Topical Encyclopedia
The term "spurious" refers to something that is not genuine, authentic, or true. In a biblical context, it often pertains to teachings, writings, or practices that are falsely attributed to divine inspiration or that deviate from the truth of Scripture. The Bible warns against spurious doctrines and false teachers, emphasizing the importance of discernment and adherence to the truth.
Biblical Warnings Against Spurious TeachingsThe New Testament contains numerous warnings against false teachings and those who propagate them. In
2 Peter 2:1 , the apostle Peter cautions, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves." This passage highlights the danger of spurious teachings that can lead believers astray.
Similarly, the apostle Paul warns in
Galatians 1:6-7 , "I am astonished how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ." Here, Paul addresses the issue of spurious gospels that distort the true message of Christ.
Discernment and Testing of SpiritsThe Bible encourages believers to exercise discernment and to test the spirits to determine whether they are from God. In 1
John 4:1 , it is written, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." This directive underscores the necessity of vigilance in distinguishing between genuine and spurious spiritual influences.
Spurious Writings and Apocryphal TextsThroughout history, various writings have been considered spurious or apocryphal, meaning they are not recognized as part of the canonical Scriptures. The early church fathers were diligent in discerning which texts were divinely inspired and which were not. The Berean approach, as exemplified in
Acts 17:11 , "Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true," serves as a model for evaluating the authenticity of teachings and writings.
The Role of Scripture in Identifying the SpuriousThe Bible itself is the ultimate standard for identifying spurious teachings and practices. In
2 Timothy 3:16-17 , Paul affirms, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work." This passage emphasizes the sufficiency of Scripture in equipping believers to discern truth from falsehood.
ConclusionWhile the Bible does not use the term "spurious" directly, the concept is woven throughout its teachings, particularly in the context of false doctrines and deceptive practices. Believers are called to be vigilant, discerning, and grounded in the truth of God's Word to guard against the influence of spurious teachings.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Not proceeding from the true source; not genuine; false; as, spurious charges.
2. (a.) Not legitimate; bastard; as, spurious issue.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SPURIOUS, ACTS, EPISTLES, GOSPELSspa'-ri-us.
SeeAPOCRYPHAL ACTS;APOCRYPHAL EPISTLES; APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS.
EPISTLES, SPURIOUS
spu'-ri-us.
SeeAPOCRYPHAL EPISTLES.
GOSPELS, SPURIOUS
spu'-ri-us.
SeeAPOCRYPHAL GOSPELS.
Greek
2215. zizanion -- zizanium (a kind of darnel resembling wheat)... of darnel resembling wheat). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: zizanion
Phonetic Spelling: (dziz-an'-ee-on) Short Definition:
spurious wheat, darnel
...3541. nothos -- a bastard, baseborn
... an illegitimate child. Of uncertain affinity; aspurious or illegitimate son --
bastard. (nothoi) -- 1 Occurrence. 3540, 3541. nothos. 3542 . Strong's Numbers
5575 -- false witness.
... false witness. From pseudes and a kindred form of martus; aspurious witness, ie
Bearer of untrue testimony -- false witness. see GREEK pseudes....
114. atheteo -- to do away with what has been laid down, set aside
... 114 (literally, , "un-place") -- properly, ; reject what is already laid down; to
(disregard asspurious); nullify, make void; to break faith (); remove out of...
5570. pseudapostolos -- a false apostle
... false teacher. From pseudes and apostolos; aspurious apostle, ie Pretended pracher --
false teacher. see GREEK pseudes. see GREEK apostolos....
5580. pseudochristos -- a false Christ or Messiah
... false Christ. From pseudes and Christos; aspurious Messiah -- false Christ. see
GREEK pseudes. see GREEK Christos. (pseudochristoi) -- 2 Occurrences....
5572. pseudodidaskalos -- a false teacher
... false teacher. From pseudes and didaskalos; aspurious teacher, ie Propagator of
erroneous Christian doctrine -- false teacher. see GREEK pseudes....
