Bible Dictionary: Heresy

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ATS Bible Dictionary

Heresy

Choice, chosen way of life or faith, sect, school, party. The Greek word properly designates any sect or party, without implying praise or censure. So in Acts 5:17 15:5 26:4,5. In the epistles it denotes a sect or party in a bad sense, implying a refractory spirit, as well as error in faith and practice, 1 1 Corinthians 11:19 Galatians 5:20 2 Peter 2:1. After the primitive age, the word came to signify simply error in doctrine.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

From a Greek word signifying (1) a choice, (2) the opinion chosen, and (3) the sect holding the opinion. In the Acts of the Apostles (5:17; 15:5; 24:5, 14; 26:5) it denotes a sect, without reference to its character. Elsewhere, however, in the New Testament it has a different meaning attached to it. Paul ranks "heresies" with crimes and seditions (Galatians 5:20). This word also denotes divisions or schisms in the church (1 Corinthians 11:19). In Titus 3:10 a "heretical person" is one who follows his own self-willed "questions," and who is to be avoided. Heresies thus came to signify self-chosen doctrines not emanating from God (2 Peter 2:1).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) An opinion held in opposition to the established doctrine, and tending to promote a division or party, as in politics, literature, philosophy, etc.; -- usually, but not necessarily, said in reproach.

2. (n.) Religious opinion opposed to the authorized doctrinal standards of any particular church, especially when tending to promote schism or separation; lack of orthodox or sound belief; rejection of, or erroneous belief in regard to, some fundamental religious doctrine or truth; heterodoxy.

3. (n.) An offense against Christianity, consisting in a denial of some essential doctrine, which denial is publicly avowed, and obstinately maintained.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

HERESY

her'-e-si, her'-e-si (hairesis, from verb haireo, "to choose"): The word has acquired an ecclesiastical meaning that has passed into common usage, containing elements not found in the term in the New Testament, except as implied in one passage. In classical Greek, it may be used either in a good or a bad sense, first, simply for "choice," then, "a chosen course of procedure," and afterward of various schools and tendencies. Polybius refers to those devoting themselves to the study of Greek literature as given to the Hellenike hairesis. It was used not simply for a teaching or a course followed, but also for those devoting themselves to such pursuit, namely, a sect, or assembly of those advocating a particular doctrine or mode of life. Thus, in Acts, the word is used in the Greek, where the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) have "sect," "sect of the Sadducees" (Acts 5:17), "sect of the Nazarenes" (Acts 24:5). In Acts 26:5 the Pharisees are called "the straitest hairesis (sect)." The name was applied contemptuously to Christianity (Acts 24:14; Acts 28:22). Its application, with censure, is found in 1 Corinthians 11:19 m; Galatians 5:20 margin, where it is shown to interfere with that unity of faith and community of interests that belong to Christians. There being but one standard of truth, and one goal for all Christian life, any arbitrary choice varying from what was common to all believers, becomes an inconsistency and a sin to be warned against. Ellicott, on Galatians 5:20, correctly defines "heresies" (King James Version, the English Revised Version) as "a more aggravated form of dichostasia" (the American Standard Revised Version "parties") "when the divisions have developed into distinct and organized parties"; so also 1 Corinthians 11:19, translated by the Revised Version (British and American) "factions." In 2 Peter 2:1, the transition toward the subsequent ecclesiastical sense can be traced. The "destructive heresies" (Revised Version margin, the English Revised Version margin "sects of perdition") are those guilty of errors both of doctrine and of life very fully described throughout the entire chapter, and who, in such course, separated themselves from the fellowship of the church.

In the fixed ecclesiastical sense that it ultimately attained, it indicated not merely any doctrinal error, but "the open espousal of fundamental error" (Ellicott on Titus 3:10), or, more fully, the persistent, obstinate maintenance of an error with respect to the central doctrines of Christianity in the face of all better instruction, combined with aggressive attack upon the common faith of the church, and its defenders. Roman Catholics, regarding all professed Christians who are not in their communion as heretics, modify their doctrine on this point by distinguishing between Formal and terial Heresy, the former being unconscious and unintentional, and between different degrees of each of these classes (Cath. Encyclopedia, VII, 256). For the development of the ecclesiastical meaning, see Suicer's Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus, I, 119-23.

H. E. Jacobs

Greek

139. hairesis -- choice, opinion
... heresy, sect. From haireomai; properly, a choice, ie (specially) a party or (abstractly)
disunion -- heresy (which is the Greek word itself), sect. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/139.htm - 7k

Topical Bible Verses

2 Peter 2:1-22
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
Topicalbible.org

Jude 1:3-16
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write to you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write to you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.
Topicalbible.org

1 John 4:1-3
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Topicalbible.org

1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Topicalbible.org

2 John 1:10
If there come any to you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
Topicalbible.org

Galatians 2:4
And that because of false brothers unawares brought in, who came in privately to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
Topicalbible.org

2 Corinthians 11:4
For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him.
Topicalbible.org

Galatians 1:7
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Topicalbible.org

