Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Timothy 2:18
Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
18. who concerning the truth have erred ] More exactly, men who concerning the truth erred by maintaining. For the compound relative indicating the class see on Tit 1:11; for the verb 1Ti 1:6; 1Ti 6:21. The present participle, with the aorist verb, may indicate the repetitions of their ‘saying’ and so their ‘maintaining,’ and leads the way to the following verb being present.
that the resurrection ] The ms. authority for the omission of the article is hardly strong enough to be followed, though R.V. notes the variant in the margin by the rendering ‘a resurrection.’ Curiously, in Act 17:32, where there is no article, R.V. still renders ‘when they heard of the resurrection,’ there evidently intending the rule to apply that ‘the article is omitted before many abstract nouns.’ Why not here also? So that the retention or omission of the article will make no difference in translation. Winer has no notice of either passage in his full chapter on this, Pt iii. xix.
is past already ] Some identified the resurrection with the soul’s spiritual renewal by the doctrine of the Gospel causing it ‘to burst forth from the sepulchre of the old man’; others with the departure of the soul from the body, the world in their view being only the habitation of the dead. See Fairbairn. Irenus and Tertullian both allude to the former error, which may well have been the view here referred to.
and overthrow ] Better are subverting; for the word see note on Tit 1:11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Who concerning the truth have erred – To what extent they had erred is unknown. Paul mentions only one point – that pertaining to the resurrection; but says that this was like a gangrene. It would certainly, unless checked, destroy all the other doctrines of religion. No man can safely hold a single error, any more than he can safely have one part of his body in a state of mortification.
Saying that the resurrection is past already – It is not known in what form they held this opinion. It may have been, as Augustine supposes, that they taught that there was no resurrection but that which occurs in the soul when it is recovered from the death of sin, and made to live anew. Or it may be that they held that those who had died had experienced all the resurrection which they ever would, by passing into another state, and receiving at death a spiritual body fitted to their mode of being in the heavenly world. Whatever was the form of the opinion, the apostle regarded it as a most dangerous error, for just views of the resurrection undoubtedly lie at the foundation of correct apprehensions of the Christian system; compare the notes at 1Co 15:12-19.
And overthrow the faith of some – That is, on this point, and as would appear on all the correlative subjects of Christian belief; compare 1Ti 1:19-20.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
2Ti 2:18
Saying that the resurrection is past already.
Error concerning the resurrection
The resurrection of the body, always a difficulty in ancient modes of thought, was especially so to those who, with the Essenes amongst the Jews, the Neo-Platonicians, and most of the early sects which afterwards expanded into Gnosticism, had adopted the dualism of the East, and held matter to be evil–sometimes the Evil Principle or his embodiment. Hence they were ready to avail themselves of the other sense of resurrection, the rising of those who were baptized into Christ to newness of life (Rom 6:3; Rom 6:5; Col 2:12); and they denied that any further revelation was to be believed. This error had been early taught in the Corinthian Church (1Co 15:12). (Speakers Commentary.)
And overthrow the faith of some.
Overthrowing the faith of others
After an infidel had succeeded in sapping the foundation of his mothers faith in the Christian religion, he received a letter from her one day, informing him that she was near death. She said that she found herself without any support in her distress; that he had taken away that only resource of comfort upon which in all cases of affliction she used to rely, and that she now found her mind sinking into despair. She did not doubt that her son would afford her some substitute for her religion; and she conjured him to hasten to her, or, at least, to send her a letter containing such consolations as philosophy could afford to a dying mortal. He was overwhelmed with anguish on receiving this letter, and hastened to Scotland, travelling day and night; but before he arrived his mother expired.
Unreliable ministers
A misplaced buoy caused the wreck of a steamer worth 25,000, the loss of a valuable cargo and peril to many lives recently. The steamer, which was called the City of Portland, left Boston on her voyage to St. Johns, N.B., with seventy passengers on board and considerable freight. The night was clear, and as the steamer passed the Owls Head just before daybreak, the captain saw a striped buoy indicating the presence of a sunken rock. The course was altered in accordance with the position of the buoy, but in a few minutes the steamer struck a ledge. The pumps were started at once, distress colours set, and the boats cleared. The officers and crew retained their presence of mind, and despatched a boat for help. In a short time a steamer arrived, and took off the terrified passengers, but the steamer and cargo were a total loss. The captain of the ship was in no way blameable. The buoy, which was put there to be a means of safety, was by its displacement the cause of disaster. It had drifted. Similarly some preachers drift from orthodox positions, and their change of position may cause the wreck of the souls of those who flock to hear them.
