Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8700 Threats to the life of faith » 8749 false teachers
Those who teach error and in so doing lead others astray. They are to be distinguished from false prophets who are equally condemned in Scripture.
The OT prophets warned God's people against being led astray by false teachers
Isaiah 9:16; Ezekiel 34:2 See also Isaiah 3:12; Isaiah 8:20; Jeremiah 2:8; Jeremiah 10:21; Jeremiah 23:1; Ezekiel 22:26; Malachi 2:7-8
Jesus Christ condemned false teachers
He opposed legalism and hypocrisy
Matthew 5:19
He identified the teachers of the law and Pharisees as false teachers
Matthew 23:1-33 pp Luke 11:42-52 See also Matthew 15:14
He warned his followers against them
Matthew 16:6,12 pp Mark 8:15 pp Luke 12:1
The condemnation of false teachers in the early church
Paul urges his readers to avoid false teachers
1 Timothy 6:3-6 See also Acts 20:29-31; Romans 16:17-18; 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 The Corinthian church had been undiscerningly tolerant of Jewish deceivers in their midst; Ephesians 4:14
The Colossian heresy taught that the combination of faith in Jesus Christ with man-made regulations was necessary for salvation:
Colossians 2:4,8
Paul warns against the heretical teachers in the Ephesian church:
1 Timothy 1:3-4,7 1 Timothy 4:1-3; Timothy 6:20-21; Titus 1:10-11; Hebrews 13:9; 2Jn 9-10
The Nicolaitans:
Revelation 2:6,15 Revelation 2:14 the followers of Balaam; Revelation 2:20
Hymenaeus and Philetus are cited as examples of false teachers
2 Timothy 2:17-18
Those who teach will be judged particularly strictly
James 3:1 See also 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Galatians 1:6-9; Galatians 5:10
See also
5509 rulers 5804 charm 5863 flattery 7464 teachers of the law 7550 Pharisees 7766 priests 7784 shepherd 7797 teaching 8704 apostasy 8750 false teachings 8751 false witness 8766 heresies
