Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Jeremiah 6:16 ¶ Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Jeremiah 6:16 ¶ Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the roads and look; ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is; then walk in it, And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it!' [Matt 11:29] |
Subject: Theological Term: Orthodoxy |
Bible Note: Dear Brother Mark, You wrote, "By this, then, when you say of a certain doctrine, teaching, understanding, or etc., that it is orthodox, you are saying that it agrees with the creeds, confessions, and the writings of aforementioned men, and when you say that something is unorthodox, you are saying that it disagrees with the creeds, confessions, and the writings of aforementioned men." Not really, but if you want me to simplify the definition, I can do so. Theology is a discipline. It does not create words out of thin air. Every word must be defined and consistently used. Definition: In theology the term orthodox means adherence to the accepted, historic Christian faith (essential doctrines) as expressed in the ecumenical creeds and confessions. This is the definition of orthodoxy -- the way that I use it in our discussions or in any communication with theology students or theologians. (We can exhaustively enumerate all of ecumenical councils and essential doctrines, if you like.) Note that a group may teach additional doctrines (e.g., paedobaptism, credobaptism, covenant theology, dispensationalism, premillennialism, etc.) in addition to those mentioned above without leaving the pale of orthodoxy. For example, Lutheranism, Presbyterianism, and my own historic Baptist tradition, are orthodox systems, but they have doctrines that go beyond orthodoxy without contradicting orthodoxy. Indeed such groups embrace orthodoxy. There are two other extant definitions of orthodoxy that I've occasionally observed: (1) The set of minimal doctrines by which any group, or church, or individual can legitimately claim to be Christian; and (2) as a proper noun (i.e., capitalized), of or relating to the Eastern Orthodox Church and its beliefs. The term unorthodox is never used in serious theological writings in the way you've suggested. If it did appear, I wouldn't expect it to be defined in any special way beyond what you find in a good English dictionary. Heterodox is probably the word for which you were seeking. Heterodoxy is simply the negation of orthodoxy. The denial of orthodoxy or a replacement of the essential doctrines with contrary teaching is said to be heterodoxy. For example: Unitarians deny the Nicene Creed; Russelists (Jehovah Witness) deny the doctrine of the diety of Christ; Oneness Pentecostals deny the doctrine of the Trinity; Campbellites (Church of Christ) deny the doctrine of salvation by faith alone (sola fide); Seventh Day Adventists deny the doctrine of the sole authority of Scripture (sola scriptura); etc. If you need further clarity, please ask. In Him, Doc |