Entering the Prayer Cave– Sound Doctrine “Magisterium” is the authority that lays down what is the authentic teaching of the Church. The Greek word didaskalia is the act of teaching or that which is taught. The use of the term in Scripture, however, is broader than a simple reference to information passed on from one person to another or from one generation to the next. Christianity is a religion founded on a message of good news rooted in the significance of the life of Jesus Christ. Doctrine is indispensable to Christianity. Christianity does not exist without it. The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes the value and importance of sound doctrine, sound instruction (1 Timothy 6:3), and a pattern of sound teaching (2 Timothy 1:13-14). What you receive as teaching is important to your Christianity. The apostles defended the faithful proclamation of the gospel (Galatians 1:8). They formulated Christian faith in doctrinal terms, then called for its preservation. They were adamant about the protection, appropriation, and propagation of doctrine because it contained the truth about Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) Knowing the truth was and is the only way that a person can come to faith. So the apostles delivered a body of theological truth to the church (1 Corinthians 15:3). They encouraged believers to be faithful to that body of information they had heard and received in the beginning (1 John 2:7 1 John 2:24 1 John 2:26; 3:11), that faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 3). Believers, in general, were instructed to guard the faith, that is, to stand firm in sound doctrine (2 Timothy 1:13-14). Pastors in particular, were admonished to cleave to sound doctrine so that they could be good ministers of the gospel (1 Timothy 4:6). The use of the term doctrine in Scripture is important for at least three reasons. First, it affirms that the church was confessional. The first generation of believers confessed apostolic teaching about the significance of the life of Christ. They delivered a body of information that included facts about Christ with interpretation of their importance. Second, the use of the term reflects development of thought in the church. Didaskalia is used in the Pastoral Epistles with reference to the sum of teaching, especially of that which had come from the lips of the apostles. Doctrine plays a small role in Judaism and in the New Testament apart from the Pastoral Epistles. The “pastoral epistles” is a common name for three letters written by the apostle Paul. The pastoral epistles are 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus. All three are letters from an old ministerial leader at the close of his ministry who is concerned for his successors and the legacy of his witness in the pastorate. As such, the letters concern the things that would be crucial for the young pastors that would succeed him to understand—such as: church organization and discipline, including such matters as the appointment of elders and deacons, the opposition of rebellious members or false teachers, and the maintenance of doctrinal purity. By the time of the Pastoral Epistles the apostolic message had been transformed into traditional teaching. We have previously declared this as promises fulfilled, developed to destiny and the responsibility to leave a legacy. Third, it affirms the indispensable link between spirituality and doctrine. Christianity is a way of life founded on doctrine. Some don’t understand and thus disparage doctrine and sound teaching in favor of just offering what can be called the emotion of spiritual life. Paul, however, taught that spiritual growth in Christ is dependent on faithfulness to sound doctrine, sound teaching of the Word, for its truth provides the means of growth (Colossians 2:6). The apostle John developed three tests for discerning authentic spirituality: believing right doctrine (1 John 2:18-27), obedience to right doctrine (I John 2:28-3:10), and giving expression to right doctrine with love (I John 2:7-11). Faithful obedience and love, then, are not alternatives to sound doctrine. They are the fruit of right doctrine as it works itself out in the each believers character and relationships.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 15:31:08 +0000
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