Thread by @ThomasCoutouzis

#Exetweet

1/ I have been studying the Greek word αἵρεσις (hairesis - heresies) from 2 Peter 2:1 as I prepare a lesson for Sunday. It's a very interesting word because in the ancient secular context it's used differently than the NT context, though the different uses are similar

2/The way with which it is chiefly used in secular context is "to take/to capture/to seize". The context with which it is used is militarily by force. i.e. to capture a city. The implication is that you are exerting your own will upon another.

One secular example is Herdotus:

3/

"After Babylon had been taken (αἵρεσιν), the march of Dareios himself against the Scythians took place:" The Histories 4:1

It is the context that determines the usage of the word, and here, Herodotus is using it in a manner where Dareios has conquered/seized Babylon.

4/ In the NT usage it has a slight variance.

"But false prophets arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, you will secretly introduce destructive heresies (αἵρεσις)" 2 Peter 2:1a

"hairesis" means "to choose/make a choice" for oneself.

5/ It denotes "a choice" that is a different school of thought which is contrary to truth.

There are some implications:

1. This is a personal choice which is decisive, and because it is decisive it leads to strife, resulting in factions/sects.

2. It is opinion, not fact.

6/

3. Going back to the secular usage and what I stated in point 1, it seeks to impose its will on another. In other words, It implies taking something by force.

False teachers in 2 Peter 2:1 make a decisive choice to stand against the truth of God, thereby causing divisions.

7/ They willfully introduce destructive "choices" to the body of Christ. How do they do it?

"Secretly introduce" - pareisago, from "para" (close beside) and "eisago" (introduce). Properly, "to introduce from close beside".

Jude 4 corroborates saying they, "crept in unnoticed".

8/ They secretly enter the church and turn people away from God one person at a time so that it is not noticed. They don't come in and preach from the pulpit and lead people away. They are a virus that slowly works its way through a church making the whole body sick.

9/ When I read the secular usage of "hairesis" by Herodotus and others I believe it gives us a glimpse at what the false teachers objective is with heresies. They desire to impose their will on the church and look "to conquer/to seize" it for their own purposes.

10/ It is probably why Jude uses "epagonizomai" (to contend earnestly) metaphorically in the combative/militaristic sense against false teachers. We are at war against an enemy that seeks to divide and destroy us. We cannot afford to give this enemy any quarter.

11/ If heretics are decisive in the lies they believe, then the church needs to be equally decisive in the truth. We cannot afford to be docile. Factions may form from those who have snuck in, but we must expose their lies and remove them from Christ's church.

12/ If we do not, and allow them to fester & grow, many believers will be turned to error. Make no mistake, there will always be a faithful remnant as the gates of Hell will not prevail against Christ's church. This does not mean that we don't contend for the faith against heresy