17)

Guarding the gospel

“At the core stands the gospel delivered once for all” (Jude 3). Paul summarized it: “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).

Any gospel revision is cursed: “even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!” (Galatians 1:8). Hold fast to justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, bearing fruit in obedience (Romans 3–5; Titus 2:11–14; James 2:14–26).

- Legalism adds to Christ’s work (Galatians 2:16; 5:1–4)

- Antinomianism denies Christ’s rule (Romans 6:1–2; 1 John 2:3–6)

- Prosperity teaching trades the cross for greed (1 Timothy 6:3–10)

- Universalism contradicts wrath and judgment (John 3:36; 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9; Hebrews 9:27)

- Pluralism denies Christ’s sole mediatorship (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5)

Teaching and discipling with integrity

Teachers face stricter judgment (James 3:1). Integrity means sincerity before God and fidelity to His text: “we are not like so many, peddling the word of God. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity” (2 Corinthians 2:17).

Preach the Word with patience and clarity (2 Timothy 4:2–4). Speak “as one who speaks the very words of God” (1 Peter 4:11), anchored in sound doctrine (Titus 2:1) and a watchful life (1 Timothy 4:16).

- Exposit passages, not opinions (Acts 18:28; 20:27)

- Show your work: context, structure, and cross-references (Nehemiah 8:8)

- Aim for both truth and love (Ephesians 4:15)

- Refute error gently and firmly (2 Timothy 2:24–26; Titus 1:9)

- Model obedience, not mere talk (1 Thessalonians 2:10–13)

Repentance when misinterpretation is exposed

God esteems the one “who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66:2). The wise pray, “Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults” (Psalm 19:12–13).

When confronted by the Word, confess and realign: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Restore what error has harmed and repair your handling of the text with humility and diligence.

Confidence in a clear, sufficient Word

Scripture is clear in what is necessary for salvation and godliness. “From infancy you have known the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul” (Psalm 19:7). “The unfolding of Your words gives light” (Psalm 119:130).

God has given everything needed: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him” (2 Peter 1:3). “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17). The Scriptures endure when everything else fades (Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35).

Live the Word you teach

Disciples abide in the Word and are set free by the truth. “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32).

Obedience guards against distortion (James 1:22). The Great Commission calls us to teach “them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). Take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17), and wield it with reverence and care.

- Authorial intent within literary and historical context (Luke 1:1–4; Nehemiah 8:8)

- Literal, grammatical-historical reading that recognizes figures and genres without evacuating history (2 Peter 1:16; Psalm 19:7)

- Canonical harmony that receives all God has said (Psalm 119:160; John 10:35)

- Christ-centered fulfillment without flattening the storyline (Luke 24:27; John 5:39)

Clarity on difficult pairings:

- Paul and James on faith and works: Paul denies works as the ground of justification (Romans 3:28), James denies a dead faith that bears no fruit (James 2:17, 24). One root, real fruit.

- Law and gospel: The law exposes sin and guides holiness; the gospel saves and empowers obedience (Romans 3:19–26; Titus 2:11–12).

- God’s sovereignty and human responsibility: Scripture affirms both without apology (John 6:37; Romans 9–10; Philippians 2:12–13).

Textual reliability and translations:

- God preserves His Word; no doctrine depends on a disputed text (Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35).

- Use a faithful, transparent translation and compare where helpful. Read whole books, not only verses (1 Timothy 4:13; Acts 20:27).

Sound doctrine and the church:

- Hold the pattern of sound words (2 Timothy 1:13). Stay tethered to elders who teach and guard the flock (Titus 1:9; Hebrews 13:7, 17).

- Practice church discipline when teaching endangers the flock (Matthew 18:15–17; Romans 16:17).

Testing teachers in the digital age:

- Test the spirits and messages by Scripture (1 John 4:1; Isaiah 8:20).

- Watch for fruit, not just flash (Matthew 7:15–20).

- Avoid personalities who commercialize the Word (2 Corinthians 2:17) or “distort the word of God” (2 Corinthians 4:2).

Handling genre and symbolism:

- Poetry uses imagery to tell the truth beautifully (Psalm 19; Psalm 23).

- Prophecy and apocalyptic employ symbols anchored in real events and promises (Daniel; Revelation 1:1–3). Interpret symbols by Scripture’s own usage and immediate context.

One meaning, many applications:

- A text has one God-intended meaning, yet countless faithful applications. Stay within what God has revealed (Deuteronomy 29:29).

- Do not go beyond what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6). Do not add or subtract (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:5–6; Revelation 22:18–19).

Gospel centrality and mission:

- Keep first things first, “of first importance” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Teach the whole counsel with the gospel as the blazing center (Acts 20:27).

- Make disciples who obey Scripture, not personalities or trends (Matthew 28:19–20; Colossians 2:6–7).

Practices that build discernment:

- Daily intake with meditation and memorization (Psalm 1; Psalm 119:11)

- Whole-Bible reading plans to see context and continuity (Romans 15:4)

- Honest confession and course correction when Scripture exposes error (Psalm 19:12–13; 1 John 1:9)

- Courage to contend earnestly with gentleness and clarity (Jude 3; 2 Timothy 2:24–26)

The danger is real, and the remedy is near. God’s Word is fire and a hammer (Jeremiah 23:29), living and active (Hebrews 4:12), sufficient and clear. Receive it with meekness, handle it with care, proclaim it with courage, and obey it with joy.