Ephesians 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith . . .
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,
Jude 3 . . . contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
And there are passages about the one true “doctrine”:
1 Timothy 1:3 . . . that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,
Titus 1:9 he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it.
Titus 2:1 But as for you, teach what befits sound doctrine.
2 John 1:9-10 Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son. [10] If any one comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house or give him any greeting;
This last passage in particular is exactly the idea of “purging the heretics” that my friend was so averse to. One has to ask, then, if he and the many who think in similar terms really know what the Bible plainly teaches along these lines and are willing to accept it?
Undaunted by all of the above, my friend came right back:
And yet you quote only one passage which even hints of throwing out people for thought crime: and that, 2 John 1, and then it really doesn’t, only says don’t assist and encourage false preachers in their mission. The irony of almost all your other quotes are that they are Paul railing against preachers who wanted to eject Christians from the Church if they would not conform to strict legalism.
I counter-replied:
I see; so you insist on continuing this fight against Scripture that you can’t win? Give it up!
If you want to deny the notions of excommunication or anathemas, there are plenty of passages about that, too:
1 Corinthians 5:3-5 For though absent in body I am present in spirit, and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
1 Timothy 1:19-20 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith, among them Hymenae’us and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (cf. 2 Timothy 2:14-19, 4:14-15)
1 Corinthians 16:22 If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!
Galatians 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Matthew 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Romans 16:17-18 I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them. [18] For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by fair and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded.
Titus 3:9-11 But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. [10] As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, [11] knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.
He also chose to reprimand someone else who was replying to him:
None of the Epistles were written by Jesus. I said Jesus did not say these things and you “refute” this by referring to other people saying different things, none of which you actually quote or cite but only obliquely refer to, I suspect because they don’t quite say what you want them to.
Jesus is no different. There is no end to your evasions of clear Scripture. I cited Matthew 18 in my last reply to you [see above].
There are other similar passages, such as this:
Matthew 10:14 And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.
Then there are His warnings against false prophets:
Matthew 7:15-20 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. [16] You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? [17] So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. [18] A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. [19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] Thus you will know them by their fruits.
In v. 19 He says they will go to hell, for teaching false doctrines: precisely what you claimed was supposedly not the case.
And so our friend, characteristically of the supposedly singularly tolerant and magnanimous theological liberal, ended the discussion (and all contact) as follows:
I bow to the authority of scripture. Taking the advice to Titus you have quoted I will now avoid further quarrels over the law and having now admonished once or twice a man who is factious, I will have nothing more to do with you, knowing you are condemned by the very words you have quoted at me. It is sad that love of being right, and of proving others wrong is the extent and foundation of your faith, and when you see God be sure to check the soundness if his theology and those he chooses to accept to himself before you condescend to join them.
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Meta Description: Does the Bible teach that there is one body of “orthodox” doctrine and that contrary views are heresy?
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Meta Keywords: orthodoxy, heresy, heretics, denominations, denominationalism, sectarianism, deposit of faith, apostolic faith, apostolic tradition, Catholic faith, the Christian faith, true doctrine, orthodox doctrine, received doctrine, historic Christianity, Catholic doctrine, Catholic theology
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