Distorting Scripture with Worldly Examples and Analogies
Distorting Scripture with Worldly Examples and Analogies
The use of worldly examples and analogies to interpret Scripture can lead to distortions of its original meaning. The devil is described as perverting Scripture, as seen in his temptation of Christ, where he misquotes Psalm 91:11-12 [1]. This highlights the danger of misinterpreting or manipulating biblical text to suit one's own purposes.
The early Church Fathers were aware of this issue. Tertullian notes that heretics corrupt the Scripture by misinterpreting or mutilating it [3]. Similarly, Irenaeus warns against the improper interpretation of parables and obscure passages, advocating for a sound mind devoted to piety and the love of truth [5].
The Catholic tradition, as represented by Thomas Aquinas, acknowledges that Scripture uses metaphors and comparisons with material things to convey divine and spiritual truths. However, this requires careful interpretation to avoid misrepresenting the intended meaning [6]. The Reformed tradition, as seen in the writings of Charles Hodge, emphasizes the importance of understanding the phenomena of the Bible and the nature of inspiration to avoid contradictions and errors [2].
In Jewish tradition, the Midrash Rabbah warns against distortions that cannot be repaired, using the example of one who fails to recite important prayers or commits adultery [7]. The Baptist/Reformed tradition, represented by John Gill, notes that false teachers corrupt the word of God, highlighting the need for careful interpretation and adherence to the original text [8].
The distortion of Scripture can occur through various means, including the use of apocryphal mysteries and blasphemous fables [3]. The early Christian apologists were aware of this issue, with Tertullian arguing that the devil imitates and distorts divine institutions [4].
To avoid distorting Scripture, one must approach it with a sound mind and a commitment to understanding its original meaning. This requires careful consideration of the context, the use of proper interpretation methods, and a recognition of the dangers of misinterpretation.
The consequences of distorting Scripture can be severe, leading to the corruption of the Christian faith and the proliferation of heresy. As Tertullian notes, the followers of Marcion, Valentinus, and Lucian have altered the Gospel, demonstrating the need for vigilance in maintaining the integrity of Scripture [9].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Devil, The — Sinned against God -- 2Pe 2:4; 1Jo 3:8. Cast out of heaven -- Lu 10:18. Cast down to hell -- 2Pe 2:4; Jude 1:6. The author of the fall -- Ge 3:1,6,14,24. Tempted Christ -- Mt 4:3-10. Perverts the Scripture -- Mt 4:6; Ps 91:11,12. Opposes God's work -- Zec 3:1; 1Th 2:18. Hinders the gospel -- Mt 13:19; 2Co 4:4. Works lying wonders -- 2Th 2:9; Re 16:14. Assumes the form of an angel of light -- 2Co 11:14. The wicked Are the children of. -- Mt 13:38; Ac 13:10; 1Jo 3:10. Turn aside after. -- 1Ti 5:15. Do the lusts of. -- Joh 8:44. Possessed by. -- Lu 22:3; Ac”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 41: revealed religion, there are others which cannot be thus summarily disposed of. The most obvious of these is, that the sacred writers contradict each other, and that they teach error. It is, of course, useless to contend that the sacred writers were infallible, if in point of fact they err. Our views of inspiration must be determined by the phenomena of the Bible as well as from its didactic statements. If in fact the sacred writers retain each his own style and mode of thought, then we must renounce any theory which assumes that inspirat”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. LXIII.--CONCLUSION. THE RESURRECTION OF THE FLESH IN ITS ABSOLUTE IDENTITY AND PERFECTION. BELIEF OF THIS HAD BECOME WEAK. HOPES FOR ITS REFRESHING RESTORATION UNDER THE INFLUENCES OF THE PARACL (part 2): change her existence even in Christ[3]--corrupting the very Word of God Himself, who became flesh, either by mutilating or misinterpreting the Scripture,[4] and introducing, above all, apocryphal mysteries and blasphemous fables.[5] But yet Almighty God, in His most gracious providence, by "pouring out of His Spirit in these last days, upon all flesh, upon His se”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. XL.--NO DIFFERENCE IN THE SPIRIT OF IDOLATRY AND OF HERESY. IN THE RITES OF IDOLATRY, SATAN IMITATED AND DISTORTED THE DIVINE INSTITUTIONS OF THE OLDER SCRIPTURES. THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES CORRU (part 1): The question will arise, By whom is to be interpreted(13) the sense of the passages which make for heresies? By the devil, of course, to whom pertain those wiles which pervert the truth, and who, by the mystic rites of his idols, vies even with the essential portions(14) of the sacraments of God.(15) He, too, baptizes some--that is, his own believers and faithful”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. XXVII.--PROPER MODE OF INTERPRETING PARABLES AND OBSCURE PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE. (part 1): 1. A sound mind, and one which does not expose its possessor to danger, and is devoted to piety and the love of truth, will eagerly meditate upon those things which God has placed within the power of mankind, and has subjected to our knowledge, and will make advancement in [acquaintance with] them, rendering the knowledge of them easy to him by means of daily study. These things are such as fall [plainly] under our o”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part (Prima Pars), The Nature and Extent of Sacred Doctrine, Art. 9: Article: Whether Holy Scripture should use metaphors? I answer that, It is befitting Holy Writ to put forward divine and spiritual truths by means of comparisons with material things. For God provides for everything according to the capacity of its nature. Now it is natural to man to attain to intellectual truths through sensible objects, because all our knowledge originates from sense. Hence in Holy Writ, spiritual truths are fittingly taught under the likeness of material things. This is wha”
- Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bamidbar Rabbah 9:6: “If the wife of any man will stray” – that is what is written: “One who commits adultery with a woman is heartless; [he who would destroy his soul does so]” (Proverbs 6:32). “One who commits adultery with a woman” – that is what is written: “A distortion that cannot be repaired [and a lack that cannot be restored]” (Ecclesiastes 1:15). It is taught: “A distortion that cannot be repaired” – this is one who failed to recite Shema of the morning and Shema of the evening, or the Amida [prayer] of the morning or the Amida [prayer] of the evening. “And a lack tha”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 2:17: For we are not as many,.... The apostle here removes from himself, and other ministers of the Gospel, a character which belonged not to them, but to the false apostles; who are described by their number many; there were great swarms of false teachers in the early times of Christianity; see Jo1 2:18; some copies read, "as the rest": and so the Syriac and Arabic versions; and also by their quality, which corrupt the word of God; by "the word of God", may be meant the Scriptures in general, which are from God, contain his will, and which he uses for the good of ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 4: Tertullian IV, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen — CHAP. XXVII.: After this he says, that certain of the Christian believers, like persons who in a fit of drunkenness lay violent hands upon themselves, have corrupted the Gospel from its original integrity, to a threefold, and fourfold, and many-fold degree, and have remodelled it, so that they might be able to answer objections. Now I know of no others who have altered the Gospel, save the. followers of Marcion, and those of Valentinus, and, I think, also those of Lucian. But such an allegation is no charge against the Christian sys”