Ministerial responsibility
During a voyage, sailing in a heavy sea near a reef of rocks, a minister on board the vessel made, in a conversation between the man at the helm and the sailors, an inquiry whether they should be able to clear the rocks without making another tack, when the captain gave orders that they should put off to avoid all risk. The minister observed, I am rejoiced that we have so careful a commander. The captain replied, It is necessary I should be very careful, because I have souls on board. I think of my responsibility, and remember that, should anything happen through carelessness, souls are very valuable. The minister, turning to some of his congregation who were upon the deck, observed, The captain has preached me a powerful sermon; I hope I shall never forget, when I am addressing my fellow-creatures on the concerns of eternity, that I have souls on board. (Archbp. Benson.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 18. Who concerning the truth have erred] They had the truth, but erred or wandered from it, saying the resurrection was already past, and thus denying the resurrection of the body, and, by consequence, future rewards and punishments; and this necessarily sapped the foundation of all religion: and thus the gangrene had, in reference to their unhappy votaries, a rapid and unchecked operation.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Who concerning the truth have erred; these two he saith had already erred as to the doctrine of faith, giving heed to profane and vain babblings.
Saying that the resurrection is past already; their particular error was in the business of the resurrection, which they said was past. That there shall be no resurrection is a very pleasing doctrine to men that have lived sensual lives; those whose lives have been nothing but eating and drinking, do very unwillingly think of dying, but seeing they cannot avoid that, they would gladly there should be no resurrection: so that it was no wonder if such an error as this did spread and mortify like a gangrene. Upon what pretence these men denied the resurrection, we are neither told in holy writ, nor with any certainty by any other authors. Some say, that they held that it was past in the resurrection of Christ, and those mentioned Mat 27:52. Others think they confounded the resurrection with regeneration, and glorification, which they allowed only as to the souls of believers. Others say they maintained no other resurrection than what men have in the procreation of children. Others, that they denied any resurrection but that in baptism. The resurrection of the body was denied by the Sadducees, by these in Pauls time, and afterwards by those that followed, Marcion, Basilides, Valentinus and Apelles, and others. Some in our times also have trodden in their steps, and are still treading (unless they think God will be more kind to those infinite numbers of heathens in the country of the Great Mogul than to Christians; for as to them, they tell us they cannot believe any such thing). Two sorts of men have been guilty of this:
1. The philosophers of the world, that think they must be able with their reason to span all articles of faith.
2. Men of sensual and sottish lives, who having lived like beasts, are willing to believe they shall also die like brutes.
And overthrow the faith of some; those who are tainted with this error do both themselves deny the faith, divers principal articles of which depend upon it, such as the resurrection of Christ, 1Co 15:1-58, and eternal life, &c., and also subvert the faith of others; for whoso can persuade another that there shall be no resurrection, makes him an infidel. Such heretics therefore were never endured to keep any station in the Christian church, it being always judged reasonable, that those who were turned infidels should be turned out of the flock of Christ to their proper herd.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18. erredGreek,“missed the aim” (see 1Ti6:21).
is past alreadyhasalready taken place. The beginnings of the subsequent Gnostic heresyalready existed. They “wrested” (2Pe3:16) Paul’s own words (Rom 6:4;Eph 2:6; Col 2:12)”to their own destruction,” as though the resurrection wasmerely the spiritual raising of souls from the death of sin. Compare1Co 15:12, where he shows allour hopes of future glory rest on the literal reality of theresurrection. To believe it past (as the Seleucians or Hermians did,according to AUGUSTINE[Epistles, 119.55, To Januarius, 4]), is to deny it inits true sense.
