False Teachings and Destructive Heresies of the Early Church Fathers

2 Peter 2:1, False teachers…destructive heresies. When did several prominent but destructive, non-biblical heresies creep into the early church, which are now major doctrines in mainstream Christianity? Here is a partial list along with the approximate times the early church fathers began teaching these doctrines.

False Teachings and Destructive Heresies in the Early Church

The Human Soul Is Immortal

The immortality of the soul was not a Hebraic concept, but originated from the ancient Greek philosophers. This pagan concept made its way into the church as Gentiles who were steeped in the thinking of the Greek philosophers gained control of the early church after the death of the last apostles.

A.D. 130— The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus, ch. 6

Ca. A.D. 155—The First Apology of Justin Martyr, ch. 18

Ca. A.D. 180—Irenaeus’ Against Heresies, Book Two, ch. 34 

Ca. A.D. 180—Irenaeus’ Against Heresies, Book Five, chaps. 7.1; 31.1

Teachings Against the Sabbath and Biblical Feasts

A.D. 130—The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus, ch. 4. The author calls the Sabbath and biblical feasts “utterly ridiculous and unworthy of notice.” 

Ca. A.D. 130—Epistle of Barnabas, ch. 2 (also ch. 14). The author says that the Sabbaths (weekly Sabbath and biblical feasts) are abolished.

Early part of second century A.D.—Epistle of Ignatius to the Philippians, ch. 14

Observance of the Lord’s Day (Sunday) Advocated Over Sabbath Observance

There is no record in the Bible of the early New Testament believers replacing the seventh-day Sabbath with Sunday. To say so is wishful thinking, a twisting of the Scriptures and biblical revisionism. It wasn’t until the fourth century at the Council of Nicea under Roman emperor Constantine that the Sunday officially replaced the Sabbath in the early church. Until that time, many Christian churches still observed the Sabbath throughout the Roman empire. The process of transitioning from Sabbath to Sunday observance was a slow one beginning in the early second century and had its roots largely in antisemitism.

Early part of second century A.D.—Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesian, ch. 9. The author says to keep the Sabbath on Sunday.

Early part of second century A.D.—Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians, ch. 9

Ca. A.D. 130—Epistle of Barnabas, ch. 14

Ca. A.D. 155—The First Apology of Justin Martyr, ch. 67

Teachings Against the Torah

Early part of second century A.D.—Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians, ch. 6. The author declare, “If anyone preach the Jewish law, listen not to him.”

Early part of second century A.D.—Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesian, ch. 10

Ca. A.D. 155—The First Apology of Justin Martyr, ch. 47. The author states that out of “weak-mindedness,” some Christians observe the Mosaic law. Sabbath and feast days observance are optional, but not encouraged.

Anti-Semetic/Anti-Torah Theology

Early part of second century A.D.—Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesian, chaps. 8, 10

Ca. A.D. 180—Irenaeus’ Against Heresies, Book Four, ch. 16.4. The author declares that the Decalogue was not cancelled by the New Covenant, but the statues and judgments of the Torah were a bondage to the Israelites and are no longer binding on Christians.

Teachings Against the Biblical Dietary Laws of Clean and Unclean Meats

Early part of second century A.D.—Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians, ch. 6. The author states that one who adheres the biblical dietary laws “has the apostate dragon dwelling within him.”

Easter Celebration Established a Christian Holiday

Ca. A.D. 150—The celebration of the resurrection within the early church began in the middle of the second century (History of the Christian Church, vol. 2, pp. 207–8, by Philip Schaff). The date of Easter and its formal establishment and disconnection from Passover occurred in A.D. 325 at the council of Nicea.

Sabbath Officially Changed to Sunday

A.D. 321—Sunday officially becomes the weekly day of worship (in place of the Sabbath) by a legal enactment of Emporer Constantine (History of the Christian Church, vol. 3, p. 378ff, by Philip Schaff; History of the Christianity, vol 1, p. 93, by Kenneth Scott Latourette)

Christmas Established as a Christian Holiday

Ca. A.D. 354—Christmas originated in the middle to the end of the fourth century as a Christian holiday as an outgrowth of a pagan festival celebrating the birth of the pagan sun god.

 

6 thoughts on “False Teachings and Destructive Heresies of the Early Church Fathers

  1. Shalom Natan

    here’s an arrow for your quiver to shoot down the liars. Roman 14:14 which is used to show us “clearly” food laws are done away with, actually translates the Greek word Koine into unclean! Most of the early translations correctly translated Koine as common as has elsewhere in the NT but it is a modern FRAUD on the church that has been instigated now more people have access to the bible. I have looked at a powerpoint teaching where the person went to a library in USA that had the very old texts and had the librarian open them up with the white gloves whilst he took the photos. Christianity has a lot of wickedness at the top for this lie to be repeated as elsewhere. It is not just error. These reviewing committee scholars KNOW and continue to allow new additions to be published with this misdirection away from keeping our Temples Holy. If you want to look at the thing I came across I will send the link to you on the other account. The fellow goes to source material and goes into the linguistics, history, culture seeking truth of what the words mean and if the words have been faithfully given to us. Be blessed. FJ PS I checked it out on blueletterbible.org and it is a fact.

  2. Sounds like the deeds of the Nicolaitanes Rev 2:6, by the way, Nicea was the daughter of Antipater (against the father) and her name was derived from Nikolaos (Nike-to conquer, to control,Laity=the people…Nicolaitanes! pray for Discernment 1Cor 2:14!

    • The Bible says that the human soul dies upon death; however, the spirit part of a person goes back to Elohim when a person dies. At the resurrection of the saints at the second coming of Yeshua, the spirit will then be reunited with their resurrected body and soul which has been in the grave until that time. At that time, the whole person—body, soul and spirit—will be glorified and live forever with YHVH Elohim and the New Jerusalem during the millennium (Rev 20) and eventually in the new heavens and the new earth (Rev 21 and 22). For more info on what happens to you when you die, I invite you to read my short teaching article on the subject at

    • https://www.hoshanarabbah.org/teaching.html#plan
    • I know this is not inline with what your churches have been teaching you, but I’m giving you the truth of the Bible, not the unbiblical doctrines and traditions of men. Make of it what you will.

      Blessings!
      .

  3. Would you please show me in scripture where the human soul dies. St Paul says to be absent with the body is to be present with the Lord. Doesn’t sound much like death to me

    • The soul dies: Ezek 18:4.

      Paul’s statement says nothing about the state of the soul at death. This is reading into the Scripture and putting one’s own interpretation into it. Yes, part of us goes back to our Father in heaven when we die, but it’s not the soul. Please read my article explaining this:

    • https://www.hoshanarabbah.org/pdfs/r-u-savd.pdf
    • . After you have done this, then ask me any questions that you may have about what happens when you die. Blessings.

Share your thoughts...