Peter commenting on the epistles of Paul, said that there "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 Peter 3:16).

wrest (rest) vt. 1 to turn or twist; esp., to pull or force away violently with a twisting motion. 2 to take or extract by force; usurp; extort; wring. 3 to distort or change the true meaning, purpose, use, etc. of; pervert; twist - n. the act of wresting; a twist; wrench - wrestler n.¹

From the Greek 4761. strebloo, streb-lo'-o; from a der. of G4762; to wrench, i.e. (spec.) to torture (by the rack), but only fig. to pervert:--wrest.²

According to the verse and definitions above no true believer in the God of Israel would want to wrest his most Holy Word yet this was happening back in the Apostles time and it is happening in our time. As believers in the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God it becomes our duty to search out the scriptures (Acts 17:11) and "try the spirits" (1 John 4:1), to preach the truth and defend the faith (Jude 3). That is the purpose of this web page. To the Christian or Secularist reading these things I would ask them to study with an open mind and heart in search of what is truth.

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There are four major sections:

1. Passages which are wrested uniquely by a religious group. For example, "Thou are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18) is used uniquely by the Roman Church.
2. Passages used by many different religious groups. For example, "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Lk. 23:43).
3. Passages which appear to conflict with current scientific thinking. For example, "The sun stood still, and the moon stayed" (Josh. 10:13).
4. Passages which appear to be inaccurate or contradictory. For example, the differing inscriptions on the "cross".

The source of material has been taken from a book called "Wrested Scriptures" written by Ron Abel. Ron was a Christadelphian who shortly after baptism went on missionary work to Guyana (then British Guiana) in 1960-1 and found that he needed to be organized and logical in his response for new contacts and converts. Ron's experience in Guyana transformed him as a speaker because he had acquired the blessings of open air speaking. He had become convinced of his faith through conflict and attack in public.

Later, on returning to Toronto, a number of "preliminary copies" were mimeographed and distributed among Christadelphians for their critical comments. The unforeseen result of the distribution was the widespread and intense interested that was developed. At this time, in the 1960s and on into the 70s, Ron and many Christadelphians engaged in open air preaching in Allan Gardens in Toronto. The audiences, often numbering in the hundreds during a Sunday afternoon, presented problem questions, many of which found their way into the original book. The instruction of these friends in a one-night-a-week basis resulted in the book being enlarged from a consideration of "wrested scriptures" to preliminary points and suggested strategies in reaching those with beliefs moulded by a religious organization.

Shortly after preaching work was undertaken in Allan Gardens, the Manitoulin Island Ecclesia (in Canada's Northern Ontario Region) began "spying out the land" in the local churches in search of good and honest hearts. The brethren attended public meetings and at the conclusion of the services attempted to persuade preacher and congregation of a more excellent way. Knowledge of wrested scriptures played an important part in the venture.

Ron fell asleep in the Lord some years ago but his book has continued to be respected. The result of all this work and dedication is before you now.

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Many of the points and solutions may not be fully understood by the reader because they do not understand the position of the Christadelphians on many doctrines. The reader is encouraged to visit the following sites to get a better knowledge of the Bible and its message.

• Christadelphia World Wide
• Christadelphian Preaching Society
• Australian Christadelphian Site
• The Christadelphians

• A.V. - Authorized King James Version of the Bible
• cf. - Compare
• e.g. - For example
• ibid. - Quoted from the same source as the previous footnote.
• i.e. - That is
• J.W. - "Jehovah's Witnesses"
• mg. - Alternative translation given in the margin.
• R.C. - Roman Catholic
• R.S.V. - American Revised Standard Version of the Bible (1952).
• R.V. - Revised Version of the Bible (1885).
• S.D.A. - Seventh-day Adventist
• vs. - Verse, verses.

1. Webster's New World Dictionary (New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1991), p. 1542. Return

2. James H. Strong, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1989) Return