Discerning Between Biblical and Non-Biblical Teaching Tools
Discerning Between Biblical and Non-Biblical Teaching Tools
The Bible provides guidance on distinguishing between teachings that are grounded in Scripture and those that are not. In Hebrews 5:12, the author critiques the recipients for needing to be taught basic principles again, indicating a need for discernment in teaching [1]. This discernment is crucial in identifying true and false teachings.
The New Testament emphasizes the importance of sound doctrine. In 1 Timothy 6:3, Paul warns against teaching "otherwise" or "another doctrine," highlighting the need to adhere to the teachings of Jesus Christ [3, 7]. The criterion for evaluating teachings is their conformity to the words of Christ and the apostles. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown note that Paul's words are considered Christ's words, underscoring the authority of apostolic teaching [7].
One key aspect of discerning between biblical and non-biblical teachings is understanding the nature of spiritual gifts, particularly the gift of discerning spirits. According to Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:8, this gift enables believers to distinguish between those who are truly inspired and those who pretend to be [2]. This gift is essential in evaluating the authenticity of teachings.
The contrast between true and false teachings is also highlighted in 1 John 4:6, where the apostle John distinguishes between those who are "of God" and those who are not, based on their reception of true teachers [4]. This passage suggests that the origin of a teaching can be discerned by its reception among believers.
John Gill's commentary on Jeremiah 31:34 notes that the passage is not to be understood as eliminating the need for the external ministry of the Word or private instruction among believers [5]. Rather, it highlights the internalization of God's law in the hearts of believers, which is a hallmark of the new covenant.
The writer of Hebrews contrasts the old and new covenants, emphasizing that the new covenant enables obedience through the Spirit's inward impulse, producing love due to the forgiveness of sins [6]. This understanding is crucial in discerning between teachings that are grounded in the old covenant and those that are rooted in the new.
The Bible warns against being "carried about with divers and strange doctrines" (Hebrews 13:9), emphasizing the need for stability and adherence to sound teaching [8]. The criterion for evaluating teachings is their conformity to the doctrine of Christ and the apostles.
Sources
- Hebrews “Hebrews 5:12 (BSB) — Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 12:8: Three classes of gifts are distinguished by a distinct Greek word for "another" (a distinct class), marking the three several genera: allo marks the species, hetero the genera (compare Greek, Co1 15:39-41). I. Gifts of intellect, namely, (1) wisdom; (2) knowledge. II. Gifts dependent on a special faith, namely, that of miracles (Mat 17:20): (1) healings; (2) workings of miracles; (3) prophecy of future events; (4) discerning of spirits, or the divinely given faculty of distinguishing between those really inspired, and those who pretended to insp”
- 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”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 4:6: We--true teachers of Christ: in contrast to them. are of God--and therefore speak of God: in contrast to "speak they of the world," Jo1 4:5. knoweth God--as his Father, being a child "of God" (Jo1 2:13-14). heareth us--Compare Joh 18:37, "Every one that is of the truth, heareth My voice." Hereby-- (Jo1 4:2-6); by their confessing, or not confessing, Jesus; by the kind of reception given them respectively by those who know God, and by those who are of the world and not of God. spirit of truth--the Spirit which comes from God and teaches truth. ”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 31:34: And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother,.... Which is not to be understood of the outward ministry of the word; in heaven indeed there will be no need of it, nor in the New Jerusalem state; but in every period of time before it. In the first times of the Gospel, persons were appointed and qualified by Christ to be pastors and teachers; and in the latter day men shall run to and fro, and increase knowledge; besides, the saints in the present state stand in need of teaching; since they know but in part, and there is room for a ”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 8:9: Not according to, &c.--very different from, and far superior to, the old covenant, which only "worked wrath" (Rom 4:15) through man's "not regarding" it. The new covenant enables us to obey by the Spirit's inward impulse producing love because of the forgiveness of our sins. made with--rather as Greek, "made to": the Israelites being only recipients, not coagents [ALFORD] with God. I took them by the hand--as a father takes his child by the hand to support and guide his steps. "There are three periods: (1) that of the promise; (2) that of the pedag”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 6:3: teach otherwise--than I desire thee to "teach" (Ti1 6:2). The Greek indicative implies, he puts not a merely supposed case, but one actually existing, Ti1 1:3, "Every one who teaches otherwise," that is, who teaches heterodoxy. consent not--Greek, "accede not to." wholesome--"sound" (Ti1 1:10): opposed to the false teachers' words, unsound through profitless science and immorality. words of our Lord Jesus Christ--Paul's inspired words are not merely his own, but are also Christ's words.”
- 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”