The Truth In Print Vol. 18 Issue 7, August 2012
A Publication of the
Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street,
Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Casting Down Eloquence & Sophistry (2
Cor. 10:4-5) – Newspaper Series
Casting Down Man’s Eloquence &
Sophistry #1
Modern teachers love to emphasize some of
the teaching of Jesus while discounting the teaching of His apostles. This
“discount” includes all prophets who wrote the New Testament. Their prejudice
against the whole of the New Testament scriptures makes it easy to identify
them. It is the Scriptures themselves that expose their unwillingness to accept
the whole of the New Testament teaching as the revealed will of Christ.
Jesus, Himself God, is the way, the truth
and the life for all of mankind. No one comes to the Father except through Him
(John 1:1, 14:6). Christ received the Word from the Father and gave it to His
apostles: “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest
me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from
thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me” (Jo. 17:8). The world
hates the word (Jo. 17:14). This word is truth (Jo. 17:17). Thus all who believe
as they should in Christ must believe in the apostles’ words He gave to them
(John 17:20-21).
The apostles were guided into all of Jesus’
truth by the Holy Spirit after His ascension to heaven (cf. John 16:12-15; I
Cor. 2:10-13). Thus all the Scriptures written by the apostles and inspired
prophets that make up the New Testament are the written words of the Father
given to Christ and revealed by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet.
1:20-21). Paul said Christians then must acknowledge that the things which he
wrote are the commandments of the Lord as revealed in Christ’s New Testament (I
Cor. 14:37; 2 Cor. 3:4-6).
Casting Down Man’s
Eloquence & Sophistry
#2 False Claims Concerning Paul’s Teaching
Modern teachers love to quote selected sayings
of Jesus while discounting the teachings of His apostles. Their discount of
prophets who wrote the New Testament identifies them as false teachers. Such
false teachers often target Paul with derogatory terms. However, Paul exposes
such himself when he writes: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or
spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the
commandments of the Lord” (I Cor. 14:37). You see how quickly the Scriptures
make a “pickle” of their false position!
Paul disavows deceit in his teaching and
applies unbelief to those blinded by the god of this world: “1Therefore seeing
we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have
renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor
handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth
commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if
our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In
whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake” (2
Corinthians 4:1-5). This answers the sophistry of the false Modern scholars who
claim Paul is (a, an) --- take your pick – sexist, chauvinist, anti-Semite,
xenophobe, hatemonger, too zealous or not teaching as Christ would!
Casting Down Man’s
Eloquence & Sophistry
#3 False Claims Concerning Peter’s
Teachings
False teachers love to quote selected
sayings of Jesus while discounting the teachings of His apostles. Besides Paul,
Peter also is a favorite for their derision. Consider that both together account
for over half of the books of the New Testament.
Some misrepresent Peter’s authority as if
it preempted that of his Lord who gave it to him. Peter was included in
Christ’s promise to guide the apostles into all truth (cf. John 16:12-15).
Those who pick on Peter pick on all of the apostles. Jesus said to the twelve,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth
whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that
sent me” (Jo. 13:20). “Verily” means “truly.” IF you believe Jesus’ prayer then
He gave them the words which the Father gave to Him (Jo. 17:8,14,18).
He said as my Father hath sent me even so send I you (Jo. 20:21). What He said
to Peter (Matt. 16:19) concerning his authority He said to all the apostles in
Matt. 18:18. Jesus said “all” authority has been given to Him in heaven and on
earth (Matt. 28:18-20). Thus the apostles possessed executive authority not
legislative. The real problem is such teachers don’t believe what Jesus said!
Peter did not preach by himself. Peter himself explained that no prophecy of
Scripture is a matter of one’s own explanation (2 Pet. 1:20-21). Peter had no
problem realizing that Paul was not in the least inferior to himself and the
rest (cf. 2 Cor. 11:5, 12:11-12, I Cor. 16:10, Gal. 2:6-9).
Casting down Man’s
Eloquence & Sophistry
#4 Bypassing God’s Judgments recorded in
the Old Testament
Modern teachers, atheists, and mockers
often portray God in the Old Testament as being ruthless and unloving. A common
tactic is to present the idea that God in the Old is different from God in the
New. Such seek to bypass the fact that the judgments of God brought upon the
world, as recorded in the Old Testament, were indeed left as warnings for us
today. People love the deception in being told that God today just isn’t like
that (cf. Rom.16:17). But God will punish the wicked in hades
and eternally in hell (cf. Lk.16:22-26; Matt. 10:28).