Library

Epistles on the Arian Heresy And the Deposition of Arius
Epistles on the Arian Heresy And the Deposition of Arius. <. Epistles on the
Arian Heresy And the Deposition of Arius Alexander of Alexandria. ...
/.../alexander/epistles on the arian heresy and the deposition of arius/

Whether Heresy is a Species of Unbelief?
... OF HERESY (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether heresy is a species of unbelief? Objection
1: It would seem that heresy is not a species of unbelief. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether heresy is a species.htm

Of the Heresy of the Messaliani.
... Book IV. Chapter X."Of the heresy of the Messaliani. At this time also
arose the heresy of the Messaliani. Those who translate ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter x of the heresy of.htm

Of Heresy (Four Articles)
... OF HERESY (FOUR ARTICLES). We must now consider heresy: under which head there are
four points of inquiry: (1) Whether heresy is a kind of unbelief? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of heresy four articles .htm

The Heresy of Macedonius.
... Book II. Chapter V."The Heresy of Macedonius. The Arians, having effected
the death of Paulus, or rather having despatched him ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter v the heresy of macedonius.htm

The Heresy of Tatian.
... Book IV. Chapter XXIX."The Heresy of Tatian. 1. He is the one whose words
we quoted a little above [1324] in regard to that admirable ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xxix the heresy of tatian.htm

Whether Heresy is Properly About Matters of Faith?
... OF HERESY (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether heresy is properly about matters of faith? Objection
1: It would seem that heresy is not properly about matters of faith. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether heresy is properly about.htm

The Heresy Compared to the Hydra of the Poets. The Tales of Poets ...
... Book I. Chapter I. The heresy compared to the hydra of the poets. The ... Chapter
I. The heresy compared to the hydra of the poets. The ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter i the heresy compared.htm

Origin of the Arian Heresy.
... The ECCLESIASTICAL HistorY of Theodoret. Book I. Chapter I."Origin of
the Arian Heresy. After the overthrow of the wicked and ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter i origin of the arian.htm

Of the Heresy of the Audiani.
... Book IV. Chapter IX."Of the heresy of the Audiani. The illustrious emperor
thus took heed of the apostolic decrees, but Audæus ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter ix of the heresy of.htm

Thesaurus

Heresy (2 Occurrences)
... maintained. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HERESY. her'-e ... 23. HE Jacobs.
Multi-Version Concordance Heresy (2 Occurrences). Acts 24 ...
/h/heresy.htm - 12k

Sect (10 Occurrences)
... hairesis, usually rendered "heresy", Acts 24:14; 1 Chronicles 11:19; Galatians
5:20, etc.), meaning properly "a choice," then "a chosen manner of life," and ...
/s/sect.htm - 13k

Colossians (1 Occurrence)
... This "heresy," as it is commonly called, has had many explanations. ... Two objections
are raised against this explanation of the origin of the Colossian heresy. ...
/c/colossians.htm - 23k

Vulgate
... ORIGIN 1. Corruption and Confusion of Old Versions 2. Heresy 3. Inevitable
Separation of East and West 4. Request of Pope Damasus III. ...
/v/vulgate.htm - 38k

Heretical (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Containing heresy; departing from accepted beliefs
or principles. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HERETIC; HERETICAL. ...
/h/heretical.htm - 7k

Gnosticism
... INFLUENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF GNOSTICISM 1. Not a Heresy of the Humbler Classes 2.
Cerinthus: His Teaching 3. The Gospel of John 4. Various Sects (1) The ...
/g/gnosticism.htm - 38k

Ebionites
... With him it is at once heresy No. X and heresy No. XXX. Before discussing the Ebionites
he takes up the closely related sect of the Nazareans as heresy No. ...
/e/ebionites.htm - 34k

Ebionism
... With him it is at once heresy No. X and heresy No. XXX. Before discussing the Ebionites
he takes up the closely related sect of the Nazareans as heresy No. ...
/e/ebionism.htm - 34k

Canon
... epistles. These were (a) the attention of the civil government in view of
the rapid growth of the Christian church and (b) heresy. The ...
/c/canon.htm - 68k

Alexander (5 Occurrences)
... they willfully abandoned the great central facts regarding Christ, and so they
"made shipwreck concerning the faith." 5. His Heresy Incipient Gnosticism: In 2 ...
/a/alexander.htm - 32k

Bible Concordance

Heresy (2 Occurrences)

Acts 24:5 For we have found this man Paul a source of mischief and a disturber of the peace among all the Jews throughout the Empire, and a ringleader in the heresy of the Nazarenes.
(WEY)

Acts 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
(KJV WEY WBS)

Subtopics

Heresy

Heresy: Disavowed by Paul

Heresy: Paul Accused of

Heresy: Paul and Silas Accused of

Heresy: Teachers of, Among Early Christians

Heresy: The Propagation of, Forbidden Under Severe Penalties

Related Terms

Sect (10 Occurrences)

Colossians (1 Occurrence)

Vulgate

Heretical (1 Occurrence)