overthrowtrying tosubvert “the foundation” on which alone faith can restsecure (2Ti 2:19; compare Tit1:11).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Who concerning the truth have erred,…. That is, the two persons just mentioned; they fell from the truth, wandered and departed from it; they did not keep to the Scriptures of truth, but deviated from them; they missed that mark, and went astray into gross errors and mistakes; rejected the Gospel, the word of truth, in general, and particularly in
saying, that the resurrection is past already; and no other is to be expected; or that there was no future resurrection of the dead: their error was, as some think, that there is no other resurrection than that of parents in their children, who, though they die, live in their posterity; or than the resurrection of Christ, and of the saints, that rose at the same time; or rather, that there is no other resurrection than the spiritual one, or regeneration, which is a quickening of dead sinners, or the resurrection of them from the death of sin, to a life of grace; which seems to be the truest account of their principle, seeing this is what has been received and propagated by others since; though some have thought that they gave into the Palingenesia of the Pythagoreans, who supposed that when men die, their souls go into other bodies; and that these men imagined, that this is all the resurrection that will be: and others have been of opinion, that their notion was, that whereas the deliverance of the Jews out of the Babylonish captivity is signified by a resurrection of them, in Eze 37:1 that this is the resurrection they meant was past, and no other to be looked for; but that which has been fixed upon seems to be the truest account:
and overthrow the faith of some; the Ethiopic version reads, “of many”; that is, of nominal professors of religion; not of true believers, for true faith cannot be overthrown. Hence it follows,
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Men who (). “The very ones who.”
Have erred (). “Missed the mark.” First aorist active indicative of , for which see 1Tim 1:6; 1Tim 6:21.
That the resurrection is past already ( ). Second perfect active infinitive of in indirect assertion after (saying) with the accusative of general reference ().
Overthrow (). See Tit 1:11.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Have erred [] . See on 1Ti 1:6.
The resurrection [] . Only here in Pastorals.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Who concerning the truth have erred” (oitines peri ton aletheian estochesan) “Who concerning the truth missed aim.” Hymenaeus and Philetus were the more conspicuous of these false, agnostic teachers who erred regarding the resurrection, 1Ti 6:21.
2) “Saying that the resurrection is past already” (legontes anastasin ede gegonenai) “Claiming (that) the resurrection at that moment to have already happened,” much like Corinth agnostics, 1Co 15:12-19.
3) “And overthrow the faith of some.” (kai anatrepousin ten tinon pistin) “And overturn or alienate the faith (system of faith) of some,” regarding the resurrection. Though the saved are now risen with Christ in the sense of regeneration, a new life, they await the bodily resurrection that is sure, Php_3:20-21; 1Co 15:51-57.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
18 Who, concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is already past After having said that they had departed from “the truth,” he specifies their error, which consisted in this, that they gave out that “the resurrection was already past.” In doing this, they undoubtedly contrived a sort of allegorical resurrection, which has also been attempted in this age by some filthy dogs. By this trick Satan overthrows that fundamental article of our faith concerning the resurrection of the flesh. Being an old and worthless dream, and being so severely condemned by Paul, it ought to give us the less uneasiness. But when we learn that, from the very beginning of the gospel, the faith of some was subverted, such an example ought to excite us to diligence, that we may seize an early opportunity of driving away from ourselves and others so dangerous a plague; for, in consequence of the strong inclination of men to vanity, there is no absurdity so monstrous that there shall not be some men who shall lend their ear to it.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(18) Who concerning the truth have erred.Or, have erred, or, more literally, have missed their aim. (See Note on 1Ti. 6:21.)
The resurrection of the body, grounded upon the Lords own words (Joh. 5:28-29), was one of the Articles of the Christian faith upon which St. Paul especially loved to dwell. (See, for instance, his words before FelixAct. 24:15.) With this resurrection of the body St. Paul, prompted by the Holy Ghost, taught men that the future state of rewards and punishments was intimately bound up; the soul will be clothed with a body of glory or with a body of shame, according to the deeds done in the flesh. This doctrine appears, in very early times, to have been questioned by some in the Christian community. Then, as now, was the thought repugnant to the shrinking soul of man,that the body in which he then lived and sinned would rise again.
Elaborated, but still scarcely disguised, the same denial of a bodily resurrection was a characteristic of the more important of the widely-spread Gnostic systems of the second and third centuries.
These early Christian followers of men like Hymenus and Philetus had much in common with the ascetic Jewish sects of Essenes and Therapeut, and especially with the famous Sadducean school, which attracted then so many cultured and wealthy Jews. They opposed, to use Van Oosterzees words, their own sickly idealism to St. Pauls strong and healthy realism. Death and resurrection, with these early opponents of St. Paul, were terms which had only a spiritual meaning and application. As Waterland puts it, They allegorised away the doctrine, and turned all into figures and metaphors.
