What are some first order doctrines? Examples include that God is triune, the deity of Christ, and the incarnation. Scripture guides us here in setting these doctrines as primary. For example, the apostle John calls someone an antichrist when there is a denial of certain things about Christ

Not every doctrinal issue is a matter of heresy versus orthodoxy. In today’s internet fueled climate this first sentence is worth repeating to ourselves. As young growing Christians many of us, myself included, zealously desired to defend Biblical doctrines. Sometimes in our zeal we brought more heat than light or, to switch metaphors, like the equivalent of a wartime friendly fire incident we attacked genuine brothers in Christ.

In this respect, it is important to distinguish between primary and secondary doctrines. Primary and secondary doctrines distinguish between doctrines that hinge upon our salvation over against those that do not.

What are some first order doctrines? Examples include that God is triune, the deity of Christ, and the incarnation. Scripture guides us here in setting these doctrines as primary. For example, the apostle John calls someone an antichrist when there is a denial of certain things about Christ:

1 John 2:22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

1 John 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

2 John 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

Elsewhere Paul tells us that if there is no resurrection of the dead, we are still in our sins (1 Cor. 15:17). Preaching and faith is in vain if there is no resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15:14). We understand from Paul that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are matters of first importance (1 Cor. 15:1-4). Therefore, we understand by the nature of Paul’s argument that a denial of the death of Christ would be a heresy. Likewise, someone who denies the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a genuine believer in Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, the early church creeds such as the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Chalcedonian Creed can help us prioritize things that are matters of first order doctrines. We do not put the creeds above the authority of Scripture. Instead, the early history of the church shows us a time where these doctrines were attacked and denied. The gravity of the historical situations reminds us what is at stake in denying these doctrines.

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