G3344 μεταστρέφω (metastréphō)

Distort (3344) (metastrepho from meta = change + strepho = to twist) means to turn about or turn around. Transform into something of an opposite character. Corrupt. Pervert. Reverse. The idea is to turn something (here the true Gospel) to it opposite state, so altering it and causing it to be different, so that it really no longer a gospel of Christ and of His grace. Metastrepho was also used as a political term, with revolutionary action in view In this passage the aorist tense indicates a complete and thorough change or perversion of the true Gospel of Grace! The intent of the Judaizers was to pervert Paul's message of grace by adding salvation by works instead of by faith alone. Wuest - It was not merely to derange Paul's gospel of grace or to turn aside its true meaning. It was to transform it into something diametrically opposed to what it was originally, into something of an opposite nature. Thus the actions of the Judaizers themselves testify to the mutual incompatibility of law and grace. These two systems have nothing in common; as Paul says, “If by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work” (Rom. 11:6). Pervert - to cause to turn aside or away from what is good or true or morally right; to twist the meaning or sense of; To turn from truth, propriety, or from its proper purpose; to distort from its true use or end; as, to pervert reason by misdirecting it; to alter from its original meaning or state to a corruption of what was first intended. Distort - to twist out of the true meaning or proportion; to twist out of a natural, normal, or original shape or condition. To mar or spoil by or as if by twisting. Paul is describing Spiritual Warfare 101! The cults in one way or another will always center their "stealth attack" on the most vital aspect of our faith, the Gospel of Christ. The only other NT use of metastrepho is in Acts where Peter declares... THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME. (Acts 2:20) Metastrepho - 17x in the non-apocryphal Septuagint - Ex 14:5 (of Pharaoh having "a change of heart") ; Deut 23:5 ("God turned the curse to blessing"); 1 Sam 10:9 ("God changed his [Saul's] heart"); 2 Chr 36:4 ("changed his name"); Ps 66:6 ("turned the sea into dry land"); Ps 78:44 ("turned their rivers to blood"), Ps 78:57 ("They turned aside like a treacherous bow"); Ps105:25 ("He turned their heart to hate His people"), Ps 105:29 ("He turned their waters into blood"); Jer 6:12; 21:4; Lam 5:2; Hos 7:8 ("like a cake not turned"); Hos 11:8 ("My heart is turned over within Me"); Joel 2:31 (Quoted in Acts 2:20 above); Amos 8:10 ("I will turn your festivals into mourning"); Zeph 3:9 ("then I will give [turn to an opposite state] to the peoples purified lips [instead of impure speech - this is an act of grace, and the timing is most likely at the beginning of the Millennium]"); Gospel of Christ - D L Moody on Choosing a Church - Salvation is obtained solely by faith in Him and quite apart from any works or human merit (Galatians 1:6-9). Be sure to find out what is taught concerning His precious blood. Apart from that blood there can be no remission of sins. Ray Pritchard - The church had to hammer out its faith on the anvil of doctrinal controversy. That's why you find so many warnings in the New Testament concerning false teachers in the church. Virtually every New Testament book contains one. Some of the major references are: Matthew 24:4—5, 24; Acts 20:29—30; Romans 16:17—19; 2 Corinthians 11:13—15; Galatians 1:6—9; Philippians 3:1—2; Colossians 2:4, 8, 18, 20—23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1—3; 1 Timothy 1:3—7; 4:1—6; 2 Timothy 3:1—9; 4:3—4; 2 Peter 2:1—3; 1 John 2:18—19; 2John 7—11; Jude 3—4; Revelation 2:6, 14—15, 20—24. Clearly, the early church took very seriously the threat posed by those who would add to or subtract from the original faith handed down from the apostles. (Stealth Attack) ><>><>><> TODAY IN THE WORD - A second-century Christian heresy was ""rediscovered"" in 1945. That year, archaeologists recovered a number of documents from an Egyptian monastery, among them a book called ""The Gospel of Truth"" by a theologian named Valentinus (or one of his followers). Once a candidate for bishop of Rome, Valentinus (Gnostic) was excommunicated when he emerged as leader of a gnostic heresy. Gnosticism denies that the spiritual has anything to do with the physical, a heresy with which other ages of the church have also wrestled. Valentinus interpreted the Bible in a strange, allegorical way. His teachings blurred the line between Christianity, mysticism, philosophy and Judaism. He rejected the incarnation, crucifixion and bodily resurrection of Jesus. Church leaders attacked Valentinus' heretical ideas and defended biblical truth. Heresies and cults have always threatened the church. When falsehoods are exposed, the church must do all it can to defend the truth. In his epistle to the Galatians, Paul is defending the truth of Christianity against false theology. He criticizes the Galatians for neglecting Christian liberty and for focusing instead on the error of legalism. The Galatians may have been startled when the apostle accused them of turning from God (Gal 1:6). No doubt they thought they were pleasing the Father by keeping the law, as did the Jews and Paul before his conversion. But God had extended to the Galatians grace through Jesus Christ, the instrument by which He brings us to salvation. The Galatians had set aside that important truth, and distorted the simple truths of the gospel (Gal 1:6-7) ><>><>><> TODAY IN THE WORD - The neighborhood kids decided to organize themselves into a playgroup and little Danny was their leader. All the members had bicycles and decorated them the same way so that everyone in the neighborhood would know who they were. When Sarah’s family moved in, she too wanted to be part of the group. “You can join,” Danny told her, “but only if you have a bicycle and decorate it just like ours!” This story reflects something of the situation in Galatia. (Galatians Devotionals) Galatians 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! (Even if: Ga 1:9 1Co 16:22 2Co 11:13,14 1Ti 1:19,20 Tit 3:10 Rev 22:18,19)(He is to be: Ga 3:10,13 Ge 9:25 Dt 27:15-26 Jos 9:23 1Sa 26:19 Ne 13:25 Mt 25:41 2Pe 2:14)(accursed: Mk 14:71 Ac 23:14 Ro 9:3 1Co 12:3 16:22) But (alla) the strongest adversative conjunction. Emphasizes how strong the contrast is between Paul's gospel and the counterfeit. We (plural) shows that Paul is not alone in his strong feelings concerning the integrity of the Gospel of grace. Indeed, we today should be just as zealous to "Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to" us (2Ti 1:14-note) Wuest adds "He wants to show the Galatians that the controversy is not between one teacher and another, but between truth and error." Even if: Subjective with ean expresses a Third class condition which views the condition as a possibility. Spurgeon — Paul is no fanatic, no raving enthusiast; yet he cannot endure the notion of a false gospel. In his solemn anathema, he includes himself, and all the brethren with him, yea, and the very angels of God if they “preach any other gospel.” Let him be accursed, saith he, and so he is. (Spurgeon's Exposition)