Defining False Teachers and Teaching
It would be nice if we could turn to an exact chapter and verse reference that provides a nice, concise definition. There are several passages throughout Scripture that warn of both these teachers and their teaching. Many help us identify the traits that help us identify them. We will look at many of these later. But, there is no concise definition that says something like, “A false prophet is…” or “false teaching is….” But, we can still develop a basic definition with Scripture being the first and final authority (1 Thess 5:20-22; 1 Jn 4:1-5)
Let’s start by defining false teaching since it is easier and requires less explanation. A false teaching/doctrine is anything that contradicts, adds to, or takes away from the truths revealed in God’s Word. One example of a false teaching/doctrine (these are synonyms) is that virtually every world religion references Jesus as a good person, a good teacher, or a prophet. However, only the Bible demonstrates the whole truth that He is both truly God and truly man. The partial truths about Jesus are still false because they take away from the truth about Him.
When we come to define a false teacher, it gets a bit more. A prophet is someone who speaks on behalf of God. The distinguishing mark between true and false prophets is whether their prophecy happens and whether they lead people closer to God or other gods (Deut 13:1-5). A teacher doesn’t claim to speak on behalf of God per se, but they teach what is true or false in accordance with God’s Word so that by their teaching people are led closer to or farther from the Lord (2 Pet 2:1-3).
Here is where we need to be careful. Not every teacher who has ever said something false is a false teacher. Apollos was a teacher who loved the Lord and knew the Gospel, but his teaching wasn’t accurate because he only knew of John the Baptist’s baptism. Priscilla and Aquilla taught him to teach more accurately, so he did (Acts 18:24-28). Though he was teaching something false, Apollos wasn’t considered a false teacher because when he learned the truth, He began to teach it. James warns against many people teaching because of the responsibility that comes with it, and because none of us are perfect we will all stumble in what we say (James 3:1-2).
Consider the doctrine of baptism. We are a baptistic church. That means we baptize by full immersion upon a credible profession of faith because we hold to a regenerate covenant community (church). But Presbyterians, on the other hand, baptize infants and hold to a “mixed” (un/regenerate) covenant community. Based on our understanding of Scripture, we would say what they teach is false. They would say what we teach is false because of the Scripture. Both positions can’t be true. But we don’t call one another false teachers (not anymore). Not every error is deemed heresy, therefore not every false teaching makes for a false teacher.
Another consideration is that in the 11 uses of the word false prophet, the 2 uses of the word false teacher, 5 descriptors of wolves, and virtually every other reference to false teachers in the New Testament, it seems clear they are not Christians. So, to call someone a false teacher is to say they are a hell-bound sinner. In the words of John from Revelation, “This calls for wisdom.” Especially as it pertains to what the Bible has to say about false teachers and their teaching
So, with these things in mind and the biblical perspectives noted above, what is a false prophet/teacher?
A false prophet/teacher is someone who has been taught the truth and continues to live in unrepentance and teach false doctrines that lead people to reject the essentials of the Gospel, disobey God’s Word, and create unnecessary division in the body of Christ.
There is much more to say as we continue to look to the Scripture to guide us. But as we talk about and potentially call out false teachers, this gives us a place to begin together.
Let’s start by defining false teaching since it is easier and requires less explanation. A false teaching/doctrine is anything that contradicts, adds to, or takes away from the truths revealed in God’s Word. One example of a false teaching/doctrine (these are synonyms) is that virtually every world religion references Jesus as a good person, a good teacher, or a prophet. However, only the Bible demonstrates the whole truth that He is both truly God and truly man. The partial truths about Jesus are still false because they take away from the truth about Him.
When we come to define a false teacher, it gets a bit more. A prophet is someone who speaks on behalf of God. The distinguishing mark between true and false prophets is whether their prophecy happens and whether they lead people closer to God or other gods (Deut 13:1-5). A teacher doesn’t claim to speak on behalf of God per se, but they teach what is true or false in accordance with God’s Word so that by their teaching people are led closer to or farther from the Lord (2 Pet 2:1-3).
Here is where we need to be careful. Not every teacher who has ever said something false is a false teacher. Apollos was a teacher who loved the Lord and knew the Gospel, but his teaching wasn’t accurate because he only knew of John the Baptist’s baptism. Priscilla and Aquilla taught him to teach more accurately, so he did (Acts 18:24-28). Though he was teaching something false, Apollos wasn’t considered a false teacher because when he learned the truth, He began to teach it. James warns against many people teaching because of the responsibility that comes with it, and because none of us are perfect we will all stumble in what we say (James 3:1-2).
Consider the doctrine of baptism. We are a baptistic church. That means we baptize by full immersion upon a credible profession of faith because we hold to a regenerate covenant community (church). But Presbyterians, on the other hand, baptize infants and hold to a “mixed” (un/regenerate) covenant community. Based on our understanding of Scripture, we would say what they teach is false. They would say what we teach is false because of the Scripture. Both positions can’t be true. But we don’t call one another false teachers (not anymore). Not every error is deemed heresy, therefore not every false teaching makes for a false teacher.
Another consideration is that in the 11 uses of the word false prophet, the 2 uses of the word false teacher, 5 descriptors of wolves, and virtually every other reference to false teachers in the New Testament, it seems clear they are not Christians. So, to call someone a false teacher is to say they are a hell-bound sinner. In the words of John from Revelation, “This calls for wisdom.” Especially as it pertains to what the Bible has to say about false teachers and their teaching
So, with these things in mind and the biblical perspectives noted above, what is a false prophet/teacher?
A false prophet/teacher is someone who has been taught the truth and continues to live in unrepentance and teach false doctrines that lead people to reject the essentials of the Gospel, disobey God’s Word, and create unnecessary division in the body of Christ.
There is much more to say as we continue to look to the Scripture to guide us. But as we talk about and potentially call out false teachers, this gives us a place to begin together.