Definition and Usage:
The term "wrests" refers to the act of twisting or distorting something from its original or intended form. In a biblical context, it often pertains to the distortion or misinterpretation of words, particularly the Scriptures. The act of wresting is generally viewed negatively, as it involves altering the truth for personal gain or to deceive others.

Biblical References:
The concept of wresting is addressed in several passages of the Bible, where it is associated with the manipulation of God's word or the perversion of justice.

1. 2 Peter 3:16 :
"He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction."
· In this passage, the Apostle Peter warns against the distortion of Paul's writings and other Scriptures. The term "distort" here is synonymous with "wrest," indicating a deliberate twisting of the text by those who are ignorant or unstable, leading to their own spiritual ruin.

2. Deuteronomy 16:19 :
"Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous."
· This verse highlights the broader application of wresting in the context of justice. It warns against the corruption of justice through bribery, which results in the twisting or wresting of righteous words and judgments.

3. Psalm 56:5 :
"All day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are on my demise."
· Here, the psalmist laments the constant distortion of his words by his enemies. This wresting is part of a broader scheme to bring about his downfall, illustrating the malicious intent often behind such actions.

Theological Implications:
Wresting the Scriptures or any form of truth is considered a grave offense in the biblical tradition. It reflects a heart that is not aligned with God's will and demonstrates a lack of reverence for His word. The act of wresting is often linked with false teaching and heresy, as it involves presenting a distorted version of God's message.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:
From a moral standpoint, wresting is condemned because it undermines the integrity of communication and justice. It is an act of deception that can lead others astray and cause significant harm. The Bible calls believers to handle the word of truth accurately and to uphold justice without partiality or corruption.

Practical Application:
Believers are encouraged to study the Scriptures diligently and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to understand and apply God's word correctly. They are also called to be vigilant against false teachings and to uphold truth and justice in all areas of life. By doing so, they honor God and protect themselves and others from the destructive consequences of wresting.

An Appeal to the History of Creation True Meaning of the Term ...
... Chapter XIX."An Appeal to the History of Creation True Meaning of the Term Beginning,
Which the Heretic Curiously Wrests to an Absurd Sense. ...
/.../tertullian/against hermogenes/chapter xix an appeal to the.htm

Against Hermogenes
... Chapter XIX.--An Appeal to the History of Creation True Meaning of the Term Beginning,
Which the Heretic Curiously Wrests to an Absurd Sense. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/against hermogenes/

Yea, Though I Walk in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I Will ...
... him to death. Thus in times of greatest peril the shepherd protects his
sheep, and wrests them from the jaws of harm. The sheep ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/callan/the shepherd of my soul/vii yea though i walk.htm

Thou Shalt not Covet Thy Neighbor's House. Thou Shalt not Covet ...
... For above, in the Seventh Commandment, the vice is forbidden where one wrests to
himself the possessions of others, or withholds them from his neighbor, which ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/thou shalt not covet thy.htm

Elucidations.
... So, then, he "takes from them the armour in which they trusted, and divides the
spoils." He will not concede to them the name of "Gnostics," but wrests it from ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clement/the stromata or miscellanies/elucidations.htm

Evil Habits and Injurious Indulgences.
... The professed follower of Christ who loves to sip the wine-cup, and by this text
persuades himself to believe he is not violating God's law, wrests it to his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter xiv evil habits and.htm

Letter Xcvii. To Pammachius and Marcella.
... in dialectical subtlety. Theophilus first wrests the dagger from his
opponent's hand, and then stabs him to the heart. 4. Entreat ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xcvii to pammachius and.htm

The Lord's Supper --Concluded.
... Surely a doctrine that changes the words of the institution, wrests and twists them
out of their natural sense, and does violence to all sound rules of ...
/.../chapter xv the lords supperconcluded.htm

Concerning Baptism.
... [989] I answer; This exposition hath taken place, not because grounded upon the
testimony of the scripture, but because it wrests the scripture to make it suit ...
/.../proposition xii concerning baptism.htm

Sin not a Mere Negation.
... its positive working as follows: depriving the ceaseless activity of man's nature
of correct guidance, it runs in the wrong direction, and wrests and destroys ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xii sin not a mere.htm

Wrests (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Wrests (1 Occurrence). Deuteronomy 27:19 'Cursed
is he who wrests the justice due to the foreigner, fatherless ...
/w/wrests.htm - 6k

Wretched (14 Occurrences)

/w/wretched.htm - 10k

Orphan (25 Occurrences)
... (YLT NAS). Deuteronomy 27:19 'Cursed is he who wrests the justice due to the foreigner,
fatherless, and widow.' All the people shall say,'Amen.' (See NAS). ...
/o/orphan.htm - 15k

Wrestlings (1 Occurrence)

/w/wrestlings.htm - 6k

Distorts (2 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 27:19 'Cursed is he who wrests the justice due to the foreigner, fatherless,
and widow.' All the people shall say,'Amen.' (See NAS). ...
/d/distorts.htm - 6k

Fatherless (44 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 27:19 'Cursed is he who wrests the justice due to the foreigner, fatherless,
and widow.' All the people shall say,'Amen.' (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS ...
/f/fatherless.htm - 24k

Type (12 Occurrences)
... The very serious objection to this method is, that it wrests Scripture out of the
sphere of the natural and the historical and locates it in that of the ...
/t/type.htm - 23k

Cursed (115 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 27:19 'Cursed is he who wrests the justice due to the foreigner, fatherless,
and widow.' All the people shall say,'Amen.' (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY ...
/c/cursed.htm - 38k

Widow (71 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 27:19 'Cursed is he who wrests the justice due to the foreigner, fatherless,
and widow.' All the people shall say,'Amen.' (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY ...
/w/widow.htm - 31k

Due (93 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 27:19 'Cursed is he who wrests the justice due to the foreigner, fatherless,
and widow.' All the people shall say,'Amen.' (WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV). ...
/d/due.htm - 35k

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