Sodom’s filthy conduct in the Old (Gen.19)
stands as an example of the punishment of such for those who live afterwards in
the New (2 Pet. 2:6-9; Jude 7). Jesus, Himself God, referred to this judgment
where the Lord rained fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah. He said it will
be just the same way the day the Son of Man is revealed! (Lk.
17: 27-30). Jesus also referred to the destruction of the ungodly in the world
by the Flood (Lk. 17:26-27). Another thing is the
Rock who led Israel in the wilderness was Christ (Ex. 13:21; I Cor. 10:4).
Moreover, Paul taught the judgments brought upon Israel by God in the
wilderness stand as examples; they were written for our warning so that we
would not desire to do the evil things they did and likewise be punished by God
(I Cor. 10:5-12).
Casting down Man’s Eloquence &
Sophistry
#5 The Love Your Neighbor As Yourself
“Twist” That Is A Religious Lie!
While professing love and understanding
false teachers make a mockery of Christ’s teaching in “how” they use Matt.
22:39. They fail to put it properly with the preceding first and greatest
commandment – to love God with one’s “all” (cf. Matt. 22:37-38). This love (agapao) is found in both the Old and New Testaments (cp.
Rom. 13:8-10). It carries with it the idea of duty and obedience to God. If you
love God you will keep His commandments (cf. Jo. 14:15, 21, 23; I Jo. 5:6). To
“not” love God is to “not” keep His commands, Jesus said (Jo. 14:24).
Love does no wrong to one’s neighbor! (Rom.
13:10). This love does not rejoice in unrighteousness but in the truth (I Cor.
13:6). All unrighteousness is sin, John said (I Jo. 5:17). “Everyone” who
practices sin transgresses God’s law, for sin is a transgression of God’s law
(I Jo. 3:4). Great deceivers are using “love your neighbor” to put their own
stamps of approval on iniquity! They teach the local church is accept and
fellowship heterosexual couples living together in fornication (sin, Gal.
5:19), those in homosexual and lesbian relationships (sin, I Cor. 6:9, Rom.
1:26-27), condone and fellowship adulterous marriages (Matt. 19:9), etc. These
deceivers are guilty of rejoicing in iniquity, not loving God, and being
religiously injurious to all in their wicked deceptions! Their churches are
full of iniquity and their members love to have it so (2 Tim. 3:1-5, 4:3).
Casting down Man’s Eloquence &
Sophistry
#6 Understanding the Scope of Jesus’
Teaching
False teachers are getting away with things
warned of in this series. In conclusion here are important aspects of Christ’s
teaching during His ministry:
1.
Jesus correctly explained the Law of Moses (cf. Matt. 12:12). A scribe
understood and stated that Jesus had rightly explained the greatest
commandments of the Law (cf. Mk. 12:28-34).
2.
Christ exposed the empty “traditions” (man’s not God’s) of the Scribes, Pharisees
and Sadducees – religious leaders of His day (cf. Matt.15:1-10; 22:23-33).
3.
Some of His teachings contained teaching to be used under the New Covenant that
replaced the Old Mosaic Covenant (cf. Mk. 16:15-16; Matt. 18:15-18, 19:3-9; cp.
Col. 2:14-17).
4.
There is the necessity of identifying when the New Covenant came into effect.
Jesus spoke of the church as yet in the future when He said, “I will build My church…” (Matt. 16:18). In giving instruction on His
Supper, the fruit of the vine is said to represent His blood of the New
Testament (Matt. 26:28). His priesthood necessitated that the law changed from
the Old to the New (cf. Heb. 7:12). The apostles preached the New Testament on
Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2.
5.
No portion of His teaching denies that the judgments of God brought upon the
world, as recorded in the Old Testament, were indeed left as warnings for us
today! (See Lesson Four). People love
the deception in being told that God today just isn’t like that (cf.
Rom.16:17). But God will punish the wicked in Hades and eternally in Hell (cf.
Lk.16:22-26; Matt. 10:28).
These
articles on line at http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com/articles/sophistry.htm .
Valley Church of
Christ
2375 W. 8th Street,
Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 782-5058 ~
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday Services –
Classes ~10:00; Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.
Wednesday evening –
7:00 pm
By
Bob Lovelace
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To
learn more call, visit or visit our website at: http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com