Dear in Christ,
If I were to go by the way some Christians conduct themselves, the definition of heresy appears to be like this: “if your beliefs don't line up with mine, you are a heretic.” The presumption here is that the other person has no rights to think of you as a heretic.
If I were to go by the way some Christians conduct themselves, the definition of heresy appears to be like this: “if your beliefs don't line up with mine, you are a heretic.” The presumption here is that the other person has no rights to think of you as a heretic.
The great heretic passage! Titus 3:10
Over the years, I have been seeing Christians hurling Tit 3:10 against all those who disagree with their own beliefs.
Tit 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
Tit 3:10 A man that is an heretickG141 after the first and second admonition reject;
Tit 3:11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Most of the Christians think that they can call anyone as a heretic, whereas the context makes it abundantly clear that heretics are those who strive about the Law of Moses, among many other unprofitable things. (I am not sure as to how a first century gentile convert to Christian faith should be talking about his/her genealogy as though it matters. Most of the scholars agree that the talk is about Christians of Jewish origin making big claims about lineage. See also: 1 Tim 1:4)
The Greek word translated as heretic.
| G141 αἱρετικός (hahee-ret-ee-kos') | From the same as G140; a schismatic. (“heretic” is the Greek word itself.): - heretic [the Greek word itself]. |
| G140 αἱρετίζω (hahee-ret-id'-zo) | From a derivative of G138; to make a choice: - choose. |
Interestingly, the word from which the word heretic has derived is used just once in the New Testament:
Mat 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosenG140; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
Not, really bad! It's a prophecy about Jesus Christ from Isa 42:1-2!
There is another Greek word (G139 in Strong's), which is also translated as heresy. (Please note that this word also is a derivative of G138, "to choose".
Christianity started out as a heresy!
There is another Greek word (G139 in Strong's), which is also translated as heresy. (Please note that this word also is a derivative of G138, "to choose".
| G139 αἵρεσις (hah'ee-res-is) | From G138; properly a choice, that is, (specifically) a party or (abstractly) disunion. (“heresy” is the Greek word itself.): - heresy [which is the Greekord itself], sect. |
| G138 αἱρέομαι (hahee-reh'-om-ahee) | Probably akin to G142; to take for oneself, that is, to prefer. Some of the forms are borrowed from a cognate (ἕλλομαι hellomai), which is otherwise obsolete: - choose. Some of the forms are borrowed from a cognate hellomai, hel-lom-ahee; which is otherwise obsolete. |
Both Sadducees and Pharisees where sects / heresies.
Act 5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect[G139] of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
Act 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect[G139] of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
Act 26:5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect[G139] of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
Christian faith termed as a sect/heresy.
Act 24:5: For we have found this man (Paul) a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect [G139] of the Nazarenes:
Act 24:14: But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, [G139] so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
Act 28:22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, [G139] we know that everywhere it is spoken against.
After all, heresy is not a bad thing! (unless your burned at stakes)
1Co 11:19 For there must be also heresies [G139] among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.There are Christians out there who want to eradicate what they think as heresies. There are Christians who killed those whom they considered as heretics. But, Paul says that heresies are good to manifest who is approved. Christian religion understood this approval would manifest while their opponents are killed. If you thought this was done by the Roman Catholic Church alone, here is a list of people who were burned at stakes as heretics in Protestant nations.
When does heresies become damnable?
The following passage is a contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruits of the Spirit.
Gal 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under Law.The epistle to Galatians is replete with Paul's warnings about Judaizers, who wanted to drag the followers of Christ into the bondage of the Law. Since the immediate context is a contrast between the works of the flesh (the works of the Law) and the fruits of the Spirit, the heresy that the passage talks about has nothing to do with disagreeing with your pastor / preacher / priest. It is all about falling back to the Law of Moses.
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are clearly revealed, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustfulness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [G139]
Gal 5:21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and things like these; of which I tell you beforehand, as I also said before, that the ones practicing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 meekness, self-control. Against such things there is not a law.
Gal 5:24 But the ones belonging to Christ crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26 Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.
Denying the Lord is a damnable heresy!
2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, [G139] even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.If we go through the epistles of John, those who deny Our Lord Jesus Christ are Antichrists, they are the false teachers. This passage matches with John's words:
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.Again, this has nothing to do with disagreeing with your Pastor / Preacher / Priest / Denomination / Religion.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
In Christ,
Tomsan Kattackal
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