Continuing on in looking at 1 Timothy we come to a section on those who teach heterodoxy or false doctrine. Paul writes the following, 1 Timothy 6:3–8 (NIV): 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

People seem to get very excited when some new theory is proposed about Scripture. Yet the church has been doing theology for about two thousand years. The problem with new ideas is that it can lead to friction and quarrels. An important word to remember is heterodoxy. Wikipedia defines it as “any opinions or doctrines at variance with an official or orthodox position”. So it is not heresy but it is comments and questions that lead people away into speculation and other forms of thinking. Typically this results in trying to match the Bible to the current cultural trends rather than us trying to move our lives to the Bible. 

Think about it. Orthodoxy, which is the practice of ancient doctrines, is boring because we have been doing it for a long time. Heterodoxy is exciting because it is new and speculative. We live at a time where trends change every 24-hours by the news cycle. We get used to all the new trends. Yet God comes to us in our condition and offers us love and grace.

The best way to fill our hearts and minds with what is good is to stay with the classics. I was reminded of this in our own church constitution of the confession of faith and how we state the importance of the Augsburg Confession and Luther’s Small Catechism. Both of these were written around 1530 A.D. A long time ago and yet they assist us better in the understanding of the doctrines of the Bible better than the latest copy of Newsweek and Time. 

I would encourage you to heed the Apostle Paul’s admonition to not fall into speculation and begin reading those pieces of the faith that are ancient in their time and yet keep us anchored in the sola scriptura; the ancient Scriptures of faith.

Pastor Aaron