The term "so-called" is often used to describe something that is purported or alleged to be a certain way but may not necessarily be so. In the context of the Bible, this term can be applied to various concepts, beliefs, or practices that are claimed to be biblical or Christian but may not align with the teachings of Scripture.

Biblical Usage and Context

While the specific phrase "so-called" does not appear frequently in the Bible, the concept is present in various passages where the authenticity or validity of certain claims or practices is questioned. The Apostle Paul, in particular, addresses issues of false teachings and deceptive philosophies that were prevalent in the early church.

In 1 Timothy 6:20-21 , Paul warns Timothy: "O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called knowledge, which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith." Here, "so-called knowledge" refers to teachings or philosophies that claim to be true but are contrary to the gospel. Paul emphasizes the importance of adhering to sound doctrine and avoiding teachings that lead believers astray.

Similarly, in Colossians 2:8 , Paul cautions the Colossian church: "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." This passage highlights the danger of being misled by teachings that are labeled as wisdom or knowledge but are rooted in human tradition rather than divine truth.

Theological Implications

The use of "so-called" in these contexts underscores the need for discernment among believers. It serves as a reminder that not everything labeled as Christian or biblical is necessarily aligned with the teachings of Scripture. The Bible calls for a careful examination of beliefs and practices to ensure they are grounded in the truth of God's Word.

The early church faced numerous challenges from false teachers who introduced heretical ideas and practices. These "so-called" teachings often blended elements of Christianity with pagan philosophies or Jewish legalism, leading to confusion and division within the church. The New Testament writers, particularly Paul, addressed these issues by reaffirming the core tenets of the faith and urging believers to remain steadfast in the truth.

Practical Application

For contemporary Christians, the concept of "so-called" remains relevant as the church continues to encounter various teachings and ideologies that claim to be biblical. Believers are encouraged to test all things against Scripture, as advised in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 : "but test all things. Hold fast to what is good." This involves a commitment to studying the Bible, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and engaging with the teachings of the church throughout history.

In a world where information is abundant and often conflicting, the call to discernment is crucial. Christians are to be vigilant, ensuring that their faith and practice are rooted in the truth of God's Word rather than the shifting sands of cultural trends or human wisdom.(a.) So named; called by such a name (but perhaps called thus with doubtful propriety).4634. skenopegia -- the setting up of tents
... tabernacles. From skenos and pegnumi; the Festival of Tabernacles (so called from
the custom of erecting booths for temporary homes) -- tabernacles. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4634.htm - 6k

2564. kaleo -- to call
... called (99), calling (2), calls (7), give (1), invite (2), invited (15), invited
guests (1), invites (1), name given (1), named (2), so-called (1), summoned (2 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2564.htm - 10k

4555. sardinos -- sardine.
... sardine. From the same as sardios; sardine (lithos being implied), ie A gem, so
called -- sardine. see GREEK sardios. see GREEK lithos. 4554, 4555. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4555.htm - 6k

4556. sardion -- sard, a sardian (stone)
... sardius. Properly, an adjective from an uncertain base; sardian (lithos being implied),
ie (as noun) the gem so called -- sardius. (sardion) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4556.htm - 6k

221. Alexandreus -- an Alexandrian
... of Alexandria, Alexandrian. From Alexandreia (the city so called); an Alexandreian
or inhabitant of Alexandria -- of Alexandria, Alexandrian. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/221.htm - 6k

5581. pseudonumos -- under a false name, falsely called
... falsely called. From pseudes and onoma; untruly named -- falsely so called. see
GREEK pseudes. see GREEK onoma. (pseudonumou) -- 1 Occurrence. 5580, 5581. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5581.htm - 6k

3004. lego -- to say
... 1), named (3), ordered (2), quote (1), referred (1), remarking (1), said (1086),
say (364), saying (440), says (102), shouting (1), so-called (3), speak (22 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3004.htm - 11k

4665. smaragdos -- an emerald
... emerald. Of uncertain derivation; the emerald or green gem so called -- emerald.
(smaragdos) -- 1 Occurrence. 4664, 4665. smaragdos. 4666 . Strong's Numbers
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4665.htm - 6k

4557. sardonux -- sardonyx
... sardonyx. From the base of sardios and onux (the nail of a finger; hence the "onyx"
stone); a "sardonyx", ie The gem so called -- sardonyx. see GREEK sardios. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4557.htm - 6k

3687. onomazo -- to name, to give a name
... Word Origin from onoma Definition to name, to give a name NASB Word Usage derives
its name (1), name (1), named (5), names (1), so-called (1). call, name. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3687.htm - 7k

5626. Sirah -- the name of a cistern
... Sirah. From cuwr; departure; Sirah, a cistern so-called -- Sirah. See also ciyr.
see HEBREW cuwr. see HEBREW ciyr. 5625, 5626. Sirah. 5627 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/5626.htm - 6k

4478. man -- manna (a kind of bread)
... manna From mah; literally, a whatness (so to speak), ie Manna (so called from the
question about it) -- manna. see HEBREW mah. 4477, 4478. man. 4478a . ...
/hebrew/4478.htm - 5k

