God opposes false doctrine

God opposes false doctrine and error because it brings the truth into disrepute…

2 Peter 2:2 (KJV) And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

…and it leads man away from glorifying him:

Romans 1:21a, 25a (KJV) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God…Who changed the truth of God into a lie.

The correct response to false teaching and error is to hate it…

Psalm 119:104 (KJV) Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

…and welcome instruction when it is us who errs:

Proverbs 12:1 (KJV) Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

What is reproof?

REPROOF', n. from reprove.

1. Blame expressed to the face; censure for a fault; reprehension.

(Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language)

Paul confronted error

Paul reproved and corrected error and false teaching when he found it in the Body of Christ. This is because any deviation from the gospel he taught inevitably creates divisions amongst the saints:

Romans 16:17 (KJV) Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

For example, Paul reproved and corrected Peter for behaviour which re-built the wall of partition between Israel and Gentiles:

Galatians 2:11-14 (KJV) But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

He likewise reproved and corrected the Corinthians, who failed to appreciate that mixing truth and error (glorying in the freedom they perceived themselves to have to indulge in immoral practices) compromised their unity around the truth…

1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 6 (KJV) It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you:…Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

…and for their behaviour when they were gathered together to eat:

1 Corinthians 11:20 (KJV) When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

Paul named names

Paul named those who were teaching error:

1 Timothy 1:20 (KJV) Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

2 Timothy 2:17-18 (KJV) And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

2 Timothy 4:14-15 (KJV) Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

Others who were teaching error remained unnamed:

Galatians 1:7 (KJV) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Galatians 2:4 (KJV) And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

Titus 1:10-14 (KJV) For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (KJV) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Why Paul corrected false doctrine

We see from the language Paul uses several reasons why he corrected false doctrine.

1. For the protection of the saints ie so they would know who spoke without authority:

• “and avoid them” Romans 16:17

• “Their word will eat as doth a canker” 2 Timothy 2 17-18

• “Of whom be thou ware” 2 Timothy 4:15

• “False apostles” 2 Corinthians 11:13

• “Whose mouths must be stopped” Titus 1:10-11

This is why he named individuals; it was not out of spite but out of pastoral responsibility.

2. To encourage the leaders of the church to do likewise:

1 Timothy 5:20 (KJV) Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

2 Timothy 1:7-8 (KJV) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

2 Timothy 4:2 (KJV) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Titus 1:13 (KJV) This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

3. To emphasise that false doctrine is not just an abstract idea. Rather, it has material consequences:

Galatians 2:13 (KJV) And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

2 Timothy 2:17a (KJV) And their word will eat as doth a canker:

2 Timothy 4:14a (KJV) Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil:

The kingdom church corrected error

Peter’s group were also warned about false teachers within their church…

2 Peter 2:1 (KJV) 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, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

…and to avoid it:

2 Peter 3:17 (KJV) Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

Israel under the old testament was warned about error

The Levitical priesthood was instructed to teach correctly:

Leviticus 10:10-11 (KJV) And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

Israel was commanded to expose false prophets…

Deuteronomy 18:20 (KJV) But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

…and to reject their teaching:

Deuteronomy 13:1-5 (KJV) If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

What is the measure of false doctrine?

The measure of what constitutes false doctrine is the word of God:

Deuteronomy 18:22 (KJV) When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Isaiah 8:20 (KJV) To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: