In this study, we
will seek to understand what the Bible says
about doctrine.
Many have heard
people proclaim; “Don't give me doctrine; I
just want to follow Jesus” or “No creed
but Christ.” Doctrine as will be seen means,
teaching, instruction, and other
similar words. First, note that this type of
assertion decrying doctrine is
itself a doctrine, albeit, a simplistic one.
Second, note that this type of assertion
is contradictory since the asserter has some
doctrinal knowledge of the person
of Christ in order to make the assertion.
Do people making assertions
like these
want to know Christ and follow him?
Consider:
“If any man will do
his will, he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God, or whether I
speak of myself.” (John 7:17)
Jesus taught doctrine,
and if you are going to be his disciple, you
must learn his teachings. Besides,
we are to grow in grace and knowledge of the
Lord Jesus Christ, see 2Peter 3:18.
Non-doctrinal Christianity is impossible
because even non-doctrinal religion is
doctrinal. In Christianity, doctrines are
unavoidable; the question should be
what type of doctrine you should have?
“Shew me thy ways, O
LORD; teach me thy paths.” (Psalm 25:4) Do
you want to know God’s paths?
As in previous studies,
we will look at definitions, scriptures,
commentary evidence and confessional
support for the glorifying of God in how we
live.
Definition:
Doctrine
A set of accepted
beliefs held by a group. In religion, it is
the set of true beliefs that define
the parameters of that belief system. Hence,
there is true doctrine and false
doctrine relative to each belief set. In
Christianity, for example, a true biblical
doctrine is that there is only one God in
all existence (Isaiah 43:10; Isa
44:6; Isa 44:8). A false doctrine is that
there is more than one God in all
existence. *
Definition:
Question: “What is doctrine?”
Answer: The word translated “doctrine”
means “instruction, especially as
it applies to lifestyle application.” In
other words, doctrine is teaching
imparted by an authoritative source. In the
Bible, the word always refers to
spiritually related fields of study. The
Bible says of itself that it is “profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness”
(2Timothy 3:16). We are to be careful about
what we believe and present as
truth. First Timothy 4:16 says, “Watch your
life and doctrine closely.
Persevere in them, because if you do, you
will save both yourself and your
hearers.” **
Webster’s Revised
Unabridged Dictionary on doctrine:
1. (n.) Teaching; instruction.
2. (n.) That which is taught; what is
held, put forth as true, and
supported by a teacher, a school, or a sect;
a principle or position, or the
body of principles, in any branch of
knowledge; any tenet or dogma; a principle
of faith; as, the doctrine of atoms; the
doctrine of chances.
Synonyms
for doctrine:
Axioms, beliefs, concepts, creeds,
dogmas, precepts, statutes, propositions,
rules, statements, teachings, tenets,
articles of faith, declarations, gospel,
instructions,
and edicts. These synonyms presuppose
predominantly written documents. The
written Word is essential since we learn of
Christ in His word.
From
the Scriptures about doctrine:
“The law of the LORD is perfect,
converting the soul: the testimony of
the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the
LORD is pure, enlightening the
eyes.” (Psalm 19:7-8)
“If any man will do his will, he shall
know of the doctrine, whether it
be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
(John 7:17)
“But these are written, that ye might
believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God; and that believing ye might
have life through his name.” (John
20:31)
“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the
doctrine; continue in them: for in
doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and
them that hear thee.” (1Timothy
4:16)
“If any man teach otherwise, and
consent not to wholesome words, even the
words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the
doctrine which is according to
godliness.” (1Timothy 6:3)
“Hold fast the form of sound words,
which thou hast heard of me, in faith
and love which is in Christ Jesus.”
(2Timothy 1:13)
“And the things that thou hast heard
of me among many witnesses, the same
commit thou to faithful men, who shall be
able to teach others also.” (2Timothy
2:2)
“In meekness instructing those that
oppose themselves; if God peradventure
will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth.” (2Timothy 2:25)
“But continue thou in the things which
thou hast learned and hast been
assured of, knowing of whom thou hast
learned them; And that from a child thou
hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are
able to make thee wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
(2Timothy 3:14-15)
“All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works.”
(2Timothy
3:16-17)
“For the time will come when they will
not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching
ears.” (2Timothy 4:3)
“If thou put the brethren in
remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a
good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up
in the words of faith and of good
doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”
(1Timothy 4:6)
“Holding fast the faithful word as he
hath been taught, that he may be
able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to
convince the gainsayers.” (Titus
1:9)
“For every one that useth milk is
unskilful in the word of righteousness:
for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth
to them that are of full age, even
those who by reason of use have their senses
exercised to discern both good and
evil.” (Hebrews 5:13-14)
Featured
commentary from Matthew
Poole's
Commentary on Hebrews 5:13-14 and
the need for growth in doctrinal truth:
“The Spirit proves these Hebrews such
infants by describing the state of
them, and of their contrary, and tacitly
applying it to them under a metaphor
or allegory started by him before.
For every one that useth milk; for,
saith he, every one of you who take
in nothing but the elements and weakest kind
of doctrines, and can bear no
other, have not digested the first
principles of the oracles of God.
Is unskilful in the word of
righteousness; are apeirov, not truly
knowing, not proving nor experiencing, never
exercised or practiced in, the
word of righteousness, the gospel doctrine,
which is in itself an eternal
certain truth, the revelation of the
righteousness of God to faith, Romans
1:16,17, and the instrumental conveyer of it
to faith; a perfect rule of
righteousness, making Christians conform
exactly to the mind and will of God,
and so reaching the state of strong and
perfect ones, Colossians 1:25-29.
For he is a babe; he is but a new-born
Christian, a child in Christ’s
school, one that cannot be experienced in
the perfections of God’s word,
because he is weak in knowledge, ignorant
and unconstant like an infant, 1
Corinthians 14:20; compare Ephesians 4:14.
But strong meat belongeth to them that
are of full age; but those great,
deep, and high mysteries of the gospel
concerning Christ’s natures, their
hypostatical union, his offices, his actual
fulfilling all his types in the Old
Testament both personal and mystical, with
the prophecies of his gospel church
state, and his mediatory kingdom, &c.,
these are the strong meat and food
of grown Christians, who have reached some
maturity in the knowledge of these
gospel mysteries, and are of a full age in
understanding, 1 Corinthians 2:6 1
Corinthians 14:20 Philippians 3:15; reaching
on to the measure of the stature
of the fullness of Christ in knowledge and
grace, Ephesians 4:13.
Even those who by reason of use; even
those who dia thn ezin, by a gracious
habit of wisdom and knowledge infused
and perfected by long study, practice, and
exercise of themselves in the word
of righteousness, by which they are able to
apprehend and improve the highest
doctrines of the mystery of Christ.
Have their senses: ta
aisyhthria
are, strictly, organs or instruments of
sense, as the eye, the tongue, and the
hand, by a metonymy, express seeing,
tasting, and feeling; and so is by analogy
applied to the inward senses and faculties
of the soul, whereby they discern
and relish gospel doctrines.
Exercised: gegumnasmena
strictly notes such an exercise as wrestlers
use for a victory with all their
might and strength, being trained up to it
by long exercise. The spiritual
organs or faculties of Christians are well
instructed, practiced, made apt and
ready, as the external ones are, for their
proper work.
To discern both good and evil: prov
diakrisin, for the discerning and
differencing things, so as the mind
discerns what doctrine is true and what is
false by the word of righteousness,
and the will chooseth what is good and
refuseth what is evil, the affections
love good and hate evil. As the senses
external can by exercise discern what
food is gustful, pleasing, and wholesome for
the person, and what is nauseous
and unwholesome; so the grown Christian is
improved by the exercise of his
spiritual senses, that can by his
enlightened mind discern higher gospel
doctrines, and by his renewed will relish
the sublimer mysteries of Christ as
they are revealed to him. Such the Christian
Hebrews ought to have been, so
able proficients in the school of Christ.” (1)
Doctrine
from Vine's
Expository Dictionary of New
Testament Words:
Doctrine
[1, G1322, didache]
Akin to No. 1, under DOCTOR, denotes
teaching, either
(a) That which is taught, e.g.,
Matthew 7:28, AV, “doctrine,” RV,
“teaching;”
Titus 1:9, RV; Revelation 2:14-Revelation
2:15, Revelation 2:24, or
(b) The act of teaching, instruction,
e.g., Mark 4:2, AV, “doctrine,” RV,
“teaching;” the RV has “the doctrine” in
Romans 16:17. See NOTE
(1) below.
[2, G1319, didaskalia]
Denotes, as No. 1 (from which,
however, it is to be distinguished),
(a) “that which is taught, doctrine,”
Matthew 15:9; Mark 7:7; Ephesians
4:14; Colossians 2:22; 1 Timothy 1:10; 1
Timothy 4:1, 1 Timothy 4:6; 1 Timothy
6:1, 1 Timothy 6:3; 2 Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9
(“doctrine,” in last part of
verse: See also No. 1); Titus 2:1, Titus
2:10;
(1) Whereas didache
is used
only twice in the Pastoral Epistles, 2
Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9, didaskalia
occurs fifteen times. Both
are used in the Active and Passive senses
(i.e., the act of teaching and what
is taught), the Passive is predominant in didache,
the Active in didaskalia;
the former
stresses the authority, the latter the act
(Cremer). Apart from the Apostle
Paul, other writers make use of didache
only, save in Matthew 15:9; Mark 7:7 (didaskalia).
(2) In Hebrews 6:1, logos, “a word,”
is translated “doctrine,” AV; the RV
margin gives the lit. rendering, "the word
(of the beginning of
Christ)," and, in the text, “the (first)
principles (of Christ).” (2)
International Standard
Bible
Encyclopedia
on Doctrine:
DOCTRINE
dok'-trin:
Latin doctrina,
from doceo,
“to teach,” denotes both the act
of teaching and that which is taught; now
used exclusively in the latter sense.
1.
Meaning of Terms:
(1) In the Old Testament for
(a) leqach
“what is received,”
hence, “the matter taught” (Deuteronomy
32:2; Job 11:4; Proverbs 4:2; Isaiah
29:24, the American Standard Revised Version
“instruction”);
(b) she-mu`ah,
“what is heard”
(Isaiah 28:9, the Revised Version (British
and American) “message,” the Revised
Version, margin “report”);
(c) mucar,
“discipline” (Jet
10:8 margin), “The stock is a doctrine” (the
Revised Version British and
American) “instruction” of vanities, i. e.
“The discipline of unreal gods is
wood (is like themselves, destitute of true
moral force” (BDB)).
(2) In the New Testament for
(i) didaskalia
=
(a) “the act of teaching” (1 Timothy
4:13,16; 5:17; 2 Timothy 3:10,16),
all in the Revised Version (British and
American) “teaching”;
(b) “what is taught” (Matthew 15:9; 2
Timothy 4:3). In some passages the
meaning is ambiguous as between (a) and (b).
(ii) didache,
always translated
“teaching” in the Revised Version (British
and American), except in Romans
16:17, where “doctrine” is retained in the
text and "teaching"
inserted in the margin =
(a) the act of teaching (Mark 4:2;
Acts 2:42, the King James Version
“doctrine”);
(b) what is taught (John 7:16,17;
Revelation 2:14,15,24, the King James
Version “doctrine”). In some places the
meaning is ambiguous as between (a) and
(b) and in Matthew 7:28; Mark 1:22; Acts
13:12, the manner, rather than the act
or matter of teaching is denoted, namely,
with authority and power.
2.
Christ’s Teaching Informal:
The meaning of these words in the New
Testament varied as the church
developed the content of its experience into
a system of thought, and came to
regard such a system as an integral part of
saving faith (compare the
development of the meaning of the term
“faith”):
(1) The doctrines of the Pharisees
were a fairly compact and definite
body of teaching, a fixed tradition handed
down from one generation of teachers
to another (Matthew 16:12, the King James
Version "doctrine"; compare
Matthew 15:9; Mark 7:7).
(2) In contrast with the Pharisaic
system, the teaching of Jesus was
unconventional and occasional, discursive
and unsystematic; it derived its
power from His personality, character and
works, more than from His words, so
that His contemporaries were astonished at
it and recognized it as a new
teaching (Matthew 7:28; 22:33; Mark 1:22,27;
Luke 4:32). So we find it in the
Synoptic Gospels, and the more systematic
form given to it in the Johannine
discourses is undoubtedly the work of the
evangelist, who wrote rather to
interpret Christ than to record His ipsissima
verba (John 20:31).
3.
Apostolic Doctrines:
The earliest teaching of the apostles
consisted essentially of three
propositions:
(a) that Jesus was the Christ (Acts
3:18);
(b) that He was risen from the dead
(Acts 1:22; 2:24,32); and
(c) that salvation was by faith in His
name (Acts 2:38; 3:16). While
proclaiming these truths, it was necessary
to coordinate them with Hebrew
faith, as based upon Old Testament
revelation.
The method of the earliest
reconstruction may be gathered from the
speeches of Peter and Stephen (Acts 2:14-36;
5:29-32; 7:2-53). A more thorough
reconstruction of the coordination of the
Christian facts, not only with Hebrew
history, but with universal history, and
with a view of the world as a whole,
was undertaken by Paul. Both types of
doctrine are found in his speeches in
Acts, the former type in that delivered at
Antioch (Acts 13:16-41), and the
latter in the speeches delivered at Lystra
(Acts 14:15-17) and at Athens (Acts
17:22-31). The ideas given in outline in
these speeches are more fully
developed into a doctrinal system, with its
center removed from the
resurrection to the death of Christ, in the
epistles, especially in Galatians,
Romans, Ephesians, Philippians and
Colossians. But as yet it is the theological
system of one teacher, and there is no sign
of any attempt to impose it by
authority on the church as a whole. As a
matter of fact the Pauline system
never was generally accepted by the church.
Compare James and the Apostolic
Fathers.
4.
Beginnings of Dogma:
In the Pastoral and General Epistles a
new state of things appears. The
repeated emphasis on “sound” or “healthy
doctrine” (1Timothy 1:10; 6:3;
2Timothy 1:13; 4:3; Titus 1:9; 2:1), “good
doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:6) implies
that a body of teaching had now emerged
which was generally accepted, and which
should serve as a standard of orthodoxy. The
faith has become a body of truth “once
for all delivered unto the saints” (Jude
1:3). The content of this “sound
doctrine” is nowhere formally given, but it
is a probable inference that it
corresponded very nearly to the Roman
formula that became known as the
Apostles' Creed. See DOGMA. T. Rees (3)
In
closing:
After reading the above scriptures, it
should be evident that it would be
impossible for a church not to have
doctrines. How could you have a sermon
without doctrine? A non-doctrinal sermon
would be 30 minutes of silence.
You cannot and should not avoid the
doctrines of Scripture. As you read
Scripture, you will be learning doctrine.
Good doctrines or bad doctrines that
is the choice. How do we avoid bad
doctrines? Chiefly, through the continued
reading of the Scriptures and staying in the
fellowship of believers.
To repeat, Jesus taught doctrine, and
if you are going to be his
disciple, you must learn his teachings.
Non-doctrinal Christianity is
impossible because even such a thing would
be doctrinal and self-contradictory.
In Christianity, doctrines are unavoidable;
the question should be what type of
doctrines you should have? We are warned in
Scripture about false teachers.
Consequently,
there are wicked doctrines.
“Keep watch over yourselves and all
the flock of which the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the
church of God, which he bought with
his own blood. I know that after I leave,
savage wolves will come in among you
and will not spare the flock. Even from your
own number men will arise and
distort the truth in order to draw away
disciples after them.” (Acts 20:28-30)
Having correct doctrine is a biblical
imperative.
Stay
in the Word:
“These were nobler than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the
word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily, whether
those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
Church confessions are helpful. A
confession of faith is a formal
statement setting out the vital religious
doctrine of the church body. A
confession is more detailed than the typical
evangelical statement of beliefs
found in the church bulletin. See below for
Bible Study Resources.
Notes:
1.Matthew Poole's
Commentary on the Holy Bible, vol. 3, (Peabody,
Massachusetts,
Hendrickson Publishers, 1985) p. 830.
2.W.
E. Vine, An
Expository Dictionary of New
Testament Words, (Iowa Falls, Iowa,
Riverside Book and Bible House), pp.
223-224.
3.Orr,
James, M.A., D.D. General Editor, International
Standard
Bible Encyclopedia, (Grand Rapids,
Michigan, Eerdmans, reprinted
1986), pp. 866-867.
Mr. Kettler has
previously published articles in the Chalcedon
Report and Contra
Mundum. He and his wife Marea attend
the Westminster, CO, RPCNA Church. Mr.
Kettler is the author of the book defending
the Reformed Faith against attacks,
titled: The Religion That Started in
a Hat. Available at:
www.TheReligionThatStartedInAHat.com