4517. menaanea -- probably (a kind of musical) rattle
... cornet. From nuwa'; a sistrum (so called from its rattling sound) -- cornet. see
HEBREW nuwa'. 4516, 4517. menaanea. 4518 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4517.htm - 6k

5427. nether -- natron or carbonate of soda
... nitre. From nathar; mineral potash (so called from effervescing with acid) -- nitre.
see HEBREW nathar. 5426, 5427. nether. 5428 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5427.htm - 6k

Next There Follows, "And in Christ Jesus, his Only Son, Our Lord. ...
... 6. Next there follows, "And in Christ Jesus, His Only Son, Our Lord." "Jesus" is
a Hebrew word meaning "Saviour." "Christ" is so called from "Chrism," ie ...
/.../6 next there follows and.htm

What True Philosophy Is, and Whence So Called.
... The Stromata, or Miscellanies. Book VI. Chapter VII."What True Philosophy
Is, and Whence So Called. As we have long ago pointed ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter vii what true philosophy is.htm

Of the Five Sacraments, Falsely So Called. Their Spuriousness ...
... BOOK FOURTH. OF THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH CHAPTER 19. OF THE FIVE SACRAMENTS,
FALSELY SO CALLED. ... OF THE FIVE SACRAMENTS, FALSELY SO CALLED. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 19 of the five.htm

Early Christian Fathers
... Corinthians. IN DEFENSE OF THE FAITH: The So-called Letter to Diognetus.
INTRODUCTION AND BOOKS. The So-called Letter to Diognetus. The ...
//christianbookshelf.org/richardson/early christian fathers/

Is the Spirit of the Lord Straitened?
... The greater part of so-called Christendom is to-day[1] celebrating the gift of a
Divine Spirit to the Church; but it may well be asked whether the religious ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/is the spirit of the.htm

The Opinion of Justin with Regard to the Reign of a Thousand Years ...
... thinks the Genist?? were so called because they were sprung from Abraham (genos)
the Merist?? so called because they separated the Scriptures. ...
/.../chapter lxxx the opinion of justin.htm

The Revelation of Peter. Introduction.
... 1. The so-called Muratorian Fragment, a list of sacred writings, first published
by Muratori in 1740, and found by him in a seventh or eighth century ms. ...
/.../unknown/the apocalypse of peter/the revelation of peter introduction.htm

Cannot be Proved from Scripture, that Believers under the Old ...
... (5.) I dare not venture to determine where that place of quiet is situated, whether
in Heaven, properly so called, into which Christ ascended, or somewhere out ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/article x it cannot be.htm

Then Further it is to be Observed that no Creature Can be Such as ...
... For all other sons, though they are called sons, are so called by the grace of adoption,
not by verity of nature; and if there be others who are called lords ...
/.../8 then further it is.htm

That the Logos is One, not Many. Of the Word, Faithful and True ...
... we might imagine many logoi, according to the constitution of each of the rational
beings which exist; then we might assume a number of logoi properly so called ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/4 that the logos is.htm

So-called (10 Occurrences)
So-called. Sobriety, So-called. Socho . Noah Webster's Dictionary (a ...
Multi-Version Concordance So-called (10 Occurrences). Matthew ...
/s/so-called.htm - 9k

Olves
... Olves, Mount of. Socalled from the olive trees with which its sides are clothed,
is a mountain ridge on the east of Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:7; Ezek. ...
/o/olves.htm - 9k

Agate (4 Occurrences)
... This may be the agate properly socalled, a semi-transparent crystallized quartz,
probably brought from Sheba, whence its name. In Isaiah 54:12 and Ezek. ...
/a/agate.htm - 9k

Science (1 Occurrence)
... 20, "avoiding.... oppositions of science falsely socalled," tes pseudonumou
gnoseos, "the falsely called gnosis"). "Science" is ...
/s/science.htm - 9k

Septuagint
... (n.) A Greek version of the Old Testament; -- socalled because it was believed
to be the work of seventy (or rather of seventy-two) translators. Int. ...
/s/septuagint.htm - 38k

Pentecost (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A solemn festival of the Jews; -- socalled because celebrated on the fiftieth
day (seven weeks) after the second day of the Passover (which fell on ...
/p/pentecost.htm - 21k

Micah (54 Occurrences)
... (5.) "The Morasthite," socalled to distinguish him from Micaiah, the ... Jeremiah
26:18, 19). Micah, Book of. The sixth in order of the so-called minor prophets. ...
/m/micah.htm - 38k

Valley (187 Occurrences)
... etc. The "valley of vision" (Isaiah 22:1) is usually regarded as denoting
Jerusalem, which "may be socalled," says Barnes (Com. on ...
/v/valley.htm - 75k

Hebron (71 Occurrences)
... arba, probably meaning the "Four Cities," perhaps because divided at one time into
four quarters, but according to Jewish writers socalled because four ...
/h/hebron.htm - 41k

Thorn (30 Occurrences)
... suitable for hedges. This is probably the so-called "apple of Sodom," which
grows very abundantly in the Jordan valley. "It is a ...
/t/thorn.htm - 35k

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