Topical Bible: Leaven: False Teachers

◄ Leaven: False Teachers ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical literature, leaven is often used metaphorically to represent influence, particularly of a corrupting nature. This symbolism is notably applied to false teachers and their doctrines, which can permeate and corrupt the faith community if not addressed. The concept of leaven as a metaphor for false teaching is rooted in both Old and New Testament scriptures.

Old Testament Background

The use of leaven in the Old Testament primarily appears in the context of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. During these observances, the Israelites were commanded to remove all leaven from their homes as a symbol of purity and separation from sin (Exodus 12:15). This practice underscored the importance of holiness and the need to avoid corrupting influences.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ and the apostles expand on the metaphor of leaven to address the issue of false teachers. In the Gospels, Jesus warns His disciples about the "leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees," which He identifies as their teaching (Matthew 16:6, 12). This warning highlights the danger of adopting doctrines that deviate from the truth of God's Word.

The Apostle Paul also employs the metaphor of leaven in his epistles. In 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 , Paul admonishes the Corinthian church for tolerating sin within their community, using leaven as a symbol for the pervasive nature of sin and false teaching: "Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

Similarly, in Galatians 5:9 , Paul warns the Galatian church about the influence of false teachers who were advocating for a return to the law as a means of justification: "A little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough." Here, Paul emphasizes the insidious nature of false doctrine and its potential to corrupt the entire community of believers.

Characteristics of False Teachers

The Bible provides several characteristics of false teachers, often associated with the metaphor of leaven. These include:

1. Deceptive Appearance: False teachers often present themselves as genuine believers, disguising their true intentions (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

2. Distortion of Truth: They twist and distort the Scriptures to suit their own purposes, leading others astray (2 Peter 3:16).

3. Selfish Motives: False teachers are frequently motivated by personal gain, whether it be financial, social, or political (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

4. Division and Strife: Their teachings often result in division and conflict within the church (Romans 16:17-18).

5. Moral Corruption: False teachers may promote or engage in immoral behavior, contrary to the teachings of Christ (Jude 1:4).

Response to False Teachers

The biblical response to false teachers is clear: believers are to be vigilant, discerning, and steadfast in the truth. The Apostle John exhorts believers to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God" (1 John 4:1). Paul instructs Timothy to "preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2).

In summary, the metaphor of leaven as applied to false teachers serves as a powerful warning to the church. It underscores the necessity of maintaining doctrinal purity and the importance of being on guard against teachings that could lead believers away from the truth of the Gospel.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Galatians 5:8,9
This persuasion comes not of him that calls you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Teaching of Matthew 13 Proves that no Era of Millennial ...
... obtained in the lifetime of the apostles, showing us the false teachers"the children ...
to the fourth parable of Matt.13"the parable of the Leaven, the leaven ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/2 the teaching of matthew.htm

A Message of Warning and Entreaty
... apostle made no mention of the false teachers who were ... with Christ, the greatest
of all teachers, Paul had ... admonished them, "that a little leaven leaveneth the ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 29 a message of.htm

1 John ii. 18
... of these churches as his children, to a warning against those false teachers of
a ... new element introduced by Christ into human history, as the leaven which is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/the first epistle of john/1 john ii 18.htm

Easter Wednesday Also Suited to Easter Tuesday.
... 5. But we will ignore these teachers as being condemned ... God and the name of Christ
in false doctrine, making ... Easter, to this evil as the "old leaven" and the ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/easter wednesday also suited to.htm

The Pastoral Epistles
... exception and qualify that as a false statement ... and some evangelists; and some pastors
and teachers." Surely it ... here as to indicate that the leaven of hierarchy ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the pastoral epistles.htm

God's Fellow-Workers
... is implanted in the very heart of the mass of leaven by the ... wood, hay, stubble' are
the vapid and trivial doctrines which the false teachers were introducing ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/gods fellow-workers.htm

Galatians Chapter V.
... And thus this slight error, he says, if not corrected, will have power (as the leaven
has with the lump) to lead you into ... [128] ["The false teachers had spread ...
/.../galatians chapter v.htm

The Great Schism
... were often very intemperate in their denunciation of such "false teachers." It was
a ... the Separatists had given up their eccentricities and the leaven of Edwards ...
/.../chapter x the great schism.htm

Introduction.
... Christians are to listen to true teachers only: Matt ... with false aims, false methods,
and false diagnosis ... must purge themselves thoroughly from the leaven of error ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bente/american lutheranism/introduction.htm

Selections from the Work against Heresies by Irenaeus, Bishop of ...
... this Epistle is older than those present false teachers who make up ... who want to be
some kind of false prophets, but ... man; but remain in the old leaven of [merely ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/selections from the work against 2.htm