Another consideration must not be lost sight of when we are considering the reasons for St. Pauls fiery indignation with this unhappy school of dreamers. In attacking, with their thinly-veiled scepticism, the great doctrine of the resurrection of the body, in pushing aside the glorious hope, they touched with their impious hands the corner-stone of all Christian beliefthe resurrection in the body of the Redeemer. This Resurrection was indeed past already.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. Resurrection is past As being nothing more than the spiritual recovery of man’s dead soul to life. By this view, the true identification of our life and glorification with the incarnation of Christ and his glorification (2Ti 2:8; 2Ti 2:10-13) is obscured.
Overthrow the faith As a structure is overthrown.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Men who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some.’
For these men have not cut a straight path, they have erred from the truth. They are declaring that ‘the resurrection is past already’ (that is the general resurrection of the saved). They probably meant by this that by means of their esoteric knowledge they had already begun to rise towards God so that no future resurrection, and certainly not one of the body, would be necessary (compare 1Co 15:12-13; 1Co 15:16 where similar things were being said). It may partly have been a perversion of Paul’s teaching in Eph 1:19 to Eph 2:6. And the sad thing is that their teaching has caused the faith of others to be overthrown, although, as he will now make clear, that will not happen to any whom the Lord knows as His.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
2Ti 2:18 . More precise description of the heretics, in the first place generally, as men who “ have erred in regard to the truth ” (de Wette).
] see 1Ti 1:6 ; 1Ti 6:21 . The chief point in their heresy is given thus: .
Both Irenaeus and Tertullian mention Gnostics, who denied the resurrection in its literal sense. [37] There is no ground for Baur’s assertion, that there is allusion here to Marcion. The passage in 1Co 15:12 proves that the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead had even in the apostolic age become a stumbling-block to many in the church.
The denial of these heretics was closely related to views which made a false contrast between flesh and spirit.
They had already exercised an injurious influence on others, as the next words declare: ] not: “whereby they make many err in their persuasion;” is the Christian faith which includes the certainty of the future resurrection, and (see Tit 1:11 ) means “ evertere, destroy .”
[37] Comp. Tertullian, De Resurr. chap. xix.: resurrectionem mortuorum distorquent asseverantes ipsam etiam mortem spiritualiter intelligendam resurrectionem earn vindicandam, qua quis addita veritate redanimatus et revivifactus Deo, ignorantiae morte decussa, velut de sepulcro veteris hominis eruperit.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Ver. 18. Have erred ] Gr. , have missed the mark, as unskilful archers, or as inconsiderate mariners, by misreckoning of a point, they have missed the haven and run upon the rocks.
That the resurrection is past ] These were (likely) the progenitors of Marcion, who taught that there was no resurrection of the body to be believed, but of the soul only from sin. (Epiph. Haeres. 43.) This heresy is now revived among us, and raked again out of the grave; as many other also are and will be, by this lawless liberty.
And overthrow the faith of some. ] Not the grace, but the profession of faith; and this they are ever doing at (the word, is in the present tense), that they may undo their disciples; by digging at the foundation thus, that they may demolish the whole fabric.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ti 2:18 . implies that Hymenaeus and Philetus were only the more conspicuous members of a class of false teachers.
: See notes on 1Ti 1:6 ; 1Ti 1:19 .
, . . .: There can be little doubt that the false teaching here alluded to was akin to, if not the same as, that of some in Corinth a few years earlier who said, “There is no resurrection of the dead” (1Co 15:12 ). What these persons meant was that the language of Jesus about eternal life and a resurrection received its complete fulfilment in our present conditions of existence, through the acquisition of that more elevated knowledge of God and man and morality and spiritual existence generally which Christ and His coming had imparted to mankind. This sublimest knowledge of things divine is, they said, a resurrection, and the only resurrection that men can attain unto. These false teachers combined a plausible but false spirituality, or sentimentality, with an invincible materialism; and they attempted to find support for their materialistic disbelief in the resurrection of the body in a perverse misunderstanding of the Christian language about “newness of life” (Rom 6:4 ; Col 2:12 ; Col 3:1 ). “Esse resurrectionem a mortuis, agnitionem ejus quae ab ipsis dicitur veritatis” (Irenus, Haer . ii. 31, 2; cf. Tert. de Resurr . 19); an achieved moral experience, in fact; not a future hope. The heresy of Marcion, on the other hand, while denying the future resurrection of the body, affirmed positively the immortality of the soul; cf. Justin Martyr, Dial . 80. “Marcion enim in totum carnis resurrectionem non admittens, et soli animae salutem repromittens, non qualitatis sed substantiae facit quaestionem” (Tert. adv. Marcionem , 2Ti 2:10 ).
