Doctrine Error - Saturday November 01, 2014
He [Apollos] began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus." Acts 18:26-28 ESV
The other day, I was struck by this passage from Acts. Apollos was publicly teaching incorrect doctrine regarding baptism!
"What?! It's time to start a blistering, online rebuke of him. Apollos might have known the Old Testament, but he didn't understand a fundamental aspect of Christian doctrine-baptism! For crying out loud!" That gifted, passionate man was publicly teaching incorrect doctrine! We tend to 'go to war' against others for a lot less than false doctrine!
Now Apollos demonstrated humility to learn from that tentmaker and his wife, but I was struck also by Priscilla and Aquila's methods. First, that couple actually listened to him speak; then they took him aside (i.e., privately!), and then they instructed him further. We may think, "But Apollos has a public ministry, so he should be corrected in the public arena!" Apparently Priscilla and Aquila didn't agree with our modern sentiment. That godly couple didn't slander him to others; they didn't protest him as a false teacher! They simply spoke to him in private. Instructing young Christians privately is a very good deed!
Submitted by:
Josh Whitney
The Rock Church
Salt Lake City, Utah
One-Year Reading Plan:
Ezekiel 1:1-3:15
Hebrews 3:1-19
Psalms 104:1-23
Proverbs 26:24-26
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