LESSON 34
SOUND DOCTRINE
1. What is the meaning of the word “Doctrine”
Answer: “Doctrine” comes from the Greek word “Didache” meaning that which is taught or simply a “teaching”.
2. Does it make any difference what we believe?
Proverbs 23:7; Acts 18:24-26; Romans 10:17
3. Were the believers in the EarlyChurch particular about what they believed?
Acts 17:11
4. What was Paul’s admonition regarding what we believe?
1 Thessalonians 5:21
5. What did Peter say about what we believe?
1 Peter 3:15
6. What did Jesus say about the same thing?
John 5:39
Did Paul consider it important to teach doctrine?
Acts 20:28
8. Is it important that the doctrines we believe are scripturally sound?
Titus 1:9; Romans 6:17; 1 Timothy 1:10; 6:3
9. Does the Bible say anything about false prophets and false doctrine?
Matthew 24:11; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 John verse 7; Acts 20:29, 30; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1, 2; 2 Timothy 4:2-4
- Does History prove that there was a “falling away” from the pure teaching of the Bible?
Note: From “The Growth of the Christian Church” by R H Nichols page 87 we quote: “Thus within the Church there was a great mass of paganism, or pagan ideas about religion and morals, and pagan ways of action, carried over by these people who were Christians only in name and form”. Saint worship is the chief example of this tendency. The saints became to be regarded as something like lesser deities whose interecession availed God. PLACES connected with their lives were considered especially sacred. Pilgrimages to such places naturally followed. To venerate RELICS or material objects connected with the saints, parts of their bodies or properties, and to believe that in them was the power to perform miracles came easily to those in whom superstition still remained” Ibid. Page 61.
“The distinction between clergy and laymen, unknown in the first century, was gradually marked. The office of the bishop was magnified and authoritative power was centralized at the imperial capital, Rome. Ibid. Page 41.
“More liturgies and forms of prayers were produced. Church buildings became larger and more decorative….. Church walls were covered with paintings, and mosaics and embroideries. Dignity and impressiveness was sought in the services as well as stately ritual and solemn music”. Ibid pages 59, 60. “In worship the central feature was the MASS, as the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was now usually called. Christianity became a religion of FEAR, the world was thought to be full of devils who sought to injure men’s bodies and souls. Thus CHARMS became to be worn and an awful sanctity was attributed to church buildings, the Mass, Relics, and the persons of the clergy. Stories were told and believed how disrespect to clergy was followed by calamity and death. Christianity took such a form that was far removed from the simplicity and spirituality and joyful trust of the religion of Jesus” Ibid p. 93.
11. Are we at liberty to believe only certain portions of the Bible, and can we add doctrines that are not in the Bible?
Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18, 19
12. How is the true church described?
Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 19:7-9
