The parent of all heresy

[pilgrim49]

Why are there upwards of 300 different Christian denominations in America coming from the same textbook; the bible? With permission form the administration I in coming days would like to point out in proper order some basic theological reasons for all the confusion and suggest some correctional answers. I will begin with what I see as the basic problem from which all heresy in the ancient church began and is still very much with us today.

In ordinary Christian conversation about understanding different passages of Scripture one often hears the term “spiritual interpretation,” without realizing that it is not happenstance or a natural progression of thought, but is a derivative of more nefarious things that most are not acquainted with.

To get to the roots of the problem, as with so many things it helps to understand its origin. The terms “allegorical,” “parabolical,” or the more common expression in layman terms, “spiritual,” have their roots in ancient history and are by their very geneses a stumbling block to, and in direct opposition to understanding Divine revelation. The Oxford Classical Dictionary states:

Allegorical reading of works of literature-above all the mythological poems of Homer and Hesiod, decoded as accounts of the physical world or the truths of morality-seems to begin as early as the 6th cent, BC and to be an established (if controversial) practice by the end of the 5th.

According to the Oxford Classical Dictionary, the intent of those who originally advocated the allegorical method was to discover what was seen as hidden mysteries in the writing of the poets. However, it was believed:

...in the second cent. AD and subsequently, that the philosophical tradition produced strongly ‘positive’ allegorical readings, presenting the poets themselves (Homer above all) as the first and greatest philosophers. …Homer by this stage was being built up, as a figure of authority to resist the rival claims of Moses and Christ on behalf of pagan Greek culture.

To state it simply, it was said that those who had the enlightened teaching of Homer were saying that Homer knew more about morality and man’s place in the cosmos than Moses and Christ. Nevertheless, that was the identical pagan method first introduced into Judaism and then into the primitive church by those who claimed the “gnosis,” and authority to use the same as a vehicle not to understand the poets, but to discover the supposed hidden mysteries in the Sacred Scriptures.

Webster’s dictionary explains the definition of the modern word “allegorical” when used in connection with the Scriptures:

...having hidden spiritual meaning that transcends the literal sense of a sacred text.

It is almost inconceivable that rational people would or could approach the Scriptures with such foolishness in mind, yet that is precisely what those who use that method do. It should be axiomatic, if a normal literal statement doesn’t mean what is said, then it has no meaning. If God indeed meant other than what is written, the entirely reasonable question could be asked concerning the misuse of Scripture, “How could God find fault with anyone, if He himself doesn’t mean what He says?

From the heathen mystery religions came the belief that not only did almost every passage have a secret, mysterious and higher meaning, but that God had at times actually falsified even historical events and dates as Philo, an Alexandrian Jew (20 BC AD 50) a contemporary of Christ claimed. This was commonly taught by Philo, Barnabas, and later by Clement of Alexandria, who passed it on to his star pupil, Origen (185 254), who in AD 203 at the age of eighteen became head of the catechetical school of theology at Alexandria Egypt, which was at that time the world’s foremost Christian school.

From there, that belief was established by the church leadership as the correct and legitimate method of teaching that would determine the course of church history and to some extent world history for the next thirteen centuries; until the Reformation. And even until the present, the same disastrous method is used more or less by most of Christendom. The disastrous result of the method is witnessed to by the heresy, confusion, and disastrous results everywhere it is used.

That method is in fact what almost everyone believed in the primitive church and is the parent of the present theological confusion in the body of Christ. Examples of the claim that God at times falsified Scripture were common in the early church writings. It is often and especially seen in the writings of Origen (AD 185 254), one of the most prolific writers of the post apostolic times. Speaking of the writers of the Scriptures he said:

They proposed to speak the truth where it was their intention to prefer the spiritual to the material. The spiritual truth was often preserved, as one might say, in the material falsehood. (Origen, Commentary on John, Anti Nicene Fathers, Hendrickson Pub., 1994. Vol. 9, p. 383.)

Following are listed in loose order the basic theological mistakes and heresies created from the allegorical method of teaching from which came the total fracturing of Christianity.

The Christian Church has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people.

That God has forever abandoned ethnic Israel as his chosen people.

The Church is the restoration of the Davidic Kingdom promised to Israel.

The incorrect division of the Old and New Covenants.

The New Covenant (Testament) began with the Lord’s birth and earthly ministry.

The Lord revealed the present Church during His earthly ministry.

The Gospel of the Kingdom is the same as the Paul’s Gospel of Grace.

The 11 apostles of the Lord with Peter established the present church.

The Church began with the preaching of Peter on the Day of Pentecost.