: See note on 1Ti 1:3 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Who = For they.
concerning. App-104.
have. Omit.
erred. See 1Ti 1:6.
resurrection. App-178.
is past = has taken place.
overthrow = overturn. Greek. anatrepo. Only here end Tit 1:11.
faith. App-150.
Some. App-124.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2Ti 2:18. , the resurrection) Perhaps these Ephesians had laid hold of a pretext taken from Pauls own Epistle to the Ephesians, Eph 2:6. Clemens Al. says, that the defamers of marriage interpreted the resurrection [wherein they neither marry nor are given in marriage], Luk 20:35, concerning this life. [So the hope of eternal life was taken away.-V. g.]-, subvert) The figure is derived from a foundation, a house; see the following verses.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
2Ti 2:18
men who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some.-[In the absence of clearer evidence, it cannot be said with certainty what their error was, but the words apparently point to Pauls words in Rom 6:3-4 and Col. 2; 12, where he says, Having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. If so, they may have taught that raised with him in baptism was the true resurrection and come to the conclusion that the resurrection was already past. In reaching such a conclusion they made a fatal mistake, for the resurrection of the body, grounded upon the Lords own words, is one of the cardinal doctrines of the gospel, as the following clearly shows: Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment. (Joh 5:28-29.) Upon this Paul delighted to dwell, as in his words before Felix: But this I confess unto thee, that after the Way which they call a sect, so serve I the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets; having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust. Herein I also exercise myself to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always. (Act 24:14-16.) With this resurrection of the body, Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, taught men that the future state of rewards and punishments was intimately bound up; the soul will be clothed with a body of glory or with a body of shame, according to the deeds done in the body. These men opposed their own idealism to the strong and healthy teaching of the Holy Spirit through Paul.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
concerning: Mat 22:29, 1Ti 1:19, 1Ti 6:10, 1Ti 6:21, Heb 3:10, Jam 5:19
that: 1Co 15:12, Col 3:1
overthrow: 2Ti 2:14, Mat 15:13, Luk 8:13, Luk 22:31, Luk 22:32, Act 5:39, 1Co 11:19, 1Jo 2:19
Reciprocal: Lev 14:36 – be not made Deu 20:18 – General Pro 10:16 – the fruit Jer 23:27 – think Mat 22:23 – which Mar 4:17 – have Mar 12:18 – say Mar 15:32 – that Luk 20:27 – the Sadducees Act 20:30 – of your Gal 1:7 – pervert Eph 4:14 – tossed Col 2:8 – philosophy 2Th 2:7 – doth 1Ti 1:6 – From which some having swerved 1Ti 5:15 – General Heb 6:2 – resurrection Jam 1:16 – Do
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ti 2:18. Concerning the truth have erred. The last word means to wander from the path, and the men just named had departed from the truth concerning the resurrection. They taught that no resurrection was to come in addition to what had already occurred. That same hersy was taught at Corinth, and the fifteenth chapter of Paul’s first epistle to that church deals with the subject. Overthrow the faith of some. The most cherished item of a Christian’s faith, is that of the resurrection from the dead at the day of judgment. This heresy of the false teachers, that no future resurrection was to occur, naturally destroyed the faith of all who received the false doctrine.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
2Ti 2:18. Saying that the resurrection is past already. In the absence of clearer evidence, we cannot speak with certainty of the nature of the error, but the words apparently point to a Gnostic idealizing, and therefore anti-Jewish, school of speculation. Probably caricaturing St. Pauls own teaching (Rom 6:4; Col 2:12), they taught that baptism or conversion was the true resurrection, and so came by a roundabout way to the same conclusion as the Sadducee. In so doing, St. Paul, as he had felt in arguing against a like error at Corinth, felt that they were overthrowing mens faith and robbing them of their hope.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
“Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.”
You might take a look at 2 Cor. 15:12-19 for further information.
Some were suggesting that the resurrection had occurred. This brings up some questions.
1. What resurrection?
a. Christ’s might be suggested but that is required for the Gospel and would not lead people astray.
b. Resurrection of the lost might be suggested though a trip to the market would prove this wrong. Lost man is quite evident even in our day.
c. The resurrection of the children of God seems to be the obvious and only choice.
