Heresy

I view heresy as a definite thing. It's not something that you can base off of opinion, but something that comes when you know the truth. Point in Case, here's what I mean.Is Hell a definite thing? Yes! Will many spend eternity there for rejecting the Living God? Yes. So, as a definite truth of God, his justice, and eternity, any other teaching is heresy.Now, the hard part comes with what some people believe to be truth. I know people who believe that unless you use the authorized KJV of the Bible, you won't go to heaven. I don't believe this to be true, and they would call that heresy. Now, I believe that Bible translation is a very important debate, but directly doesn't contribute to God's image, within reason. Now, there are versions that I would consider heresy: Clear Word, the Jehova's Witness Bible, and others who deliberately change the Word of God to fit their doctrine.Along with that, church doctrine that deliberately goes against the Word of God is heresy. Examples: stating that homosexuality is just a fact of nature, and should be treated as such with church leadership. The Bible is very clear on this issue, and changing that is an act of defiance towards God, essentially changing God to fit what you want him to be.I'm not sure if you're looking for a more specific answer on this issue, I know that mine is pretty broad. But hopefully this can set a pace to converse by.Grace and Peace...

As I posted on another thread, I was wondering, along with heresy, what would be the punishment for it? In 1 Cor. 6:1-11, Paul tells us to judge among ourselves, but how far should we go in the removal of persons found to be obstinate heretics and apostates? Indeed, now in America, if you try to remove them, they'll just go to another, more "open-minded" church. Is this not the "turning unto fables" or false truths Paul described in 2 Tim. 4?I'm just concerned that we're letting the world pull the wool over our eyes, not seeing that Rome likewise fell when it likened pleasure to be the summation of existence. May God "turn us back to [Him]" (Lam. 5:21).Brother in the Lamb,Benjamin

Stuff I found when I did a search for "heretick" and "heresy" in SwordSearcher. The commentaries are interesting.Acts 24:13-16 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.Strongs:139. hairesis airesiV hairesis hah'-ee-res-is from 138; properly, a choice, i.e. (specially) a party or (abstractly) disunion:--heresy (which is the Greek word itself), sect. 138. haireomai aireomai haireomai hahee-reh'-om-ahee probably akin to 142; to take for oneself, i.e. to prefer:--choose. Some of the forms are borrowed from a cognate hellomai hel'-lom-ahee; which is otherwise obsolete. Titus 3:9-11 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.Strongs:141. hairetikos airetikoV hairetikos hahee-ret-ee-kos' from the same as 140; a schismatic:--heretic (the Greek word itself). 140. hairetizo airetizw hairetizo hahee-ret-id'-zo from a derivative of 138; to make a choice:--choose. John Wesley's commentary:Verse 10. An heretic (after a first and second admonition) reject - Avoid, leave to himself. This is the only place, in the whole scripture, where this word heretic occurs; and here it evidently means, a man that obstinately persists in contending about "foolish questions," and thereby occasions strife and animosities, schisms and parties in the church. This, and this alone, is an heretic in the scripture sense; and his punishment likewise is here fixed. Shun, avoid him, leave him to himself. As for the Popish sense, "A man that errs in fundamentals," although it crept, with many other things, early into the church, yet it has no shadow of foundation either in the Old or New Testament. Barne's Commentary:Verse 10. A man that is an heretic. The word heretic is now commonly applied to one who holds some fundamental error of doctrine, "a person who holds and teaches opinions repugnant to the established faith, or that which is made the standard of orthodoxy." Webster. The Greek word here used (airetikoV-- haireticos) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The corresponding noun (airesiV-- hairesis) occurs in the following places: Ac 5:17; 15:5; 24:5; 26:5; 28:22, where it is rendered sect; and Ac 24:14; 1Co 11:19; Ga 5:20; 2Pe 2:1, where it is rendered heresy, and heresies. Cmt. on Ac 24:14. The true notion of the word is that of one who is a promoter of a sect or party. The man who makes divisions in a church, instead of aiming to promote unity, is the one who is intended. Such a man may form sects and parties on some points of doctrine on which he differs from others, or on some custom, religious rite, or peculiar practice; he may make some unimportant matter a ground of distinction from his brethren, and may refuse to have fellowship with them, and endeavour to get up a new organization. Such a man, according to the Scripture usage, is a heretic, and not merely one who holds a different doctrine from that which is regarded as orthodoxy. The spirit of the doctrine here is the same as in Ro 16:17, and the same class of persons is referred to. "Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have received; and avoid them." Cmt. on Ro 16:17. The word here used is defined by Robinson, (Lex.,) "one who creates dissensions, introduces errors--a factious person." It is not found in classic Greek, but often in ecclesiastical writers. See Suicer's Thesau. Robertson's Word Pictures:Tit 3:10 Heretical (hairetikon). Old adjective from hairesis (haireomai, to choose), a choosing of a party (sect, Ac 5:17) or of teaching (2Pe 2:1). Possibly a schism had been started here in Crete. Refuse (paraitou). Present middle imperative of paraiteô, to ask from, to beg off from. See same form in 1Ti 4:7; 5:11. Possibly an allusion here to Christ's directions in Mt 18:15-17. Dictionaries:Easton Bible Dictionary:Heresy from a Greek word signifying (1) a choice, (2) the opinion chosen, and (3) the sect holding the opinion. In the Acts of the Apostles (Ac 5:17; 15:5; 24:5,14; 26:5) it denotes a sect, without reference to its character. Elsewhere, however, in the New Testament it has a different meaning attached to it. Paul ranks "heresies" with crimes and seditions (Ga 5:20). This word also denotes divisions or schisms in the church (1Co 11:19). In Tit 3:10 a "heretical person" is one who follows his own self-willed "questions," and who is to be avoided. Heresies thus came to signify self-chosen doctrines not emanating from God (2Pe 2:1). I dont know if any of that helps... it is an interesting question, one I have always wondered but never thought to ask. Let's just be sure not to divide into two sects over this issue, else we might be heretics!

