The "Colossian Heresy"

Interpreters have frequently debated the exact nature and identity of the false teaching addressed by Paul in Colossians. But I am wondering whether it might be time to see the aberration as an amalgamation of various elements of false doctrine rather than a teaching traceable to a single source. In any case, the following is a slide that I have used in the past to help illustrate the false teaching in terms of a spectrum. Given what I have stated, I am not sure how helpful the visual is but include it nonetheless.

 

Resources for Teaching and Preaching Habakkuk

  
Shane Lems has a discussion of commentary resources that he found helpful in preaching and teaching Habakkuk here.
 

Those in Theological Error

Martin Downes has posted an interesting piece on "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Heretics." While the title is a bit over the top in my opinion, Downes does make a helpful observation concerning the different types of people who are involved in theological error.

"In an unpublished paper given at a B.E.C. conference the late Rev. Robert Sheehan helpfully talked about how in the New Testament there are five kinds of people who are in error, and five different responses to those errors by the apostles. They are:

1. The sincerely ignorant
2. The sincere misinterpreter
3. The temporarily inconsistent
4. The deceived
5. The deceivers"

My Summary Argument for the Book of Jude

The message of Jude is that contending for the faith means recognizing and rejecting false teachings and false teachers until they are judged at the coming of the Lord.

The practical foundation for contending is the positional foundation of being called, beloved, and kept (1) and the divine provision of mercy, peace, and love (2). It is from this “common salvation” that the exhortation to contend earnestly for the faith against those who would ultimately deny Jesus Himself proceeds (3–4). Furthermore, in the introductory section (1–4), three themes are introduced that dominate the remainder of the epistle. First, he introduces the idea of contending for the faith (i.e. resisting and rejecting false teachers and teachings). Second, Jude introduces the false teachers/teachings. Third, Jude introduces the idea of judgment (“condemnation”) of the false teachers.

In the main body of the epistle, Jude reminds his readers that resistance and rejection of false teachers/teachings is wholly appropriate given God’s past, present, and future rejection and condemnation of false teachers. In the past God dealt with the disobedient Israelites, wayward angels, and the immoral people of Sodom and Gomorrah (5–7). In the present, the false teachers stand condemned before God as they revisit the sins of the past (8–13). For such men, judgment is inevitable and certain (14–16). Thus, false teachers have nothing to offer other than certain and severe judgment.

In the conclusion of the epistle, Jude reminds his readers that contending for the faith and resisting false teachers requires both awareness of the threat (17–18), diligence in maintaining a healthy spiritual life (19–21), and a willingness to help others (22–23). Jude closes his epistle with a word of affirmation and encouragement (24–25) that echoes vv. 1–2 (note the idea of kept/keep) which is so important to remember when contending for the faith.