CH351 History of Heresies
Overview
In History of Heresies Dr. Michael Bird examines the missteps of theologians from the beginning of the Christian faith. The course begins by placing Christian heresy in the context of ancient Jewish and Graeco-Roman ideas about heresy. After looking at the unity and diversity of the early church, Dr. Bird examines Paul’s opponents, as well as false teachings/teachers in later New Testament documents like Jude and Revelation. From there, he explores later heresies like Docetism, Gnosticism, modalism and Arianism. The course concludes by looking at the Person of Christ and how to spot and avoid heresies today.
Top Highlights
“Orthodoxy is literally ‘right glory’ or ‘right worship.’ It’s the right way to worship and give glory to God. That worship, however, is based on the right belief in God and the right teaching about God. Orthodoxy, then, is the teaching which meets with the consensus of the church and accords with Scripture, and it leads to a rightful worship of God and a proper ascription of glory to God.” (source)
“I would say that heresy has a number of characteristics: First, there is a departure from the truth of Scripture and the apostolic faith. Second, it is deceptive, in that it often has a grain of truth to it or something right, but is ultimately false and misleading. Third, it is divisive, in the sense of causing factions and frictions in the churches over doctrine. Fourth, in terms of ethics, it could be debauched, in the sense of propagating libertine attitudes and various immoralities, or it could be demeaning to the physical body by requiring celibacy and the harsh treatment of the body. Fifth, it usually ends up being destructive; it’s got the danger of shipwrecking one’s own soul by believing in a different God, a different Jesus, and a completely different scheme of salvation.” (source)
“And I would add, a successful heretic had three main characteristics: First, they were wise. They were often well-read, learned; and they knew how to play the game of church politics when they had to. Second, they were winsome, in the sense that they were often eloquent and charismatic, and they could write and argue their point with great persuasion. Third, they were usually wealthy, and they had some money to throw around to support their various causes; they could buy followers or finance their doctrinal escapades.” (source)
- Title: CH351 History of Heresies
- Author: Michael F. Bird
- Series: Logos Mobile Education
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Print Publication Date: 2018
- Logos Release Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Courseware
- Subjects: Christian heresies › History--Early church, ca. 30-600; Church history › Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600; Education › Christian heresies--History--Early church, ca. 30-600; Education › Church history--Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600
- Resource ID: LLS:CH351BIRD
- Resource Type: Courseware Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2019-06-20T22:47:37Z