Identifying Unbiblical Views Promoted Through Extrabiblical Examples
Scripture warns believers against being "carried about with divers and strange doctrines" (Hebrews 13:9), teachings that differ from the apostolic faith and lead away from Christ [1]. The New Testament uses vivid extrabiblical imagery—adultery, drunkenness, fire—to illustrate spiritual dangers, yet these metaphors themselves point to a crucial principle: not every illustration or example in Scripture validates the practice it depicts.
Biblical Imagery as Warning, Not Endorsement
The prophets and apostles frequently employed cultural and moral categories as negative examples. Revelation describes spiritual unfaithfulness as "adultery" with Babylon, drawing on Old Testament imagery where serving false gods appears as harlotry (Exodus 34:12-16; Hosea 2) [2]. Similarly, drunkenness depicts nations indulging in immoral behavior (Jeremiah 25:27; Ezekiel 23:33) [2]. These images function as warnings—the biblical authors assume readers recognize adultery and drunkenness as evils, then leverage that recognition to condemn idolatry and apostasy. The metaphor depends on shared moral disapproval.
The Danger of Reversing the Logic
Problems arise when interpreters extract practices from biblical narratives or metaphors and treat them as normative simply because Scripture mentions them. Proverbs warns against the "strange woman," an adulteress whose enticements lead to death (Proverbs 2:16). Early interpreters like Gersom and Jarchi understood this figure as representing idolatry and false doctrine [4]. The text condemns the adulteress; it does not model her behavior for imitation. Yet some theological systems have fallen into error by treating descriptive passages as prescriptive, or by importing extrabiblical practices under the guise of biblical precedent.
Distinguishing Core Doctrine from Human Tradition
Paul's concern in Romans 2 illustrates this principle: outward religious symbols like circumcision were "designed but as outward symbols of a separation from the irreligious and ungodly world," meaningful only when they corresponded to inward reality [5]. Where the sign exists without the substance, it becomes "worse than useless" [5]. The apostolic warning against "divers and strange doctrines" specifically contrasts them with "the one faith in the one and the same Jesus Christ" [1]. John Gill notes that while false teachings are many and varied, "the doctrine of the Scriptures, of Christ, and his apostles, is but one; it is uniform, and all of a piece" [3]. The test for any teaching—whether supported by biblical example, cultural practice, or theological innovation—is its conformity to the apostolic deposit, not merely its appearance in a biblical text.
Sources
- 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”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 17:2: 17:2 Adultery with her is a biblical image for serving other gods (see, e.g., Exod 34:12-16; Judg 2:17; Hos 2). • drunk by . . . her immorality: Drunkenness in Scripture often depicts nations that indulge in wanton and immoral behavior (see Rev 18:3, 9; Jer 25:27; 51:7; Lam 4:21; Ezek 23:33).”
- 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”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 2:16: To deliver thee from the strange woman,.... As the Gospel of Christ and its doctrines, or the instructions of wisdom, are a means of delivering persons from the evil man, his company, ways, and works; so from a naughty woman, an adulteress, called a "strange" woman; not because of another nation, or unknown, but because she belongs to another person, and not to him whom she entices into her embraces. Gersom interprets this of the sensitive appetite, and Jarchi of idolatry; as others do also of superstition and all false doctrine, and everything that is contrary to t”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 2:28: he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, &c.--In other words, the name of "Jew" and the rite of "circumcision" were designed but as outward symbols of a separation from the irreligious and ungodly world unto holy devotedness in heart and life to the God of salvation. Where this is realized, the signs are full of significance; but where it is not, they are worse than useless. Note, (1) It is a sad mark of depravity when all that is designed and fitted to melt only hardens the heart (Rom 2:4, and compare Pe2 3:9; Ecc 8:11). (2) Amidst all the inequalitie”