2. What doctrine might be built on this supposed truth?
It would have to relate to the true believers being gone – maybe that those speaking the falsehood are God’s special emissaries? Maybe, follow what we say or you will be lost? This would give pressure to make the followers want to adhere!
The above is one of the strangle holds most cults use – you can’t reach God without following us.
Possibly along with this line of thought they may have been suggesting that Paul and others with their message were wrong and not to be trusted.
3. Who would perpetrate such a falsehood? We know the men but were they part of a group?
Possibly they were just getting their group started though I’d guess Paul might have mentioned it rather than single out two or three individuals.
4. Why would someone do this? I assume they didn’t one day get out of bed thinking, “I am going to start a false doctrine cult today.” I assume that their own minds duped them into buying into the false teaching. Indeed, this may have stemmed directly from some of those false discussions that Paul was dealing with.
This happens even to fundamental Bible believing Christians. The sister of a classmate was approached by two cult members. They used Scripture to spin their finely devised web, and because she was off guard for a few moments one evening, she began what was a several year vacation from reality, Christianity, family, friends and all that is wholesome.
I am sure these two men and if there were others, were products of their minds. They allowed themselves to become entangled with additions and philosophical ramblings loosely based on the Word of God.
My fair warning to the believer is to read a passage, take it for just what it says and no more, apply those truths to your life and walk away. Do not sit for hours contemplating the deeper meaning – if God had wanted us to dig for the deeper things I think He would have told us to do it and given instruction as to how to regulate the product of such scrounging.
One of the respected authors of our day tended to find more truths in a passage than the words would ever allow. He would wring and wring until the verse was dry and then press further trying to find more.
If this Bible is God’s message to us, wouldn’t He have given it to us in a plain package – easy to understand?
5. Are there current isms or movements might have grown out of foolish discussions? Im not currently aware of any but Im sure there are some.
Some evidently had bought this and gone astray. It would seem possibly that this new belief system had arisen from getting into discussions about foolish things thus it may have just been an unwise choice in using information.
I see in some of the thinkers of our own day a dangerous move to find something new and exciting from the Word. By this I don’t condemn natural study that produces valid new information.
I have been reading recently that one of the big name preachers of our day has assumed almost God like status in his own mind and in the minds of some of the movements leaders.
Example: They look forward to getting to heaven so they can hear this leader tell them well done thou good and faithful servant. This group is nearing if not already at cult status! Indeed, many of the ex followers that have been public with their accounts view the movement as a cult that teaches false doctrine.
Beware how you view Scripture – it will bite you doctrinally if you fail to be careful.
We were in a Sunday school class taught by a psychologist that considered himself quite a gift to mankind. He suggested a passage for discussion then told us what the passage said but then proceeded to tell us some of his psychological principles – items that seemed to be possibly valid.
Had he stopped there he would have been okay. He however being the gift that he thought he was proceeded to try to find something new and unique from the passage.
He started trying to screw his psychological principles into the text. As he went along it was obvious to all that the passage was never going to fit the principles. As he tried harder and harder, he pushed himself into more and more trouble.
He never stopped trying even though the students had given up much earlier.
Teach the Word as you find it. Be satisfied to find only that which has been found before by the church fathers. It is good if you find further information, but don’t press so hard that you start finding things that are not there. If you do find something that you feel is new, talk to others about your findings and see if they agree with you.
After 2000 years, I am sure most of the plain truth of the Word has been found, though now and then there are new things that arise – question them and accept if they are valid.
I don’t know for fact, but suspect highly the liberal line of thinking as well as some of the non-traditional thinking of that end of the spectrum comes from the rejection of God’s Word as truth and allowing the introduction of speculation and vain discussions of whatever came along.
It is of note to me that the evangelical and neo-evangelical movement came from a desire to be more user friendly – to be attractive to the lost – however if the polls say anything truthful, the lost have little respect for these movements – thus will probably never listen to the Gospel when preached by an evangelical.
We dont have to repackage the Gospel to make it user friendly. Making the church acceptable to the world isnt the answer. Making the church into the church will automatically set us apart from the world. When the Spirit begins to work in the lost persons life THEN they will know where to go to get their answers to the church that is different from the world. Why would they go to a church that is just like them to gain answers? The polls and logic say they wont.
The Gospel is God’s, the truth is God’s, I can’t understand why some insist on trying to embellish that which is perfect.