Who Is He?

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.  They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; …

The Middle of the Bridge (1)

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!  As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!  Galatians 1:8-9  NASB…

Heretical Orthodoxy

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.2 Peter 2:1  NASB Destructive heresies – The second chapter of Peter’s second letter reads like a prosecutor’s opening argument.  These people, says Peter, do nothing right.  They…

Welcome Heretics (A Rewind)

For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. 1 Corinthians 11:19  NASB Factions – I’ve met some interesting people in my travels.  Some of the most interesting are those who are really angry fundamentalists in Messianic clothing.  They have usually come out of doctrinally…

Sheep’s Clothing

For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. 1 Corinthians 11:19  NASB Factions – I’ve met some interesting people in my travels.  Some of the most interesting are those who are really angry fundamentalists in Messianic clothing.  They have usually come out of doctrinally…

Historical Assumptions

“But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.” Acts 28:22 Sect – Paul arrives in Rome.  He is under house arrest.  He calls the Jewish elders to meet with him.  They come, anticipating dialogue.  They want to…

Flank Attack

By this you know the Spirit of God:  every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 1 John 4:2 NASB In the flesh – Understanding the Bible requires placing the writings within their historical and cultural context.  We have learned that it isn’t appropriate to pull a verse…

Rethinking Heresy

For there must be factions among you in order that those who are approved may become evident among you. 1 Corinthians 11:19 Factions – You better sit down for this one.  Something happened in the early centuries of the history of the church that altered the way we read what Paul says here.  The vocabulary…