Verse 10. A man that is an heretic. The word heretic is now commonly applied to one who holds some fundamental error of doctrine, "a person who holds and teaches opinions repugnant to the established faith, or that which is made the standard of orthodoxy." Webster. The Greek word here used (airetikoV-- haireticos) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The corresponding noun (airesiV-- hairesis) occurs in the following places: Ac 5:17; 15:5; 24:5; 26:5; 28:22, where it is rendered sect; and Ac 24:14; 1Co 11:19; Ga 5:20; 2Pe 2:1, where it is rendered heresy, and heresies. Cmt. on Ac 24:14. The true notion of the word is that of one who is a promoter of a sect or party.This quote from Barnes is the key to the word 'heresy' as used in the scripture. The main thought is of 'sectarian behaviour' rather than 'non-orthodox doctrine'. There were people with aberrant views on the Resurrection in Corinth but Paul never advises their 'excommunication'. From time to time we meet with people whose 'doctrines' are all in a neat row, but they themselves are centres of 'party spirit'. These are the 'true heretics'.

What is orthodox? this is one of those irregular verb forms.1. I am orthodox2. thou art a little dodgy3. he is a heretic :-D

It is interesting that Paul didn't lash out too harshly at those who didn't quite buy into the doctrine of the resurrection of Christ, yet John seems pretty harsh against the early gnostics and says everybody who doesn't acknowledge that Jesus has come in the flesh is antichrist. The gnostics don't seem to be sectarian, if anything gnostics were far from sectarian, as they were quite inclusive due to the syncristic nature of their system. Do we draw the line simply at those who cause deliberate factions?

