Applying Biblical Doctrine to Counter Non-Scriptural Examples
Christian doctrine emphasizes the importance of adhering to scriptural teachings and rejecting those that deviate from them. The apostle Paul warns against advocating "a different doctrine" that does not align with "sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness" [3]. This highlights a core principle: biblical doctrine serves as the standard for evaluating all other teachings.
The Scriptures are understood to be "given by inspiration of God" and "by inspiration of the Holy Spirit" [2]. Jesus himself sanctioned the Scriptures by appealing to them and teaching from them [2]. Therefore, any doctrine that contradicts the Bible is considered non-scriptural. For instance, the concept of "denial of Christ" can occur "in doctrine" as well as "in practice," and is characteristic of false teachers [4]. Such denial is seen as the "spirit of Antichrist" and leads to destruction [4].
The New Testament frequently cautions against "divers and strange doctrines" [6, 7]. These can include various rites and ceremonies, traditions of elders, or other human doctrines that differ from the unified message of Christ and his apostles [6]. John Gill, in his commentary on Hebrews 13:9, notes that true doctrine is "uniform, and all of a piece," unlike the varied and often contradictory teachings of men [6]. Similarly, the Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on the same verse describes "divers" doctrines as "differing from the one faith in the one and the same Jesus Christ," and "strange" doctrines as "foreign to the truth" [7].
The application of biblical doctrine also involves self-denial, which Christ exemplified and which is a test of devotion to him [1]. This includes denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, controlling appetite, and abstaining from fleshly desires [1]. Rebellion against God, characterized by unbelief, rejecting His government, and despising His law, is explicitly forbidden and provokes God [5].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
- 1 Timothy “1 Timothy 6:3 (NASB) — If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Denial of Christ — In doctrine -- Mr 8:38; 2Ti 1:8. In practice -- Php 3:18,10; Tit 1:16. A characteristic of false teachers -- 2Pe 2:1; Jude 1:4. Is the spirit of Antichrist -- 1Jo 2:22,23; 4:3. Christ will deny those guilty of -- Mt 10:33; 2Ti 2:12. Leads to destruction -- 2Pe 2:1; Jude 1:4,15. Exemplified Peter. -- Mt 26:69-75. The Jews. -- Joh 18:40; Ac 3:13,14.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Rebellion Against God — Forbidden -- Nu 14:9; Jos 22:19. Provokes God -- Nu 16:30; Ne 9:26. Provokes Christ -- Ex 23:20,21; 1Co 10:9. Vexes the Holy Spirit -- Isa 63:10. Exhibited in Unbelief. -- De 9:23; Ps 106:24,25. Rejecting his government. -- 1Sa 8:7; 15:23. Revolting from him. -- Isa 1:5; 31:6. Despising his law. -- Ne 9:26. Despising his counsels. -- Ps 107:11. Distrusting his power. -- Eze 17:15. Murmuring against him. -- Nu 20:3,10. Refusing to hearken to him. -- De 9:23; Eze 20:8; Zec 7:11. Departing from him. -- Isa 59:13. Rebellion against governors appoi”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 13:9: Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines,.... The word "divers" may denote the variety and multitude of other doctrines; referring either to the various rites and ceremonies of the law, or to the traditions of the elders, or to the several doctrines of men, whether Jews or Gentiles; whereas the doctrine of the Scriptures, of Christ, and his apostles, is but one; it is uniform, and all of a piece; and so may likewise denote the disagreement of other doctrines with the perfections of God, the person and offices of Christ, the Scriptures of truth, the anal”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 13:9: about--rather, as oldest manuscripts read, "carried aside"; namely, compare Eph 4:14. divers--differing from the one faith in the one and the same Jesus Christ, as taught by them who had the rule over you (Heb 13:7). strange--foreign to the truth. doctrines--"teachings." established with grace; not with meats--not with observances of Jewish distinctions between clean and unclean meats, to which ascetic Judaizers added in Christian times the rejection of some meats, and the use of others: noticed also by Paul in Co1 8:8, Co1 8:13; Co1 6:13; Rom”