Twisting the Scriptures: The Warped Hermeneutics of the NAR
Imagine you’re reading a letter from a close friend, only to have someone else intercept it and tell you, “Here’s what they really meant.” You know your friend well enough to sense something’s off, but the reinterpretation is convincing, even emotionally stirring. This is precisely what happens when the Word of God is distorted, especially by some who claim to speak on God’s behalf.
In the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement, Scripture is often quoted, but rarely explained in context. Passages are repurposed, spiritualized, and customized to affirm subjective experiences and self-centered prophecies. What results is not biblical interpretation – it’s hijacking the Word of God to serve a man-made agenda.
In this article, we’ll expose the warped hermeneutics of the NAR and contrast it with the biblical model of interpretation that leads to truth, spiritual maturity, and an authentic knowledge of God.
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Leslie, a thoughtful follower of this blog, who reached out with a timely and important request: an article exploring the warped hermeneutics of the New Apostolic Reformation. His insight—that while the NAR often quotes Scripture, it does so out of context—captures a critical issue that many are beginning to recognize. This article is dedicated in response to his request, with the hope that it will bring clarity, discernment, and a deeper love for the truth of God’s Word.
What Is Hermeneutics, and Why Does It Matter?
Hermeneutics is the art and science of interpretation, especially of Scripture. It answers the question: How do we rightly understand what the Bible means? Every time we read, preach, or share the Word, we are interpreting it – whether we realize it or not. That makes hermeneutics one of the most important disciplines in the Christian life.
A sound hermeneutic will lead us to sound doctrine and a right relationship with God. A distorted hermeneutic, on the other hand, can lead us into deception, false teaching, a different gospel, and even apostasy. This is not a matter of preference – it is a matter of spiritual life and death (Galatians 1:6–9).
The Biblical Model of Interpretation
The Bible itself teaches us how it should be interpreted. God has not left us to guess. Through both example and instruction, Scripture lays out a reliable and faithful method of interpretation:
Let Scripture Interpret Scripture:
The Bible is its own best interpreter. We should compare Scripture with Scripture to understand the whole counsel of God (Acts 17:11; Isaiah 28:10).
Respect Context:
A verse cannot mean what it never meant. Literary, grammatical, and historical context matter deeply. Scripture was written by real people to real audiences in real settings (Nehemiah 8:8).
Seek Authorial Intent:
The goal is to discover what the original author, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, intended to communicate. We don’t get to impose our meaning onto the text (2 Peter 1:20–21).
Christ at the Center:
Jesus taught that all Scripture ultimately points to Him (Luke 24:27, 44–45). Any interpretation that sidelines Christ misses the point entirely.
Scripture Is Sufficient:
God’s Word is complete and equips us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17). We do not need fresh revelations to know God’s will.
Illumination, Not New Revelation:
The Holy Spirit opens our understanding to what God has already revealed. He does not give us new doctrine that contradicts Scripture (1 Corinthians 2:12–13).
These principles are not optional – they are the guardrails that keep us from spiritual deception.
The Warped Hermeneutics of the NAR
In stark contrast, the New Apostolic Reformation movement consistently violates these principles. While claiming to value the Bible, NAR leaders reinterpret it through the lens of dreams, visions, emotional experiences, and private “revelations.” Here are some of the most common ways NAR hermeneutics depart from the biblical model:
Experience Over Exegesis:
In the NAR, personal experiences usually carry more weight than the actual words of Scripture. If someone had a dream or prophetic word, that experience is treated as a valid interpretive lens, even if it twists (or underemphasizes at best) the biblical text.
Allegorizing and Spiritualizing:
Clear historical narratives and straightforward instructions are often spiritualized into metaphors for personal destiny, apostolic assignments, or mystical breakthroughs. The plain, literal meaning of the text is disregarded in favor of symbolic reinterpretation. This approach includes the NAR’s frequent use of eisegesis—reading preconceived ideas into the text—as well as narcegesis, the practice of inserting oneself into the narrative and personalizing the passage as though it were directly about one’s own life.
Prooftexting:
Verses are ripped from their context and used to support pre-decided doctrines. For example, Matthew 10:8 (“heal the sick…raise the dead”) is often applied directly to every believer today without understanding its original context to the twelve apostles.
Redefining Biblical Terms:
Words like “apostle,” “kingdom,” “anointing,” “mantle,” and “evangelism” are redefined to fit modern charismatic ideology. This creates a completely different theological framework that masquerades as biblical.
Elevating “New Revelation”:
Prophets (and leaders) in the NAR often speak as though their words carry the same authority as Scripture. They claim to receive direct revelation from God, sometimes even claiming to reveal hidden meanings in Scripture not accessible to ordinary readers.
Over-Personalizing the Bible:
Verses meant for Israel or specific individuals are routinely turned into personal promises. Jeremiah 29:11 is a classic example, applied universally without reference to its original context.
These interpretive habits are not harmless—they produce a theology that looks nothing like the faith delivered to the saints once for all (Jude 3).
The Consequences of Warped Interpretation
When Scripture is misused, the results are devastating:
- A Different Gospel:
The NAR, in general, preaches a gospel of dominion, personal destiny, and supernatural exploits – not the message of repentance, faith, and the finished work of Christ. - Man-Centered Faith:
God’s glory is eclipsed by man’s dreams, potential, and authority. The focus shifts from what Christ has done to what we can accomplish through “activations” and impartations. - Doctrinal Confusion and Error:
With no interpretive anchor, teachings become unstable, contradictory, and spiritually dangerous. - Spiritual Abuse:
Leaders use twisted interpretations to justify authoritarian control, manipulative tactics, and spiritual elitism. - Biblical Illiteracy:
Followers become reliant on prophetic personalities instead of learning how to study Scripture for themselves. This breeds dependence and vulnerability to deception.
A Side-by-Side Comparison
Here is a brief comparison of biblical hermeneutics versus NAR hermeneutics:
| CATEGORY | BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICS | NAR HERMENEUTICS |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura) | Subjective revelation and prophetic experiences |
| Context | Central to meaning | Often ignored or distorted |
| Interpretation Method | Authorial intent, literary & historical context | Emotional impressions and mystical symbolism |
| Christ-Centeredness | All Scripture points to Jesus | Man-centered and destiny-driven |
| Outcome | Sound doctrine and spiritual maturity | Sensationalism, confusion, false teaching |
Guarding Against Twisted Scripture
In a time of increasing deception, believers must return to the Berean mindset: to search the Scriptures daily and test everything (Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). We must be students of the Word who rightly divide the truth (2 Timothy 2:15), using sound principles to interpret the Bible as God intended.
Avoiding error starts with loving the truth. That means resisting the temptation of emotional hype, spiritual shortcuts, and man-centered messages. It means developing a deep hunger to know God as He has revealed Himself clearly in His Word.
The Word Twisted or the Word Treasured?
At the end of the day, the issue of hermeneutics boils down to this: Will we honor God’s Word, or will we hijack it to serve our own narratives? The NAR’s interpretive model may sound spiritual, but it ultimately robs Scripture of its authority, clarity, and power. When we twist the Scriptures, we don’t just distort theology—we dishonor God Himself.
But when we approach the Bible with reverence, seeking to understand and obey it as it was meant to be understood, something incredible happens. We meet God on His terms. We are shaped by His truth. We are anchored in a faith that endures.
Let us, then, reject the seductive errors of man-made movements and return to the glorious simplicity of “Thus says the Lord.” For in rightly dividing the Word of Truth, we find not only sound doctrine, but life, light, and lasting freedom.
