What is heresy? HERESY, HERETIC

Roger Fulk

October 21, 2017  · Shared with Your friends

What is heresy? HERESY, HERETIC. Referring to schism and false teaching. The word“heretic” is used only one time in the Bible (Tit. 3:9-11), but the term “heresy” isused four more times (Ac. 24:14; 1 Co. 11:19; Ga. 5:20; 2 Pe. 2:1). The sameGreek word, hairesis, is translated “sect” in Acts 5:17; 15:5; 24:5; 26:5; and28:22. This Greek word is used in two different ways in the N.T. (1) Any religioussect or party (Ac. 5:17; 15:5; 24:14; 28:22). (2) False teachers and doctrinal error(Tit. 3:9-11; Ga. 5:20; 2 Pe. 2:1). The terms heretic and heresy refer to a willfulchoosing of false doctrine, a willful alignment with error. “The word ‘heresy’originally meant ‘a choice,’ then an opinion that is the product of choice or of thewill, instead of being drawn from the Divine Word. It refers to a man-madeopinion. Hence the term was given as a name for departures from orthodoxteaching which carried in them a breach of church unity” (G.P. Fisher, History ofChrist Doctrine). Robert Sargent makes the following important comment:“Heresy is much more than ignorance. It is more than simply holding to an error.It is taking sides with error against truth. In Acts 5:17; 15:5; 24:5; 26:5; and28:22, the word is translated ‘sect,’ which shows that the concept of heresyinvolves forming a ‘party’ within the main body.” [See Apostasy, Apostate,Damnable, Doctrine, Fable, False Prophet, False Teaching, Foolish Questions,Prophecy, Separation, Unity.]Believer’s Bible DictionaryCopyright 2015 by David W. Cloud