5578. pseudoprophetes -- a false prophet
... false prophet. From pseudes and prophetes; aspurious prophet, ie Pretended foreteller
or religious impostor -- false prophet. see GREEK pseudes....
5569. pseudadelphos -- a false brother
... false brethren. From pseudes and adephos; aspurious brother, ie Pretended associate
-- false brethren. see GREEK pseudes. see GREEK adephos....
Library
Dubious orSpurious Writings of Gregory Thaumaturgus
Dubious orSpurious Writings of Gregory Thaumaturgus. <. Dubious orSpurious
Writings of Gregory Thaumaturgus Gregory Thaumaturgus....
Introductory Note to theSpurious Epistles of Ignatius
... Introductory Note to theSpurious Epistles of Ignatius. To the following
introductory note of the translators nothing need be prefixed...
The History of theSpurious Alexander. Archelaus is Banished and...
... CHAPTER 7. The History Of TheSpurious Alexander. Archelaus Is Banished
And Glaphyra Dies, After What Was To Happen To Both Of Them...
Containing Dubious andSpurious Pieces.
... Containing Dubious andSpurious Pieces. A discourse [1878] by the most
blessed Hippolytus, bishop and martyr, on the end of the...
Concerning aSpurious Alexander.
... Years. From The Death Of Alexander And Aristobulus To The Banishment Of
Archelaus. CHAPTER 12. Concerning ASpurious Alexander. 1...
WritingsSpurious and Dubious.
... Prolegomena. Sketch of the Life and Works of Saint Basil. VII."WritingsSpurious
and Dubious. Under this head will be ranked besides...
Sikera, a Manufactured andSpurious Wine, yet Intoxicating; Things...
... Chapter VI."Sikera, a Manufactured andSpurious Wine, Yet Intoxicating; Things Which
are Akin to Sins are to Be Avoided by a Virgin; The Altar of Incense (a...
The Apocryphal andSpurious Scriptures of the Marcosians, with...
... Against Heresies: Book I Chapter XX."The apocryphal andspurious Scriptures of
the Marcosians, with passages of the Gospels which they pervert....
Dubious orSpurious Writings of Gregory Thaumaturgus
Dubious orSpurious Writings of Gregory Thaumaturgus. <....
The Four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, Thirteen Epistles of...
... p.39.) He then proceeds to reckon up five others, not in our canon, which he calls
in one placespurious, in another controverted, meaning, as appears to me...
Thesaurus
Spurious... 1. (a.) Not proceeding from the true source; not genuine; false; as,
spurious charges.
2. (a.) Not legitimate; bastard; as,
spurious issue.
... EPISTLES,
SPURIOUS.
...Counterfeit (3 Occurrences)
... portrayed. 3. (adv.) Assuming the appearance of something; false;spurious;
deceitful; hypocritical; as, a counterfeit philanthropist. 4...
Apocrypha
... Hidden,spurious, the name given to certain ancient books which found a place
in the LXX.... (3) "Spurious" Books (Athanasius, Nicephorus, etc.)....
Daniel (74 Occurrences)
... That there arespurious apocalypses no more proves that all arespurious than that
there arespurious gospels or epistles proves that there are no genuine ones...
Spurn (13 Occurrences)
Spur (3 Occurrences)
I-iii
... Genuine gospels had to be distinguished fromspurious; apostolic writings from
those of later date, or falsely bearing apostolic names....
Introduction (3 Occurrences)
... Genuine gospels had to be distinguished fromspurious; apostolic writings from
those of later date, or falsely bearing apostolic names....
Quintus
... 5). None of these is likely to be the one referred to in 2 Maccabees 11:34, and
it is possible that no such person was sent with the letter, which isspurious....
Nero
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Occurs only in the superscription (which is probablyspurious,
and is altogether omitted in the RV) to the Second Epistle to Timothy....
Resources
Is Mormonism properly defined as a cult? | GotQuestions.orgWho were the early church fathers? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the pseudepigrapha? | GotQuestions.orgSpurious: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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