yet John seems pretty harsh against the early gnostics and says everybody who doesn't acknowledge that Jesus has come in the flesh is antichrist. I think there has always been some question as to whether John is referring to proper gnostics or to proto-gnostics. The period of the New Testament is a little too early for full-blown gnosticism, but on the more general mood of John towards 'doctrinal error' it is certainly an interesting expression of 'love'. I think it is when folks develop a doctrine or teaching and feel that they have to persuade the whole world to embrace it. If they do that from outside it is not very pleasant but when it takes place inside an assembly it becomes very disruptive. The prayer 'that they might be one' was not primarily a request for doctrinal conformity; [John 17:11,21-23] at its heart it has the statement that his prayer is “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:20-21, KJVS) This is not a prayer for doctrinal unity although it was prayed with those who were 'doctrinally united' in mind. Although 'doctrinal soundness' is important, the danger in focus is 'dis-unity'. I think we have become very desensitized as to the affront that disunity really represents. Matt 18's final sanction is against the man who will not be reconciled. It is not the severity of his sin which finally excludes him but his refusal to be 'won'. “And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” (Matt. 18:17, KJVS) This man is excommunicated not because of his 'sin' but because of his refusal to be 'reconciled'.

I think there has always been some question as to whether John is referring to proper gnostics or to proto-gnostics. Indeed, the gnosticism John was dealing with was only an early form. It was not matured yet.The prayer 'that they might be one' was not primarily a request for doctrinal conformity; [John 17:11,21-23] at its heart it has the statement that his prayer isIndeed, doctrinal uniformity is not what Christ was aiming at when He spoke of unity. Such I believe has been the error of many councils and creeds over the years. True unity occurs through the bond of the Spirit that comes through love. Many have a "I can only love you if you believe exactly what I believe" mentality, which of course, never brings about unity.

I like the definitions Martin Lloyd Jones gives in His comentary on Ehpesians conserning heresy and apostacy.Hersey according to Jones is any teaching which is unbiblical and not true. That is anything contrary to the truth expecially conserning Christ or the gospel is heresy.But heresy is not as serious as apostacy. A genuine Christitan can and often does embrace many heresies perhaps unknowlingly through ignorance or false teaching. However apostacy is the abbragation or turning from the central core of the gospel conserning the Person and work of Christ and willfully embracing a false system or teaching which denies the very Person of Christ and tramples upon His blood and redemption and Person. A heretic may be a genuine believer who has embraced and advanced a teaching or belief that is off or contrary to scritpure. But an apostate is one who has denied the faith and rejected the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. An examble of "heresy" might be the teaching of the Word Faith preachers or the "prosperity" teachers. This is heresy and contray to God's economy and the healthy teaching of God's New Testement Economy which is in faith and concerning Christ. John fox, the founder of the "Quakers" could be considered an Heretic because He began to teach that the "inner Light" had more authority than scirpture and that it superseded scripture". Nevertheless John fox was a genuine beiever and had a genuine knowlgede of God and experience of the reality of the Spirit. However He was a reaction to the deadness of orthodoxy at that time but took real truth and pushed it too far not recognizing that the same Spirit who is within us is also the One who breathed out the Bible and there can be no contradiction. The Spirit and the Word are One.But Apostacy is something akin to the JWs or Mormons who deny the very Person of Christ and His work. A genuine Christian who is born again may embrace heresies or false teaching, but an apostate is one who has forsaken the faith for lies or fables and is antagonistic to the truth of the gospel and opposes both the Person and work of Christ. An apostate is "antichrist" and denies both the Father and the Son and is devoid of the Spirit.We have to be more secure when we are charged with "heresy". It is an ugly world and sends fear down our spiritual spine. But even if it can be shown that something we believe is "heretical" that does not mean we are not Christians or are not "born of God" but it means we need to call on the Lord, have our concepts and teachings exposed and if they are contrary to scritpure, we forsake them and recieve the knowlege of the truth. But if we are Apostate, we are an enemy of Christ and the gospel and outside the faith. We need to repent and believe the gospel, call on the Lord and be saved.Graftedbranch