Doctrine - What is It?

(Taken from 0-00012)

It seems that there are some very peculiar notions of what 'doctrine' is.  Is doctrine a set of major teachings which can be counted on two hands?  Is it possible to hold conflicting interpretations of doctrine?

The Bible tells us that THE WHOLE BIBLE IS DOCTRINE.  And, no - we may not interpret it as we wish.  Let us see what 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us:

"All scripture (is) given by inspiration of God, and (is) profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

It has been said, particularly by ecumenists and liberals, that 'love' supercedes all other commands of God and is greater than doctrine. This, however, is just a convenient way to crush opposition to error - if anyone opposes unscriptural beliefs, then they are 'guilty' of offending the Spirit. Very convenient indeed!  But very unscriptural, for Jesus Himself said:

"If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Thus, keeping the commandments of Christ/God is proof that we love Him!  What are the 'commandments' (e.g. doctrine) of Christ?  They are everything He has ever said...that is, the entire Bible. And, that whole Bible says that love is a part of the commandments of Christ.  As a part cannot be greater than the whole, it means that love is a part of the entire teachings of God.  Therefore, to suggest that love is greater than doctrine is an insult to the intellect as well as being a claim based on an inept  knowledge of scripture.

We may summarise a few of the statements on doctrine as follows:

Doctrine, then, is the essence of our faith. Love is a part of that doctrine.  Thus to really love God or others is to come to grips with doctrine - the whole counsel of God.  Doctrine refers only to declared scripture (i.e. the Bible). We may only expand on what has already been given - there can be no extra revelations. That means the whole charismatic scene, with its multitudinous claims to extra-Biblical revelations, is bunkum!

There is only one 'doctrine'.  In the Bible, the plural 'doctrines' is found only in the New Testament and it refers to false teachings or lies. When God speaks, what He says is automatically perfect and in harmony with everything else He has ever said.  He does not need to structure what He says or check it against the whole.  He is God and so everything must be immediately harmonious. But the teachings of men and of Satan need constant reworking and intellectual manipulation for it to appear to be harmonious.  But it is all nonsense for, as we read in Matthew 15:9:

"in vain they do worship me, teaching (for) doctrines the commandments of men."

That is why Paul instructs us to have nothing to do with the ideas and instructions put forward by men:  "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines." (Hebrews 13:9).  One way we can be carried about by strange teachings is to insist that we have the right to interpret scripture as we see fit.  Just as every man and woman is an instant expert on the economy of their own country, so every Christian thinks he or she is a Bible teacher! With disastrous results! Logic should surely tell us that if there is only one Truth, then there can be only one interpretation.  But no - all Christians claim that their own 'interpretation' is correct, no matter what scripture actually says.

One thing alone matters - what does God say?  If we speak only what He says, then we are on safe ground:

"My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil the dew and as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass.  Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God"

Deuteronomy 32:2

Those who learn doctrine are counted amongst the wise (for doctrine is given by the Holy Spirit and is mandatory upon us all):

"The fear of the Lord (is) the beginning of wisdom: a good under - standing have all they that do (His commandments)."

Psalm 111:10

Those who do not learn doctrine are fools!

"The fear of the Lord (is) the beginning of knowledge: (but) fools despise wisdom and instruction (or, doctrine)"

Publications List

If you want to see BTM's approach to Doctrine take a look at some of the Outlines and Articles in our publications list.

---oOo---

Bible Theology Ministries

© April 2000

PO Box 415, SWANSEA  SA5 8YH

Wales

United Kingdom

Make a Donation to support the work of Bible Theology Ministries

info@christiandoctrine.net

www.christiandoctrine.net