Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  8000 The life of the believer  »  8200 The character of the believer  »  8234 doctrine  »  8237 doctrine, false

Teaching that distorts or contradicts the revealed truth of God, causing division and distress in the church by leading people away from the truth.

False doctrine deviates from the truth

It contradicts the gospel of Jesus Christ

Jude 3-4 See also 1 Corinthians 3:10-13; 2 Corinthians 11:3-4; Galatians 1:6-7; 1 Timothy 6:3-4; 2Jn 7

It may be of human origin

Colossians 2:8 See also Colossians 2:20-23; Matthew 15:8-9 pp Mark 7:6-7; Isaiah 29:13

It may be of demonic origin

1 Timothy 4:1-5 See also 1 John 4:2-3

The dangers of false doctrine

It leads to instability and confusion

Ephesians 4:14 See also Acts 15:24; Galatians 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:18-20; 2 Timothy 2:16-18; Titus 1:10-11; Hebrews 13:9; 2 Peter 3:17

It causes division

Romans 16:17-18 See also 1 Timothy 1:3-4

It leads to severe punishment

Galatians 1:8-9 See also 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Peter 2:1,17; Revelation 2:14-16

False doctrine is to be dealt with by the church

Titus 1:10-11 See also 1 Timothy 1:3; Titus 1:13-14

False doctrine will be common in later times

1 Timothy 4:1 See also Mark 13:5-6 pp Luke 21:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Timothy 4:3-4

See also

1460  truth
2420  gospel
5441  philosophy
5794  asceticism
7774  prophets, false
8226  discernment
8703  antinomianism
8710  atheism
8749  false teachers
8750  false teachings
8766  heresies
8774  legalism
8775  libertinism