Distorting Truth with Human Perspectives in Biblical Interpretation
Human perspectives can distort biblical truth, leading individuals and communities astray. The New Testament warns against those who would "distort the truth to draw away disciples after them" [2]. This distortion can manifest in various ways, often stemming from corrupted minds or a desire for personal gain [1].
One form of distortion involves altering core doctrines. For instance, some individuals have "erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past," which can "overthrow the faith of some" [3]. Similarly, the apostle Paul confronted those who twisted the gospel message by adding requirements for salvation beyond faith in Christ, effectively making it "no longer the Good News" [11]. Such actions demonstrate a deliberate twisting of truth to fit particular views [11].
The Bible also describes how human wickedness can lead to a spiritual blindness that prevents understanding of divine revelation. God may punish the "wickedness of men" by allowing them to possess the word of God but without the capacity for "reason and understanding" [8]. This can result in people being "blind amidst the clearest light" [9]. The prophet Isaiah illustrates this by describing how God's clear revelation can become "nonsense" to those who are spiritually blind [10]. This spiritual inability to grasp truth is linked to the corruption of human nature, which requires a "new birth" to overcome [6, 7].
Even well-intentioned individuals can be deceived or act foolishly without the knowledge of God, denying or blaspheming Him [4]. The pursuit of personal gain can also corrupt one's understanding of godliness, leading to a distortion of truth [1]. The Scriptures emphatically condemn lies as an "intentional violation of the truth" [5], highlighting the seriousness of any departure from it.
Sources
- I Timothy “I Timothy 6:5 (LITV) — meddling, of men whose mind has been corrupted and deprived of the truth, supposing gain to be godliness. Withdraw from such persons .”
- Acts “Acts 20:30 (BSB) — Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.”
- 2 Timothy “men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of some. -- 2 Timothy 2:18”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fools — All men are, without the knowledge of God -- Tit 3:3. Deny God -- Ps 14:1; 53:1. Blaspheme God -- Ps 74:18. Reproach God -- Ps 74:22. Make a mock at sin -- Pr 14:9. Despise instruction -- Pr 1:7; 15:5. Hate knowledge -- Pr 1:22. Delight not in understanding -- Pr 18:2. Sport themselves in mischief -- Pr 10:23. Walk in darkness -- Ec 2:14. Hate to depart from evil -- Pr 13:19. Worship of, hateful to God -- Ec 5:1. Are Corrupt and abominable. -- Ps 14:1. Self-sufficient. -- Pr 12:15; Ro 1:22. Self-confident. -- Pr 14:16. Self-deceivers. -- Pr 14:8. Mere profess”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lie — An intentional violation of the truth. Lies are emphatically condemned in Scripture (John 8:44; 1 Tim. 1:9, 10; Rev. 21:27; 22:15). Mention is made of the lies told by good men, as by Abraham (Gen. 12:12, 13; 20:2), Isaac (26:7), and Jacob (27:24); also by the Hebrew midwives (Ex. 1:15-19), by Michal (1 Sam. 19:14), and by David (1 Sam. 20:6). (See [356]ANANIAS.)”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: New Birth, The — The corruption of human nature requires -- Joh 3:6; Ro 8:7,8. None can enter heaven without -- Joh 3:3. Effected by God. -- Joh 1:13; 1Pe 1:3. Christ. -- 1Jo 2:29. The Holy Spirit. -- Joh 3:6; Tit 3:5. Through the instrumentality of The word of God. -- Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23. The resurrection of Christ. -- 1Pe 1:3. The ministry of the gospel. -- 1Co 4:15. Is of the will of God -- Jas 1:18. Is of the mercy of God -- Tit 3:5. Is for the glory of God -- Isa 43:7. Described as A new creation. -- 2Co 5:17; Ga 6:15; Eph 2:10. Newness of life. -- Ro 6:4. A spir”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fall of Man, The — By the disobedience of Adam -- Ge 3:6,11,12; Ro 5:12,15,19. Through temptation of the devil -- Ge 3:1-5; 2Co 11:3; 1Ti 2:14. Man in consequence of Made in the image of Adam. -- Ge 5:3; 1Co 15:48,49. Born in sin. -- Job 15:14; 25:4; Ps 51:5; Isa 48:8; Joh 3:6. A child of wrath. -- Eph 2:3. Evil in heart. -- Ge 6:5; 8:21; Jer 16:12; Mt 15:19. Blinded in heart. -- Eph 4:18. Corrupt and perverse in his ways. -- Ge 6:12; Ps 10:5; Ro 3:12-16. Depraved in mind. -- Ro 8:5-7; Eph 4:17; Col 1:21; Tit 1:15. Without understanding. -- Ps 14:2,3; Ro 3:11; 1:31. ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 17.17: that, from the highest to the lowest, they will derive no benefit from the word of God. He does not say that doctrine will be taken away, but that, though it be in their possession, they will not have reason and understanding. In two ways the Lord punishes the wickedness of men; for sometimes he takes away entirely the use of the word, and sometimes, when he leaves it, he takes away understanding, and blinds the minds of men, so that “seeing they do not see.” ( Isaiah 6:9 .) First, therefore, he deprives them of reading, either by taking awa”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 16.17: they shall be totally deprived of the benefit of saving doctrine, and shall perceive in it nothing but an empty sound. In short, he concludes, from what goes before, that since they had not profited by the word of God, the Jews shall be justly punished for their ingratitude; not that the word shall be taken from them, but that they shall be deprived of sound judgment and understanding, and shall be blind amidst the clearest light. Thus God blinds and hardens the reprobate more and more on account of their disobedience. Paul quotes this passa”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 28:13: 28:13 one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there: The Hebrew here is difficult to understand. The words might be intentional nonsense to illustrate the point that the people were so spiritually blind that God’s clearest revelation was nonsense to them (see 6:9-10).”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 1:7: 1:7 The “different way” (1:6) was a distortion, not the Good News of salvation at all. The only way to be saved is by faith in Christ. Adding any requirements makes the message no longer the Good News. • those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ: The Judaizers knew they were changing the Good News to fit their views.”