Common Misconceptions in Theological Doctrine and Practice
Theological misconceptions often arise from deviations from biblical teaching, leading to doctrines that are "divers and strange" [8]. These can manifest as false teachings, a mere external show of religion, or a misunderstanding of core Christian tenets [3, 4].
One significant misconception concerns the nature of "heresies." The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians, notes that "there must be also heresies among you" [1]. John Gill interprets this as indicating that if there were "false doctrines, and bad principles, among them, such as were subversive of the fundamentals of Christianity," it was unsurprising that schisms and factions would follow [1]. Heresies, in this view, are not merely disagreements but fundamental departures from essential Christian beliefs, often leading to division within the church [1].
Another common misconception relates to the "mystery of the faith." This phrase, found in 1 Timothy, refers to the doctrine of the Gospel itself [2]. Gill explains that it is called a "mystery" because it originates from divine revelation and could not be discovered by human reason [2]. Even after revelation, the "modus" (manner) of many of its elements remains mysterious, particularly doctrines like the Trinity [2]. Misconceptions can arise when individuals attempt to reduce these divine mysteries to human understanding or invent doctrines that contradict revealed truth [2].
False teachers often contribute to these misconceptions by promoting doctrines that differ from the teachings of the Bible [4]. Such individuals are described as "proud" and "puffed up with a vain conceit of himself and his own notions" [6]. They may treat faithful ministers with haughtiness and possess only "notional knowledge" rather than a deep, spiritual understanding of the Gospel [6]. This pride and superficial knowledge prevent them from truly knowing "anything that is solid and substantial" concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ [6].
The danger of such teaching is that it can lead people to be "ever learning" but "never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" [7]. Adam Clarke, commenting on 2 Timothy, suggests that this occurs when teaching does not lead to truth, even if it possesses a "form of godliness" [7]. Such teachers "denied the power of godliness," thus preventing their followers from experiencing the "saving power of Christianity" [7]. This highlights a misconception where outward religious observance or intellectual assent to doctrine is mistaken for genuine spiritual transformation [3, 7].
John Calvin also addresses the issue of false teaching, noting that when individuals teach "another doctrine" from that of the apostles, it constitutes "an absolute profanation of real theology" [5]. He questions what such teachers offer regarding fundamental Christian concepts like faith, repentance, calling on God, human weakness, the assistance of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness of sins by grace, or the office of Christ that could genuinely contribute to "the solid edification of godliness" [5]. This suggests that a key misconception is the belief that any teaching, regardless of its content or source, can lead to spiritual growth, when in reality, only sound doctrine rooted in biblical truth can do so [5].
Sources
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 11:18: For there must be also heresies among you.... This is a reason why he was ready to believe there might be something of truth in the report he had received of the divisions among them; for if there were heresies, false doctrines, and bad principles, among them, such as were subversive of the fundamentals of Christianity, as the denial of the resurrection of the dead, &c. it was no wonder that there were schisms and factions among them, since heresies generally issue in them. These, the apostle says, "must be"; because God has decreed they shall, whose counsel i”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 3:9: Holding the mystery of the faith,.... The doctrine of the Gospel, called the "faith", because it contains things to be believed; proposes Christ the object of faith; is the means by which faith comes, and is unprofitable without it: it is called "the mystery", because it is of divine revelation, and could have never been discovered by human reason; and now it is revealed, the modus of many things contained in it remains a mystery; several of the doctrines of it are mysterious ones, particularly the doctrine of the Trinity; and which the ancient Jews call by this ver”
- 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 3:5: Having a form of godliness,.... Either a mere external show of religion, pretending great piety and holiness, being outwardly righteous before men, having the mask and visor of godliness; or else a plan of doctrine, a form of sound words, a scheme of truths, which men may have without partaking of the grace of God; and which, with respect to the doctrine of the Trinity, the church of Rome has; or else the Scriptures of truth, which the members of that church have, and profess to hold to, maintain and preserve; and which contains doctrines according to godliness, and”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 6:3: If any man teach otherwise,.... Or another doctrine, as the Syriac version renders it; a doctrine different from what the apostle had now taught, concerning the duty of servants to their masters; as did the false teachers, who despised dominion or government; not only civil government, and so spoke evil of rulers and magistrates; and church government, and therefore reviled the apostles, elders, and pastors of churches; but family government, and encouraged disobedience to parents and masters; see Pe2 2:10 or teach another doctrine, from that of the Bible, of Chris”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 29.6: the sincerity of the apostles, it is, on that account, an absolute profanation of real theology. What, I ask, do they teach about faith, or repentance, or calling on God; about the weakness of men, or the assistance of the Holy Spirit, or the forgiveness of sins by free grace, or about the office of Christ, that can be of any avail for the solid edification of godliness? But on this subject we shall have occasion to speak again in expounding the Second Epistle. Undoubtedly, any person who possesses a moderate share of understand”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 6:4: He is proud,.... Or swelled and puffed up with a vain conceit of himself and his own notions, and treats with an haughty air the faithful ministers of the word. The doctrines of grace are of an humbling nature, especially when they are spiritually and experimentally understood and received; but notional knowledge, knowledge of natural things, and the doctrines of men, such as are of their own invention, fill the mind with pride and vanity: knowing nothing; as he ought to know; not anything that is solid and substantial; nothing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: he ma”
- 2 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Timothy 3:7: Ever learning - From their false teachers, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, because that teaching never leads to the truth; for, although there was a form of godliness, which gave them a sort of authority to teach, yet, as they denied the power of godliness, they never could bring their votaries to the knowledge of the saving power of Christianity. There are many professors of Christianity still who answer the above description. They hear, repeatedly hear, it may be, good sermons; but, as they seldom meditate on what they hear, they derive lit”
- 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”