Doctrine means ‘teaching or something taught. The word ‘doctrine’ is also used to refer to a principle of belief and the basic principles of general truth taught to the people. Christian doctrine is the authoritative teaching of the truths of the Christian faith believed and taught by Christians. These doctrines are based solely on the teachings of the Bible.
The word ‘doctrine’ occurs in fifty-six places in the Authorised Version of the Bible. The Hebrew word used for doctrine is Leiqh . It means ‘what is received for instruction or learning.’ The Greek word used for doctrine is Didash kalia . It occurs in twenty-one places in the New Testament. This word is translated as ‘teaching in many places in the modern English translations of the Bible. Paul used this Greek word in fifteen places in his pastoral epistles to refer to doctrine of teaching. He used this word in his epistles to refer mainly to the divinely
communicated truth concerning Christian faith and belief. The full understanding of the Christian doctrine strengthens the faith of Christians and changes their value system and lifestyle. Hence it is very important for all Christians to be thorough with the Christian doctrines to be strong in the Lord. It also motivates them to involve in ministry.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES
In a tall building of more than one-hundred floors, the concrete foundation and the concrete pillars are very important. The building is strong and stable only because of the concrete structure. The building will collapse if the concrete structure is not very strong. In the same manner, Christian doctrine is the foundation for the Christian faith. Right understanding of Christian doctrine is very important for the Church and for each Christian; without which their faith will collapse.
There are many denominations among Christians. This is mainly due to the differences in understanding the basic Christian doctrines. To avoid this error and eliminate confusion among Christians, a basic understanding of the doctrine is a must for every Christian. It prevents them from going astray from the Lord and from being misled by false teaching.
Before learning Christian doctrines, it is important to know the uniqueness of Christian doctrines. Here are a few characteristics of Christian doctrines.
1. Doctrine is Revealed in the Bible Progressively
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Christian doctrine of the present day church is not written in the Bible as creeds, articles of faith or doctrinal statements. The doctrine of the Church found in the Bible was progressively revealed to the Church in various councils of the church and to the Christians leaders who studied the Bible to know the truth.
What is the origin of the Christian doctrine? Jesus Christ said that the doctrine comes from God. “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:16, 17). So the origin of the Christian faith is God.
How did God give the doctrine to the Church? The Bible says that God gave the doctrine to the church progressively. “Whom will He teach knowledge? And whom will He make to understand the message (doctrine)?… But the Word of the Lord was to them, Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little,….” (Is. 28:9, 13). God revealed the doctrine progressively by ‘precept upon precept’ and ‘line upon line over a period of about 2000 years through the authors of the Bible. The authors received the doctrine of God progressively and wrote them down in the sixty-six books of the Bible.
The Old Testament authors received the revelation ‘in diverse manners’ (in portions or in many ways) and at ‘sundry times’ (Old Testament times) (Heb. 1:1, 2, KJV). But in the New Testament times, the doctrine was revealed to us through His Son Jesus Christ and through the apostles (John 1:1-3; Eph. 3:1-6). Therefore Christian doctrine is from God and it is revealed in the Bible for us to study and understand the truth.
2. Doctrine is the Faith that was Revealed Once For All
The Bible says that the revelation of the doctrine for the Church is complete in the Scriptures and there is no need for extra revelation now. About this truth Jude wrote, “Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). The word ‘faith’ in this verse refers to the accepted teaching or the doctrine of the Church. Jude wrote that this teaching is revealed ‘once for all.’ It means that the revelation of the doctrine in the Scripture is complete and there won’t be any additional or new revelation other than the Scriptures.
Christian doctrine is revealed once for all. Hence the canon of the Scripture is completed with the sixty-six books of the Bible and nobody should add or delete the Word of God and the doctrines. About this fact the Bible says, “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take anything from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deut. 4:2).
There will be God’s curse on those who add or take away from the teachings of the Bible. The Bible says about this fact, “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life” (Rev. 22:18,19). Since the Word of God is final; the doctrines revealed in the Bible are final. Hence nobody can add anything to the doctrine revealed in the Bible and any doctrine which is not taught in the Bible should not be accepted.
In the history of the church, some Christians said that they received extra revelation from God directly, and tried to add their revelation to the church. But Jude 3 clearly states that the revelation of the doctrine in the Scripture was doctrine of the church. Others tried to include the traditions followed by certain as completed and such revelation should not be considered as the churches over the years as the doctrine of the church. They failed to take into account the fact that nobody should add or delete the Word of God and include to the doctrine of
additional so called truths to the doctrines already revealed in the Scriptures. 3. Doctrines are the Truths that are Declared and Surely Believed
