"Wresting the Writings"

The word "wrest," in the King James Version, comes from the Greek word "streb-lo'-o," "Wrest" is seldom used in our vocabulary today, but "streb-lo'-o" was familiar to those who lived prior to and during the time of the early church. Moses first used it when encouraging the people to not "wrest judgment" (Ex. 23:2, 6; Deut. 16:19). The word means to "distort, pervert, stretch out, turn aside or away" (Young's).

David's use of it should not go unnoticed. David was frustrated because he was honoring God's Word, but his people refused to do so. He lamented, "In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil" (Ps. 56:4-5).

Peter referenced Paul when he said, "As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction" (2 Pet. 3:16). This word is rendered "twist" in the New King James.

We are in the middle of football season. I see some similarities, simplistically speaking, between the Word of God and a football. Everyone is concerned about the safety of the players, but the ball is also subjected to rain, snow and abuse. Everyone is after it, wanting to grab, throw, fall on or abuse it in some other way. Actually, it is not the ball they want, but personal gain that comes through having the ball. Without it in the player's possession, they cannot advance, no first-down is realized and certainly no touchdown made. After the touchdown is made, they throw the ball down for it has served its purpose and given them personal gain.

There are those who use the Scriptures for personal gain. It is used to win arguments for arguments sake. Often, it is used to justify an ungodly behavior by manipulating it (fake play) or "wresting" it to conform to their needs and wants, to make personal gain or to advance their cause. When finished with it, they dispose of it. When not willing to defend it or have it in their possession because of it attracting attention, they "hand it off" to rid themselves of it. We must carry the Word with pride, forthrightness and objectivity!

(Contributor, Mike King, former minister of the Lakeside Church of Christ in Orange Park, Florida, with editorials.)