The New Testament’s Warning about False Teachers

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble 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 the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Galatians 1:6-9, emphasis added

What Is Happening in Galatians?

Here is the historical context. False teachers came into these Galatian churches, and they are wreaking havoc among the body of believers. The Apostle Paul is writing this letter to correct, prevent, and warn these Christians from embracing a false gospel being promoted by these ungodly leaders. Christian scholars think that these false teachers were preaching a form of Jesus plus some of the Old Testament laws like circumcision. J. C. Ryle correctly asserted, “Substitute anything for Christ and the Gospel is totally spoiled!… Add anything to Christ, and the Gospel ceases to be a pure gospel” (Ryle, Knots United, 19). Ryle’s words are directly related to Paul’s entire argument in The Letter of Paul to the Galatians.

NOTE: This article will use the terms “false teachers” and “false prophets” synonymously.

Trouble with Application

Many believers struggle to apply and connect Paul’s logical discussion from Galatians to false teachers and teachings in the present. If we think about it, the difficulty makes sense. For example, can anyone name a church that is preaching Jesus plus circumcision? The odds are probably not that favorable. Therefore, applying Paul’s teaching to our contemporary circumstances might be difficult for many students of God’s Word.

Brief New Testament Overview about False Teachers

Before diving into the specifics of false teachers and their work, a person should start by thinking wholistically about the New Testament’s teaching on this topic. Stated in the form of two questions, “Why is Paul’s letter about false teachers and false gospels important for us, the church in the 21st century, and how does his teaching align with the entire New Testament?” Here is a quick overview for how Scripture would have us answer these questions:

Jesus told his disciples,

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Matthew 24:24

A believer should recognize two truths from Jesus’s statement. First, false teachers will be a present reality in this world. Jesus said that “false prophets will arise.” The verb tense seems to indicate that false teachers would continually surface until Christ returns. Second, false prophets perform so that they can lead God’s people astray. Therefore, Jesus warned his followers that false teachers are real and will try and lead believers away.

From Jesus, we can look at one of Peter’s letters,

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.

2 Peter 2:1-2

Peter confirms the first two truths from Jesus’s teaching, but also adds another truth for our consideration. Peter asserted that false teaches would “bring in destructive heresies.” This Apostle seems to imply that false teachers are found within the church and that is one of the reasons they are so dangerous to the people of God. Our third truth is that false teachers cause trouble from within, which means they create destruction among God’s people.

From Jesus and Peter, we will conclude with Paul speaking to the Ephesian pastors in Acts,

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

Acts 20:28-30

This text indicates that one of the methods God utilizes to fend off false teachers from preying on the body of Christ is through gospel-centered, Word-saturated, and godly pastors. Paul serves as a model of this in his writing to the Galatians churches who are being led astray by false teachers wielding a destructive false gospel. Churches should pray for and seek out pastors who are called to shepherd the flock of God with the Word of God to fend off the wolves who will be an ever-present reality until Christ returns.

Summary of False Teachers from the New Testament

From this quick overview of the New Testament’s teaching on false teachers, we see the following:

1. False teachers are a present reality.
2. False teachers can lead God’s people astray.
3. False teachers cause problems within the church.
4. God provides biblically qualified pastors to shepherd his flock with the Word of God to protect the body of Christ from false teachers.

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