Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
History and Religion
Orthodoxy & Heresy: Biblical Notions?

Orthodoxy & Heresy: Biblical Notions?

Last updated on: December 28, 2016 at 6:35 pm by Dave Armstrong

Orthodoxy & Heresy: Biblical Notions? 2016-12-28T18:35:38-04:00 Dave Armstrong

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ephesians 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith . . .

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

Jude 3 . . . contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

And there are passages about the one true “doctrine”:

1 Timothy 1:3 . . . that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,

Titus 1:9 he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it.

Titus 2:1 But as for you, teach what befits sound doctrine.

2 John 1:9-10 Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son. [10] If any one comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house or give him any greeting;

This last passage in particular is exactly the idea of “purging the heretics” that my friend was so averse to. One has to ask, then, if he and the many who think in similar terms really know what the Bible plainly teaches along these lines and are willing to accept it?

Undaunted by all of the above, my friend came right back:

And yet you quote only one passage which even hints of throwing out people for thought crime: and that, 2 John 1, and then it really doesn’t, only says don’t assist and encourage false preachers in their mission. The irony of almost all your other quotes are that they are Paul railing against preachers who wanted to eject Christians from the Church if they would not conform to strict legalism.

I counter-replied:

I see; so you insist on continuing this fight against Scripture that you can’t win? Give it up!

If you want to deny the notions of excommunication or anathemas, there are plenty of passages about that, too:

1 Corinthians 5:3-5 For though absent in body I am present in spirit, and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

1 Timothy 1:19-20 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith, among them Hymenae’us and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (cf. 2 Timothy 2:14-19, 4:14-15)

1 Corinthians 16:22 If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!

Galatians 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed.

Matthew 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Romans 16:17-18 I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them. [18] For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by fair and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded.

Titus 3:9-11 But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. [10] As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, [11] knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.

He also chose to reprimand someone else who was replying to him:

None of the Epistles were written by Jesus. I said Jesus did not say these things and you “refute” this by referring to other people saying different things, none of which you actually quote or cite but only obliquely refer to, I suspect because they don’t quite say what you want them to.

Jesus is no different. There is no end to your evasions of clear Scripture. I cited Matthew 18 in my last reply to you [see above].

There are other similar passages, such as this:

Matthew 10:14 And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.

Then there are His warnings against false prophets:

Matthew 7:15-20 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. [16] You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? [17] So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. [18] A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. [19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] Thus you will know them by their fruits.

In v. 19 He says they will go to hell, for teaching false doctrines: precisely what you claimed was supposedly not the case.

And so our friend, characteristically of the supposedly singularly tolerant and magnanimous theological liberal, ended the discussion (and all contact) as follows:

I bow to the authority of scripture. Taking the advice to Titus you have quoted I will now avoid further quarrels over the law and having now admonished once or twice a man who is factious, I will have nothing more to do with you, knowing you are condemned by the very words you have quoted at me. It is sad that love of being right, and of proving others wrong is the extent and foundation of your faith, and when you see God be sure to check the soundness if his theology and those he chooses to accept to himself before you condescend to join them.

*****

Meta Description: Does the Bible teach that there is one body of “orthodox” doctrine and that contrary views are heresy?

*
Meta Keywords: orthodoxy, heresy, heretics, denominations, denominationalism, sectarianism, deposit of faith, apostolic faith, apostolic tradition, Catholic faith, the Christian faith, true doctrine, orthodox doctrine, received doctrine, historic Christianity, Catholic doctrine, Catholic theology

Go back

Calvinism & General Protestantism

Church (Ecclesiology)

Heresies & Comparative Religion

historic Christianity

Previous Post

September 22, 2016

Bible vs. Denominationalism

Next Post

September 25, 2016 Were Apostles Always Aware of Writing Scripture?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category & Last Things About Me Anti-Catholicism Atheism & Agnosticism Baptism and Sacramentalism Bible and Tradition Blessed Virgin Mary Books by Dave Armstrong C. S. Lewis Calvinism & General Protestantism Catholic Apologetics Catholic Apologists Catholic conversion Catholic converts Christmas Church (Ecclesiology) Church History Conversion and Converts Development of Doctrine Eastern Orthodoxy Ecumenism & Christian Unity Eucharist & Liturgy Fathers of the Church French Translations G. K. Chesterton Hell Hell & Satan Hell & Satan & Last Things Heresies & Comparative Religion Holistic Health Inquisition & Crusades & Scandals James White Jews & Judaism & Old Testament John Calvin John Henry Newman Liberal / Modernist Theology Life Issues Literary Resume Lutheranism Mariology Martin Luther Music Orthodoxy Papacy & Infallibility Personal Page Philosophy & Science Political & Ethical & Moral Issues Protestant Persecution & Intolerance Protestantism Purgatory Purgatory & Penance Romantic & Imaginative Theology Saints & Purgatory & Penance Salvation Salvation & Justification Satan & Last Things Sexuality and Gender Issues Spanish Translations Traditionalism vs. Radical Catholic Reactionaries Traducciones al español / tradução para português Trinitarianism & Christology Uncategorized Videos

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 April 2010 March 2010 December 2009 October 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 March 2009 February 2009 October 2008 September 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 May 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 October 2005 June 2005 April 2005 February 2005 July 2004 May 2004 April 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz