In biblical literature, the term "wrinkle" is used metaphorically to describe imperfections or blemishes, often in the context of spiritual purity and moral integrity. The concept of a wrinkle is primarily found in the New Testament, where it is used to illustrate the sanctifying work of Christ in the Church.

Ephesians 5:27
The most notable reference to "wrinkle" is found in Ephesians 5:27, where the Apostle Paul writes about Christ's relationship with the Church: "and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless" . In this passage, the "wrinkle" symbolizes any imperfection or moral flaw that might mar the purity and holiness of the Church. The imagery of a wrinkle, along with "stain" and "blemish," underscores the transformative power of Christ's love and sacrifice, which purifies and sanctifies believers, preparing them for eternal union with Him.

Symbolism and Interpretation
In the biblical context, a wrinkle is not merely a physical imperfection but represents spiritual and moral deficiencies. The absence of wrinkles in the Church signifies a state of spiritual maturity and purity, achieved through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. This imagery aligns with the broader biblical theme of sanctification, where believers are called to grow in holiness and reflect the character of Christ.

Theological Implications
The use of "wrinkle" in Ephesians 5:27 carries significant theological implications. It emphasizes the eschatological hope of the Church being presented to Christ in perfect holiness. This process involves both the imputed righteousness of Christ, granted to believers through faith, and the ongoing sanctification by the Holy Spirit, which gradually removes the "wrinkles" of sin and imperfection from the lives of believers.

Practical Application
For Christians, the metaphor of being without "wrinkle" serves as a call to pursue holiness and moral integrity. It encourages believers to examine their lives for areas of spiritual imperfection and to rely on the grace of God for transformation. The Church, as the bride of Christ, is to strive for purity and readiness for the return of the Bridegroom, reflecting the glory and holiness of God in a world marred by sin.

In summary, the concept of "wrinkle" in the Bible is a powerful metaphor for spiritual imperfection, highlighting the sanctifying work of Christ in preparing the Church to be holy and blameless. Through His redemptive love, believers are called to a life of holiness, free from the blemishes of sin, as they await the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.1. (n.) A winkle.

2. (n.) A small ridge, prominence, or furrow formed by the shrinking or contraction of any smooth substance; a corrugation; a crease; a slight fold; as, wrinkle in the skin; a wrinkle in cloth.

3. (n.) hence, any roughness; unevenness.

4. (n.) A notion or fancy; a whim; as, to have a new wrinkle.

5. (v. t.) To contract into furrows and prominences; to make a wrinkle or wrinkles in; to corrugate; as, wrinkle the skin or the brow.

6. (v. t.) Hence, to make rough or uneven in any way.

7. (v. i.) To shrink into furrows and ridges.

WRINKLE

rin'-k'-l (qamaT, "to lay hold on"; rhutis, "a wrinkle"): In Job 16:8, the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes, "Thou hast laid fast hold on me" (margin "shrivelled me up") for the King James Version "Thou hast filled me with wrinkles." In Ephesians 5:27, Paul's figurative reference to the church as a bride, "not having spot or wrinkle," is indicative of the perennial youth and attractiveness of the church.

4512. rhutis -- a wrinkle
... a wrinkle. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: rhutis Phonetic Spelling:
(hroo-tece') Short Definition: a wrinkle, spiritual defect Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4512.htm - 6k

The Church Will be Without Spot and Wrinkle after the Resurrection ...
... Augustin to his holy brethren and fellow-bishops Eutropius and Paulus. (35.) The
Church Will Be Without Spot and Wrinkle After the Resurrection. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/35 the church will be.htm

We Come Next in the Order of Belief to the Holy Church. We have ...
... This is that holy Church which is without spot or wrinkle. ... But those Churches
are not without spot or wrinkle of unfaithfulness. ...
/.../39 we come next in.htm

Pelagius' Reply to the Eighth Item of Accusation.
... "It has," says he, "been asserted by me,"but in such a sense that the Church is
by the laver cleansed from every spot and wrinkle, and in this purity the ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 28 pelagius reply to the.htm

The Eighth Item in the Accusation.
... Pelagius was charged with having said: "That the Church here is without spot or
wrinkle." It was on this point that the Donatists also were constantly at ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 27 xii the eighth item.htm

As to the Charge that they Bring against Us...
... in this world, as the Donatists themselves declared in our conference that they
were members of a Church which has already neither spot nor wrinkle, nor any ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 9 35 as.htm

And if they Would have Obeyed Him...
... to belong to that Church, which He so purifies by the washing of water, "that He
may present to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 3 4 and.htm

Of the Praise of the Saints.
... to be members of Christ's body, how will that body, that is, the Church, be even
in this time perfectly, as they think, without spot or wrinkle, if its members ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 17 vii of the praise.htm

How the Bishops Cleared Pelagius of those Charges.
... And that although the Church here on earth is not without spot or wrinkle, she is
yet both cleansed from every spot and wrinkle by the laver of regeneration ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 64 how the bishops cleared.htm

Whether Christ is the Head of all Men?
... the Ephesians (5:25,27): "Christ delivered Himself up for" the Church "that He might
present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ is the head 3.htm

I am Told, to Take Another Point, that one of his Followers ...
... Why should he knit his brow and draw in and wrinkle up his nostrils, and weigh out
his hollow words, and simulate among the common crowd a sanctity which his ...
/.../32 i am told to.htm

Wrinkle (1 Occurrence)
... A small ridge, prominence, or furrow formed by the shrinking or contraction of any
smooth substance; a corrugation; a crease; a slight fold; as, wrinkle in the ...
/w/wrinkle.htm - 8k

Spot (42 Occurrences)
... Spilos is used in the figurative sense of a stain of sin in 2 Peter 3:14, and
similarly along with rhutis ("a wrinkle") in Ephesians 5:27. ...
/s/spot.htm - 24k

Unblemished (11 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 5:27 that He might present the Church to Himself a glorious bride, without
spot or wrinkle or any other defect, but to be holy and unblemished. ...
/u/unblemished.htm - 9k

Gloriously (7 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 5:27 that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having
spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without ...
/g/gloriously.htm - 8k

Wringing (1 Occurrence)

/w/wringing.htm - 7k

Wither (30 Occurrences)
... away. 4. (vt) To cause to fade, and become dry. 5. (vt) To cause to shrink,
wrinkle, or decay, for want of animal moisture. 6. (vt ...
/w/wither.htm - 15k

Wrinkles (1 Occurrence)

/w/wrinkles.htm - 6k

Furrow (3 Occurrences)
... by, a plow. 2. (n.) Any trench, channel, or groove, as in wood or metal;
a wrinkle on the face; as, the furrows of age. 3. (n.) To ...
/f/furrow.htm - 9k

Ridge (3 Occurrences)
... ridges. 7. (vt) To form into ridges with the plow, as land. 8. (vt) To
wrinkle. Multi-Version Concordance Ridge (3 Occurrences). ...
/r/ridge.htm - 8k

Radiant (14 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 5:27 that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having
spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without ...
/r/radiant.htm - 12k

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