The apostles of Christ taught that their teachings
(New Testament writings) were the only standard of authority for the New
Testament church, and that they must not be distorted. They also gave strict
warning concerning "false teaching" and following after human traditions or any
other ideology:
2 Peter 1:20-2:3... "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of
Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made
by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 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.
Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth
will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words;
their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep."
Galatians 1:6-12... The apostle Paul writes to the church in Galatia,
saying: "I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the
grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are
some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even
if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what
we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I
say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what
you received, he is to be accursed! For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of
God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I
would not be a bond-servant of Christ. For I would have you know, brethren, that
the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither
received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a
revelation of Jesus Christ."
I Corinthians 4:6... The apostle Paul in combating false teachings and
divisive opinions in the church at Corinth, told them: "Now these things,
brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that
in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you
will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other."
I Timothy 1:3... The apostle Paul in giving instruction to the young
evangelist, Timothy, told him: "As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia,
remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach
strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which
give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God
which is by faith."
2 Timothy 4:1-4... Paul also warned the young evangelist, saying: "I
solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge
the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word;
be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great
patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for
themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their
ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths."
2 John 8-11... The apostle John warns the church about false teachers
who have gone out into the world, explains how they can be identified (by
comparing their doctrines with the teachings of Christ), and commands that we
not receive or encourage such teachers: "Watch yourselves, that you do not
lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. Anyone
who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have
God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If
anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into
your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting
participates in his evil deeds."
Revelation 22:18-19... The apostle John sums up his writings at the
close of the book of Revelation, the last book in our Bible, with this severe
warning: "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this
book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written
in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy
city, which are written in this book. " This was a very suitable way for the
apostle to close his inspired writings. For we do not want to be guilty of
either "adding to" or "taking from" God's inspired word... whether it be the
book of Revelation, or any other portion of the Bible.
Matthew 15:6-9... Here, Jesus himself warns the people of His day, and
us as well, concerning the danger of following human traditions and elevating
them to a level equal with, or even above the authority of God's holy word. He
says, "...you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You
hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophecy of you, saying 'This people honors me
with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they
worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'" May we never be guilty
of "invalidating" the word of God for the sake of our own opinions, traditions,
or religious doctrines. Rather, may we always honor the word of God, the Bible,
and ascribe to it the respect and authority it is due!