Q&A: Should We View the Early Church Fathers' Writings as Authoritative?

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="129a11c3.png"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Welcome to the Heart4God Website!"><U><B><IMG SRC="4b55a500.png" border=0 width="90" height="80" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin"><U><B>Writings by Date</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin Organized "><U><B>Writings by Topic</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm"><U><B>Audio Files</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id690.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Videos"><U><B>Videos</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id323.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Writings of Others"><U><B>Other Authors</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id324.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id339.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Questions and Answers"><U><B>Q&A</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id328.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Heart4God Email List"><U><B>Heart4God E-mail List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com"><U><B>Parables Blog</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id306.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="File Downloads"><U><B><IMG SRC="2b264140.png" border=0 width="100" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <B>Q&A: Should We View the Early Church Fathers' Writings as Authoritative?</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c2827160.png" border=0 width="807" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The following letter was written in response to a young man who had been receiving the teachings of a man who bases all of his understanding of the correct interpretation of New Testament doctrine and practice upon the writings of the early church fathers from the pre-Nicene period (prior to 325 A.D.).</div> <bR> <div> Dear L., </div> <bR> <div> There are some severe problems with taking the type of interpretive stance that you have described (D.B.) as taking. You have shared that he does not give his own opinion or interpretation of things, but that he refers to the early church fathers to discern how they understood things. Let me share why this is very shaky ground to form any Biblical understanding upon. </div> <bR> <div> First, you did state that the early church fathers' opinions are not to be given the same weight as Scripture, and we can glean some things as we consider why they are not to be given this same measure of authority. We are told that: </div> <bR> <div> II Timothy 3:16<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness...</div> <bR> <div> II Peter 1:20-21<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> 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. </div> <bR> <div> We have God's stamp of approval upon the writings of Scripture. A large part of the Old Testament writings were quoted by Yahshua and the apostles and they were shared with the assurance that they were the very words of God. The New Testament writings have also stood the test of time and they clearly support and build upon the inspired writings of the Old Testament. Apostles and elders were given special anointings to write the words that we have received today in order that the church might have the witness of the Scriptures upon which to build. </div> <bR> <div> The writings of the early church fathers do not bear this same authority. I think the tendency to elevate the writings of the early church fathers is largely based upon a false assumption. This assumption is stated in your e-mail: </div> <bR> <div> While they are not to be held as inspired scripture, I think there is a lot of truth in the fact that they (The early church fathers) did understand the apostles and Jesus the best, since they were not so far removed from that culture and they most likely spoke the same language.</div> <bR> <div> You have stated that the early church fathers understood Jesus and the apostles the best, since they were not so far removed as we are by a span of time and the changes of culture. But I would like to ask you to examine whether this is an assumption that stands up under scrutiny. When we make such a statement we are declaring that there was not significant error at the beginning of the church as there is now, and that the writings from the period of the first centuries present a more accurate look at doctrine. But let me give you some examples that refute this. </div> <bR> <div> The apostle Paul wrote the entire book of Galatians to refute the heresy of the Judaisers who were coming in and teaching the believers that in addition to faith in Christ they must be circumcised and keep the Law. This was such an abominable teaching that Paul said that those who sought to keep the Law were being severed from Christ and that Christ had become of no effect to them. He also stated with much emotion that he could wish that those who were troubling the Galatians would even mutilate themselves. </div> <bR> <div> Now what if the writings of these early Judaisers existed to this day? Could we reason that because these people were very early saints, contemporary with the apostle Paul and others, that their writings were therefore more trustworthy than later writings, or even present day understanding? Could we conclude that because these men were Jewish, well versed in the culture of the time, and they spoke the same language as Yahshua and the apostles, that for this reason their writings should be given greater weight than more modern teachings? If we did conclude these things and then adopted the teachings of these Judaisers based upon the authority we gave to their words, we would ourselves be separated from Christ and would become ensnared in tremendous error. </div> <bR> <div> Consider another example. In the book of Galatians Paul speaks of having to publicly rebuke the apostle Peter for being carried away into hypocrisy and false teaching. He even gives us these words: </div> <bR> <div> Galatians 2:13<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. </div> <bR> <div> Paul actually names three apostles and church fathers who were carried away in this error. These were Peter, James and Barnabas. Suppose then that we came across a writing by one of these men that they penned while they were under deception. Could we give their writigns great weight simply because they were much closer to Christ and the other apostles at the time, and they understood the language and culture? Again we must answer "No!" </div> <bR> <div> I could list example after example of error that was adopted by very early leaders of the church, for much of the New Testament is written to refute these errors. One thing this reveals is that error was just as prevalent in the early church as it was later on. The Scriptures themselves declare this to be so: </div> <bR> <div> Acts 20:29-30<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. </div> <bR> <div> Matthew 7:15<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves."</div> <bR> <div> II Peter 2:1</div> <div> 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. </div> <bR> <div> II Corinthians 11:3-4<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Galatians 1:6-7<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.</div> <bR> <div> One of the most telling passages that reveals how quickly the church departed into error and carnality and deception is in the opening chapters of Revelation where we find Yahshua addressing the seven churches. Of the seven churches mentioned, five are upbraided for error, and some have fallen so far as to be in danger of having their candlestick removed. All of these things occurred BEFORE the early church fathers lived and wrote. One of the fathers Irenaeus who wrote "Irenaeus Against Heresies". Why did Irenaeus need to write against heresies unless there was already great division among the church and many heresies existed. Yet how do we know that Irenaeus' stance was right and others were wrong? It may have been Irenaeus himself who had adopted heresy so that the truth appeared to him as something evil. </div> <bR> <div> This is not a rhetorical question. As the Spirit began leading me into an understanding of universal reconciliation I came across a writing by Irenaeus where he condemns this teaching as heresy. Yet many others of the time, and some who even preceded him, such as Origen, taught universal reconciliation as the true doctrine. </div> <bR> <div> This brings us to an impossible situation. Since the early church fathers did not agree upon their doctrines and teachings, and they were accusing one another of heresy, it is a very unstable foundation to build upon. If (D.B.) is using the testimony of the early church fathers for his authority he is on very shaky ground, for many of them held to numerous errors, and as we have seen from Scriptures, being closer to the time of Christ was no assurance that error was absent. Even among the apostles error crept in and had to be confronted. </div> <bR> <div> This brings me to my final point. The Scriptures tell us that everything must be confirmed by two or more witnesses. The two witnesses we have received are the Spirit and the Word. These both testify the same and do not contradict one another. Let me ask you, "Is there any Biblical basis for you to conclude that present day saints who are born again of the Spirit of God have any LESS access to the mind of God through the Spirit than did the early church fathers? Was there some demarcation in time when the Spirit was withdrawn and we now have only a smaller measure of the witness and presence of the Spirit in our lives?" </div> <bR> <div> Yahshua spoke: </div> <bR> <div> John 16:13-14<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.</div> <bR> <div> It is a very false conclusion to assume that the early church fathers had a greater access to the Spirit and the mind of God than we have today. When we understand this then we can see that (D.B.) has made a tremendous error. Rather than pressing in to know the voice of the Spirit, which is a much more sure witness than the early church fathers, he has instead sought to lean upon man's understanding. By choosing this path he is prone to commit the same errors as other men have committed, whereas if he had chosen instead to seek the mind of the Spirit he could have been led out of error, and even exposed the errors that men have made in the past. This brings us to consider the words of Christ: </div> <bR> <div> John 13:16<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> "Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him."</div> <bR> <div> If (D.B.) takes the early church fathers as his teachers, then he will not rise any higher then they did, and he will suffer the same errors and misunderstandings that they suffered. Yet if he were to take the Spirit as his master and teacher, then what a much more excellent position this would be. He could rise much higher, for the very Spirit of God would be leading him into truth. He would not be subject to the fallacies and foibles of men, but he would instead be building upon a foundation that is without error. </div> <bR> <div> In the last number of years the Spirit has led me to cast off many of the doctrines that I received of men. Some of these doctrines have existed since the early church, and some such as the teaching that is still prevalent today that states that the saints must keep the Law have been around since the time of the apostles and still need refuting today. If we look to men as our guides, rather than to the two witnesses of the Spirit and the Word, we will inevitably drift into error. I am not saying that we should not learn from men, but we should always take what we receive from man and test it against the Spirit and the word, and these two, the Spirit and the Word, must be our test of accuracy, not something as unstable as the witness of the early church fathers. </div> <bR> <div> I know that you yourself desire to br firmly grounded in truth, and I would not desire to see you carried away into the error of (D.B.) in thinking that truth can be found in the testimony of men, even those who lived in days much closer to the time of our Savior. Our only sure foundation is the Spirit and the Word, and these two always agree. </div> <bR> <div> May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days, </div> <bR> <div> Joseph</div> <bR> <div> E-mail: </div> <div> website: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><A HREF="http://heart4god.ws" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://heart4god.ws"><U><U>http://heart4god.ws</U></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>