The Church is the last dispensation ending with the final judgment and end of the world.

The above is a listing as I see it of the root problems that causes so many schisms in the Body of Christ. I understand that they will have to be addressed separately and under different names but listed are the basic problems.

I also realize the above conclusions will be met by most as the ramblings of an unsettled mind. If so, then challenge me. Show me where I am wrong and we will have from the Scriptures a serious in depth discussion of any or all the above and related things.

In His Grace

pilgrim49

Edited February 28, 2012 by pilgrim49

[OneLight]

Just to inform you, I cleaned out your "Quote function error" posts, which brought you post count back down to 4.

[Guest yod]

It started even earlier, bro!

Marcion was the first heretic because he proposed that the God of the Old Testament was different than Yeshua.

This is still taught today, even in the best American churches, when they say that the God of the Old Testament was Law & Judgment but the God of the New Testament (Jesus) is Grace and Love.

There isn't a whit of difference between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are One, or one doesn't know any of them.

[Zemke]

No argument from me.

So we just get back to the apostles teaching, right.

Learning how they understood the law and prophets so we too know how to read the Word.

[pilgrim49]

It started even earlier, bro!

Marcion was the first heretic because he proposed that the God of the Old Testament was different than Yeshua.

This is still taught today, even in the best American churches, when they say that the God of the Old Testament was Law & Judgment but the God of the New Testament (Jesus) is Grace and Love.

There isn't a whit of difference between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are One, or one doesn't know any of them.

Yes it began much earlier; about 600 BC with the Greek poets who passed it on to the Jews who passed it on to the Church and too many of the theologians are passing it on to us.

Grace to you Brother

pilgrim1

[OneLight]

No argument from me.

So we just get back to the apostles teaching, right.

Learning how they understood the law and prophets so we too know how to read the Word.

That is the work of the Holy Spirit, is it not?

[pilgrim49]

Just to inform you, I cleaned out your "Quote function error" posts, which brought you post count back down to 4.

Thanks Brother for taking care of me; I need a lot of that TLC.

[pilgrim49]

No argument from me.

So we just get back to the apostles teaching, right.

Learning how they understood the law and prophets so we too know how to read the Word.

That is the work of the Holy Spirit, is it not?

Thanks OneLight for the note.

As to getting back to the apostles teaching, that depends. The twelve were yet offering the restoration of Israel's Davidic Kingdom. With the exception of Peter's opening the doors to the kingdom of heaven to the household of Corneilus, (Matt. 16:19) the twelve's ministry was to the Jews only (Gal. 2:2-9).

As their ministry being to the Jews only, they wrote no epistles to the Gentiles. That was Paul's ministry as shown in Galatians above. Paul said 3 times that his gospel was a mystery in past ages before being revealed to and preached by him to the Gentiles.

The apostle distinctly states that the gospel he preached was given to him by special revelation and unknown before by anyone (Eph. 3:2 3), including the other apostles, who were yet preaching the gospel (offering) of the kingdom started by John the Baptist, the Lord, than the twelve. In v. 4, he identifies that gospel as “my knowledge.” For that reason he named it three times as “my gospel” (Rom. 2:16; 2 Tim. 2:8), and in Rom. 16:25 he identifies “his gospel,” as “a mystery kept secret since the world began.” Paul was sent by revelation (Gal. 2:2) to Jerusalem to explain his gospel to the apostles before him. This whole dispensation of grace commonly known as the church was a mystery, completely hidden in past ages and generations (Rom. 16:25 26; Eph. 3:5,9; Col. 1:26).

I am not saying the twelve taught nothing usable by the present church, only when reading their epistles we must apply what belongs to us and what belongs to Israel and the earthly kingdom they were offering.

In His grace

pilgrim1

Edited February 28, 2012 by pilgrim49

[mizzdy]

It started even earlier, bro!

Marcion was the first heretic because he proposed that the God of the Old Testament was different than Yeshua.

This is still taught today, even in the best American churches, when they say that the God of the Old Testament was Law & Judgment but the God of the New Testament (Jesus) is Grace and Love.

There isn't a whit of difference between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are One, or one doesn't know any of them.

So true Yod. I just posted an article on modern day Marcionism.

shalom,

Mizz

[Zemke]

No argument from me.

So we just get back to the apostles teaching, right.

Learning how they understood the law and prophets so we too know how to read the Word.

That is the work of the Holy Spirit, is it not?

Of coarse it is, but we are talking about the eye pieces people use to understand the word, gnostic interpretations. Using the apostles doctrine is my comment. Not a man made theology.