What is the biblical definition of heresy?, Biblical meaning, what is it?
What is heresy biblical meaning, biblical definition
When we hear the word heresy, we can conjure up images of medieval torture chambers and heresy trials. There was a period of church history that certainly included those things. If we are not history buffs or religious scholars, we might know that heresy is a bad thing, but still be quite confused on the details. So what exactly is heresy and what does the Bible say about it?
Heresy Biblical Definition, Biblical Meaning
Basic definition of heresy, biblical meaning, what is it?
A basic definition of heresy, according to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, is “adhering to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma.” A second definition is “dissent or deviation from a prevailing theory, opinion or practice”. That’s a good starting point for us. These definitions identify two key elements: a dominant position and a contrarian position. With regard to religion, any belief or practice that goes against the official position of the church is considered heretical.
What the Catholic Church did before heresy (Or heretics)
How did the Catholic Church deal with what it considered heresy?
Heresy has existed in all ages, but during the 12th century, the Catholic Church took unprecedented action against it. As the power of the Catholic Church in Europe increased, dissenting voices from other Christian groups became more problematic.
Pope Alexander III (1162-1163) encouraged informers, so that the church could uncover evidence of heresy. In 1184, Pope Lucius III issued a decree that a convicted heretic was to be handed over to secular authorities for punishment. Over the next few decades, the church increased the severity of the punishment for heresy, eventually making it a capital offense under Pope Gregory IX.
The inquisition against heresy according to the Catholic Church
During this time, the Dominicans became the main agents of the Inquisition, a special court with the authority to judge both intentions and actions. When heresy was suspected in a village, an inquisitor was sent to preach a sermon calling on the villagers to submit reports of heresy. This was a “general inquisition” that included a grace period for anyone who confessed. This was followed by a “special inquisition” which could include coercion, false witnesses and torture to extract a “confession”.
Those identified as heretics were then ordered to do penance, which could consist of compulsory church attendance, pilgrimage to a shrine, loss of property, or imprisonment. Heretics who refused to repent were sentenced to death. The Inquisition continued in most areas of Europe until the 15th century.
Disagreeing with the Catholic Church was heresy
Obviously, the caliber of “heretical” teaching varies according to the orthodoxy established at the time. Any group or individual who differs from another group can technically be called a heretic. In Acts 24:14, Jews call Christians heretics. The “heretics” of the Middle Ages were only heretics because they disagreed with the Catholic Church, not because they held unbiblical doctrines.
The Spanish Inquisition executed more than 14,000 people, many of them simply for possessing a Bible. Thus, biblically speaking, it was the same established Catholic church that was heretical during the Middle Ages.
What is heresy according to Christianity?, Biblical meaning.
What is the meaning of heresy according to biblical Christianity
Regarding Biblical Christianity, what is heresy? Second Peter 2:1 says, “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, bringing upon themselves sudden destruction.”
From the above verse, we see that heresy is anything that denies the teaching of Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 11:19, Paul rebukes the church for having heresies among themselves, heresies that led to schisms in the body. These verses touch on both aspects of what constitutes heresy in the church: Denying the doctrines God has given and dividing the body He has created. Both are dangerous and destructive actions that are strongly rebuked by Scripture. See also 1 John 4:1-6; 1 Timothy 1:3-6; 2 Timothy 1:13-14; and Jude 1.
How does the Bible treat heresy?
What the Bible tells us about heresy, biblical meaning.
How does the Bible treat heresy? Titus 3:10 says: “A man who causes divisions, after one and another admonition throw him away.” Other translations read “divisive person,” “fractious man,” and “divisive person.” When a person in church strays from biblical teaching, the correct response is to first try to correct him, but if he refuses to listen after two warnings, have nothing more to do with him. The excommunication is implied. The truth of Christ will unify believers (John 17:22-23), but heresy, by its very nature, cannot coexist peacefully with the truth.
Of course, not all disagreement in the church is heresy. Having a different opinion is not wrong, but when opinion is divisive or held in defiance of clear biblical teaching, it becomes heretical.
The apostles themselves disagreed on occasion (see Acts 15:36-41), and once Peter had to be rebuked for his divisive and legalistic behavior (Galatians 2:11-14). But, praise the Lord, with an attitude of humility and submission to the God of truth, the apostles overcame their disagreements and set an example for us.
How do we protect ourselves against heresy?
Philippians 2:2-3 is a good starting point: “Make my joy complete by feeling the same, having the same love, with one accord, feeling the same thing. Do nothing out of contention or vainglory; rather with humility, each one esteeming the others as superior to himself”. As we submit to the authority of God’s Word and treat one another with love and respect, divisions and heresies will lessen.