Topical Bible: Heresy: Teachers of, Among Early Christians

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In the early Christian church, the term "heresy" referred to beliefs or teachings that deviated from the established doctrines of the apostles and the early church fathers. The New Testament provides several warnings and examples of heretical teachings and those who propagated them, emphasizing the need for vigilance and adherence to the true gospel.

Biblical Warnings Against Heresy

The apostles frequently warned the early Christians about the dangers of false teachings. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often addressed the issue of heresy. In his farewell to the Ephesian elders, he cautioned, "I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:29-30). This warning highlights the internal threat of heretical teachers arising from within the church itself.

Paul also instructed Timothy to guard against false doctrines, writing, "If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing" (1 Timothy 6:3-4). This underscores the importance of maintaining the purity of the apostolic teaching.

Examples of Heretical Teachers

Several individuals and groups are identified in the New Testament as propagators of heretical teachings. One notable example is Hymenaeus and Philetus, who "have deviated from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already occurred, and they undermine the faith of some" (2 Timothy 2:17-18). Their teaching contradicted the apostolic doctrine of the future resurrection, leading believers astray.

Another example is the Nicolaitans, mentioned in the book of Revelation. The church in Ephesus is commended for hating the practices of the Nicolaitans, which Christ also hates (Revelation 2:6). Although the exact nature of their teachings is not detailed, it is clear that they were contrary to the teachings of Christ and the apostles.

Characteristics of Heretical Teachings

Heresies in the early church often involved a distortion of key Christian doctrines. The Apostle Peter warned against false teachers who "will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them" (2 Peter 2:1). Such teachings often included a denial of Christ's divinity, His resurrection, or His redemptive work.

The Apostle John also addressed heretical teachings, particularly those denying the incarnation of Christ. He wrote, "Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world" (1 John 4:3). This highlights the centrality of Christ's true nature in orthodox Christian belief.

Response to Heretical Teachers

The early church was instructed to respond to heretical teachings with discernment and firmness. Paul advised Titus, "Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition, knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned" (Titus 3:10-11). This directive emphasizes the need for corrective action to protect the integrity of the church.

The Apostle Jude urged believers to "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). This call to action underscores the responsibility of the church to uphold and defend the apostolic doctrine against heretical influences.

In summary, the early Christian church faced significant challenges from heretical teachers who sought to distort the gospel. The New Testament provides clear guidance on identifying, confronting, and rejecting such teachings to preserve the truth of the Christian faith.

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Acts 15:24
For as much as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, You must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
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2 Corinthians 11:4
For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him.
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Galatians 1:7
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
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Galatians 2:4
And that because of false brothers unawares brought in, who came in privately to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
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2 Peter 2:1
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
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Jude 1:3-16
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write to you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write to you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.
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Revelation 2:2
I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you can not bear them which are evil: and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars:
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Library

Those who First Advanced the Heresy of Artemon; their Manner of ...
... 3. "For they say that all the early teachers and the apostles ... 9, X. 14) to the heresy
of Tatian ... On the other hand, the private use of hymns among the Christians ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xxviii those who first advanced.htm

The Heresies of the Apostolic Age.
... to the Galatians, heresies are enumerated among the works of ... It thus appears that
heresy, in the first century ... to them when he speaks of false teachers who were ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter iii the heresies of.htm

Heresies
... of France that this and all heresy assumed a ... Moreover, the early teachers were men
of education. ... The stories of abominable practices among them perhaps arose ...
/.../medley/the church and the empire/chapter xii heresies.htm

The Setting
... but in a chain of authorized teachers, which reaches ... Of first importance among such
sees is Rome, the center ... But heresy was only one factor in the development. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/richardson/early christian fathers/the setting.htm

Introduction
... we can form some idea of the teachers against whom ... the first weeds of the sinister
Carpocratian heresy shot up ... us back upon the fact that among the brothers of ...
/.../moffat/the general epistles james peter and judas/introduction 4.htm

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Colossians --The Epistle of ...
... that now he will deal with the heresy, but again ... God has not divided His attributes
among a group ... condemns the practices of the false teachers"their anxious ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xiv the epistle of.htm

The Evolution of Early Congregationalism the Stone which the ...
... were passed to enforce conformity and to punish heresy. ... such equality of power [9]
among the members of ... for the church with pastors, teachers, elders, deacons ...
/.../chapter i the evolution of.htm

Apostasy in Galatia
... among the believers in Jerusalem, division, heresy, and sensualism ... the Spirit, and
worketh miracles among you, doeth ... was in the days of these Jewish teachers. ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 36 apostasy in galatia.htm

The Doctrine of the Church.
... And, as among plants, there is not one but has ... when improperly contracted, did not
create heresy, and a ... philosophy; but, though the Church teachers enter into ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter v the doctrine of.htm

The Foundation of the Church among the Jews
... had ever been vouchsafed to the Prophets and Teachers of old ... and goods," that there
was not "any among them that ... of Antioch, was the author of the heresy of the ...
/.../blunt/a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter i the foundation of.htm