The first centuries of Christianity are not unlike our century. A variety of groups claim to represent Christ. “False apostles” visit Corinth and Ephesus. The Christians at Corinth make a great mistake by accepting them (2 Corinthians 11:4,20-21). Jesus, on the other hand, commends the Ephesians for testing and exposing the false apostles (Revelation 2:2). Jesus names “the Nicolaitans” as a sect He hates (Revelation 2:6,15). He criticizes those who “tolerate” such false teachers (Revelation 2:20,14). Timothy must guard against a movement “falsely called knowledge” (1 Timothy 6:20). This may refer to an early form of “Gnosticism,”39 which goes on to plague Christianity in the second century. John too guards against this type of group. He provides tests to show how the true members differ from the false.40
We41 are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error (1 John 4:6). M
Likewise, Paul emphasizes unity, yet he rejects “the Circumcision Party” (Galatians 2:12; Titus 1:10).42 “the Circumcision Party” is a strong group of believers that lead upright lives. That is why they receive a hearing at first.43 But they persist in changing the terms of the Gospel. Their teachers, therefore, deserve “anathema,”44 and their followers become “severed from Christ” (Galatians 5:4). Scripture tells elders that “the Circumcision Party… must be silenced” (Titus 1:10-11). Here we see Jesus as the Divider. He keeps the family of God united by removing groups or members that prove false.45
39. See Study Note: Gnosticism.
40. Research subject – Tests in 1 John: 2:3-6; 18-23; 3:4-10,14-16,24; 4:1-6,20; 5:1-2,10,18
41. “We” means “we apostles;” compare 1 John 4:6 with 4:14 and 1:1-3
42. Acts 15:1-2; Galatians 1:6-9; 2:3-5; 6:12; Philippians 3:2-3,18-19
43. Acts 15:5-7; yet Galatians 2:5
44. the curse, condemnation from God, Galatians 1:8-9
45. Titus 3:10; 1 Corinthians 5:1-8,11-13; 2 John 10:9-11; 3 John 1:9-10; Matthew 18:17
Picture: Documents discovered at Nag Hammadi, Egypt, confirm that Gnostics tried to change the faith already revealed through the New Testament. This page shows part of two ‘gospels’ that borrowed the names of Philip and Thomas.