What the Bible says about Heresy, Smuggling in
(From Forerunner Commentary)
Paul had to deal with the Corinthian congregation because they had fallen under the sway of false apostles (see II Corinthians 11:13). These false ministers had convinced many of the brethren that they knew more and better than the apostle through whom they had heard, believed, learned, and been converted to the gospel. They were in the process of throwing aside what they had learned from Paul in favor of what they were hearing from these new "apostles."
John W. Ritenbaugh
Damnable HeresiesRelated Topics: Apostasy | Apostasy, Process of | Corinthian Church | Damnable Heresies | False Apostles | False Doctrine | False Ministers/Prophets | False Teachers | False Teaching | Heresies, Damnable | Heresy | Heresy, Smuggling in
Paul gives Timothy a great deal to think about and to do. Notice, though, that he ends with a warning that false teachers and false gospels are inevitable. As time goes on, as he said earlier, things will get worse and worse.
We must be especially careful of this these days because Jesus tells us that, as the end approaches, it will get really bad! Those things will wax, not wane, as the end comes. And in our information society, not only have there been more bad things, but they are coming at us faster and faster. It is hard to keep up with all the false teachings, heresies, and strange ideas. And those are just what are in the church, and not what comes from Protestantism, Catholicism, New Age, or whatever!
The Internet has been a blessing and curse, just for that reason. It is wonderful for transmitting information—especially if it is the truth, but it is damnable for transmitting error. All "media" are. Any kind of media can be used wrongly. The two biggest users on the Internet are, on the one hand, pornographers, and on the other, churches. Is that not crazy? It shows how bad the times are, and how we have to be prepared to face these things, show the error of falsehood, and explain the truth. It is not easy in these times to be a true minister of God, because things are coming at us from right and left at 190 mph.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Itching EarsRelated Topics: False Doctrine | False Teaching | False Worship | Falsehood | Heresy | Heresy, Smuggling in | Internet | Itching Ears | Media | Media Influence
If "secretly" ("privily") were translated into the closest English synonym, it would have been rendered "smuggle." They smuggle in heresy by cunning deceit. The word literally means "they bring it along side," that is, they present this heresy in such a way as to make it appear favorably with the truth. "Oh, it's just a refinement. We're not really changing anything. You understand that, don't you? We're not really changing it. It's just a refinement, a clarification."
John W. Ritenbaugh
Satan (Part 4)Related Topics: Apostasy | Apostasy, Process of | Cunning | Cunning Deceit | Damnable Heresies | Deceit | Deceitfulness | Deception | Doctrinal Changes | Doctrinal Disputes | Doctrinal Problems | Doctrine | Doctrine, Importance of | False Doctrine | False Ministers/Prophets | False Teachers | False Teaching | Heresies, Damnable | Heresy | Heresy, Smuggling in