In simple terms, heresy is a belief or opinion that goes against the established and official doctrines of a particular religion. Anymore these days, it is thrown around with ease because someone likes Culver’s hamburgers over McDonald’s. It involves rejecting core tenets and is often seen as a serious error, though it can also refer to any belief that is contrary to established theory. The term originally meant “choice” or “sect” but came to be used by the church to mean a division or departure from its official beliefs.
It easy to see how this evolved from just an acknowledgement of differences in choice into a departure from the faith when we consider Paul’s orders in Galatians:
Galatians 1:6-10 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
With using words such as “pervert” (G3344: to transmute or corrupt) and “accursed” (G331: anathema, meaning without hope of being redeemed, excommunicated), how could one think it be so light a thing to simply have differing opinions on what the scriptures say? As if it weren’t already serious enough for him to say once in verse 8 to let them be accursed, but he doubles down in verse 9, emphasizing the seriousness with repetition.
Certain theologians and scholars have gone on the record saying that the only heresy that truly exists is that of preterism, whether it be partial preterism or full (also known as hyper) preterism. Without getting to deep off topic, preterism is simple an eschatological view of when prophecies were supposedly fulfilled. However, given the scope of definition of the word heresy, I would peradventure say that the only true doctrine that could be construed as heretical would be a departing from the truth of the salvific doctrines. As Paul so pointedly stated, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach ANY OTHER GOSPEL unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
So, what is a salvific doctrine? Salvific is defined as leading to salvation: “the salvific power of the Lord”. This is the very message of the gospel of which Paul speaks of in the above passage from Galatians. Paul delivers this gospel message perhaps most prominently in the first letter to the Corinthians and to the Romans when he says the following:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And in Romans, by which some call it the “Golden Road to Rome”:
Romans 3:10-12 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:8 But God commandeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 10:9-10, 13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
If you have read these passages and your eyes have been newly enlightened to their meaning, please reach out and let us know! We would love to discuss further what this means for you and where to go from here.