Factions (sects, heresies) (139) hairesis

Factions (139) (hairesis from haireo = to choose, elect, prefer; only in the middle voice = to take for oneself; see word study of hairetikos) denotes a choosing or a choice. It came to mean an opinion chosen or a tenet (a principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true) and then came to refer to a sect, party or faction that held tenets distinctive to it. Hairesis is the source of our English words heresy, heretic, heretical, but (with the exception of the "destructive heresies" in 2 Peter 2:1) heresy as we think of it today was not usually the meaning in the NT. Vine explains that as hairesis evolved it came to mean “an opinion,” especially a self-willed opinion, which is substituted for submission to the power of truth, and leads to division and the formation of sects...such erroneous opinions are frequently the outcome of personal preference or the prospect of advantage. (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos) In ancient Greece hairesis was used to describe the teaching or the school of a particular philosopher with which a person identified himself by his own choice. A school of philosophy, which gathered around the authoritative figure of its teacher, was defined by dogmas to which the followers assented and by a communal set of rules governing their style of life. Within Judaism there were distinct splinter groups as discussed in the next paragraph. Hairesis is used in the book of Acts to describe various parties or sects in Acts 5:17 = Sadducees; Acts 15:5; 26:5 = Pharisees; Acts 24:5-14, 28:22 = Christians. Thus hairesis was applied by the Jews to the Christians (sect) and by the Christians to the Pharisees (sect) and Sadducees (sect). To reiterate hairesis did not originally refer to heresy in the modern sense. As illustrated in Acts, hairesis was used for a school of thought and could designate the particular teaching of such a school (eg, Christian, Pharisee or Sadducee). In other words, there was no inherently evil meaning suggested, but simply a difference in their teaching. Factions became heretical only when they substantially contradicted a clear doctrine of Scripture (cp 2Pe 2:1-note). Vincent adds that... Heresy is a transcript of hairesis, the primary meaning of which is choice; so that a heresy is, strictly, the choice of an opinion contrary to that usually received; thence transferred to the body of those who profess such opinions, and therefore a sect. Wuest comments that... The verb of the same stem means “the act of taking, of choosing.” Thus the noun means “that which is chosen.” It can refer therefore to a chosen course of thought or action, hence one’s chosen opinion, and according to the context, an opinion varying from the true exposition of the Word of God, in the latter sense, heresy. It also refers to a body of men separating themselves from others and following their own tenets. The word could have incidental reference to the Judaizers and their teachings. (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos) Barclay writes that in the present context (the deeds of the flesh) hairesis... might be described as crystallized dissension...Hairesis was not originally a bad word at all. It comes from a root which means to choose, and it was used for a philosopher’s school of followers or for any band of people who shared a common belief. The tragedy of life is that people who hold different views very often finish up by disliking, not each others’ views, but each other. It should be possible to differ with a man and yet remain friends. (In another note Barclay writes) Originally hairesis was a perfectly honourable word. It simply meant a line of belief and action which a man had chosen for himself. In the New Testament we read of the hairesis of the Sadducees, the Pharisees, and the Nazarenes (Acts 5:17; 15:5; 24:5). It was perfectly possible to speak of the hairesis of Plato and to mean nothing more than those who were Platonist in their thought. It was perfectly possible to speak of a group of doctors who practiced a certain method of treatment as a hairesis. But very soon in the Christian Church hairesis changed its complexion. In Paul’s thought heresies and schisms go together as things to be condemned (1Corinthians 11:18, 19); haireseis (the plural form of the word) are part of the works of the flesh; a man that is a heretic is to be warned and even given a second chance, and then rejected (Titus 3:10). (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press or Logos) Jamieson comments that hairesis refers to Self-constituted parties; from a Greek root, to choose. A schism is a more recent split in a congregation from a difference of opinion. Heresy is a schism become inveterate [Augustine, Con. Crescon. Don., 2, 7]. (In Paul's day) “Heresies” had not yet its technical sense ecclesiastically, referring to doctrinal errors: it means confirmed schisms. St. Augustine’s rule is a golden rule as regards questions of heresy and catholicity: “In doubtful questions, liberty; in essentials, unity; in all things, charity.” (Jamieson, Fausset, Brown ) Paul uses a derivative word hairetikos instructing Titus to... Reject (present imperative) a factious (hairetikos) man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned. (See notes Titus 3:10; 11) Comment: In this context the hairetikos describes one who willfully chooses for himself and sets up a faction, sect or party, thus promoting divisions in a church, instead of aiming to promote unity. Barclay adds that a bad meaning "creeps in when a man erects his private opinion against all the teaching, the agreement and the tradition of the Church. A heretic is simply a man who has decided that he is right and everybody else is wrong. Paul’s warning is against the man who has made his own ideas the test of all truth. A man should always be very careful of any opinion which separates him from the fellowship of his fellow believers. True faith does not divide men; it unites them." (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press or Logos) There are 9 uses of hairesis in the NT... Acts 5:17 But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy Comment: In Acts hairesis can have either a favorable or an unfavorable connotation, but here in Acts 5:17 the meaning is positive, because the party of the Sadducees was in effect the ruling political party in Israel. The high priest and his associates were not only spiritual overseers who controlled the temple services and grounds, but were also the political rulers who gave leadership in the Sanhedrin. In short, hairesis or sect is used in this verse for a spiritual and political party. Acts 15:5 But certain ones of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses." Acts 24:5 "For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. Acts 24:14 "But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law, and that is written in the Prophets; Acts 26:5 since they have known about me for a long time previously, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion. Acts 28:22 "But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere." 1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must also be factions among you, in order that those who are approved may have become evident among you. Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 2 Peter 2:1 (note) But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

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Factions (sects, heresies) (139) hairesis

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