If you asked a dozen Christians today whether false teachers are a problem, nearly all would nod in agreement. But if you asked them how to recognize a false teacher. . . the answers get vague.
Headlines and charismatic platforms often drown out discernment. What feels right, what’s eloquent, or what doesn’t offend us often masquerades as truth.
The stakes are far too high to rely on intuition or popularity. Scripture repeatedly warns that deceivers will come. To walk faithfully, we must sharpen our discernment.
To that end, let’s compare one classic and two contemporary lists of marks of false teaching. Notice the similarities.
J. C. Ryle’s “8 Symptoms of False Teachers” (c. 100 years ago)
Over 100 years ago, J.C. Ryle, a prominent Anglican clergyman in nineteenth-century Britain, gave 8 symptoms of false teachers in his book Warnings to Churches. Ryle’s list feels prophetic—even now. His observations aren’t just historical curiosities; they resonate in our modern age. Let’s look at each symptom, and reflect on how it shows itself today:
“Many things combine to make the present increase of false doctrine especially dangerous.
- There is an undeniable zeal in some teachers of error—their “earnestness” makes many people think they must be right.
- There is a great appearance of learning and theological knowledge—many think that such clever and intellectual men must surely be safe to listen to.
- There is a general tendency to completely free and independent thinking today—many like to prove their independence of judgment by believing the newest ideas, which are nothing but novelties.
- There is a wide-spread desire to appear kind, loving, and open-minded—many seem half-ashamed to say that anybody can be wrong or is a false teacher.
- There is always a portion of half-truth taught by modern false teachers–they are always using scriptural words and phrases, but with unscriptural meaning.
- There is a public craving for a more sensational and entertaining worship—people are impatient with the more inward and invisible work of God within the hearts of men.
- There is a superficial readiness all around to believe anyone who talks cleverly, lovingly and earnestly, forgetting that Satan often masquerades himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians:11:14).
- There is a wide-spread ignorance among professing Christians—every heretic who speaks well is surely believed, and anyone who doubts him is called narrow-minded and unloving.
All these are especially symptoms of our times. I challenge any honest and observant person to deny them. These tend to make the assaults of false doctrine today especially dangerous and make it even more important to say loudly, “Do not be carried away with strange doctrine!”
If you find the language difficult, here’s a “translation”:
- Zeal without sound doctrine. A teacher who preaches with fire but neglects foundational truth can mislead with passion. The fervor draws us in, but the message may have a weak foundation.
- Appearance of learning and theological knowledge. Sophisticated language or theological terminology can be seductive. But brilliance is not a substitute for truth. We must ask, “Is the doctrine faithful to Scripture?”
- Elevating independent thinking or novelty. When new ideas are prized over proven ones, you risk drifting from orthodoxy. Some false teachers promote “fresh perspectives” that actually discard historic Christian belief.
- Overemphasis on love, openness, and tolerance. The desire to be inclusive can lead to the suppression of truth. When “no one can be wrong” becomes the mantra, accountability collapses.
- Use of scriptural language with unscriptural meaning. This is perhaps the sneakiest. Familiar Bible words are twisted, taken out of context, or re-defined. Always compare to the broader biblical canon.
- Demand for sensational worship or emotional experiences. When worship becomes performance or entertainment, it draws attention away from internal transformation. The “heat” may captivate, but what’s underneath?
- Readiness to accept eloquence while dismissing caution. Clever speakers gain trust quickly. But Satan can masquerade as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Eloquence without biblical anchors is dangerous.
- Ignorance among believers Ryle warns of Christians who lack depth, so when a false teacher arrives, they are easily swayed. Discipleship and biblical literacy are essential bulwarks.
Ryle’s list shows us that error often hides behind what looks good, sounds wise, or feels right. His eighth point reminds us — the presence of error is compounded in a church of uninstructed believers.
Tim Challies’ “7 Marks of a False Teacher”
Tim Challies, a pastor and author from Toronto Ontario, posted this intriguing list of “7 Marks of a False Teacher (2013). Challies offers a modern, accessible checklist that speaks directly to relational and pastoral dynamics.
- False teachers are man pleasers. What they teach is meant to please the ear more than profit the heart.
- False teachers save their harshest criticism for God’s most faithful servants.
- False teachers teach their own wisdom and vision.
- False teachers miss what is of central importance and focus instead on the small details.
- False teachers obscure their false doctrine behind eloquent speech and what appears to be impressive logic.
- False teachers are more concerned with winning others to their opinions than in helping and bettering them.
- False teachers exploit their followers.
Here’s how I would summarize and explain his list:
- Man-pleasing ministry. When a teacher tailors their message to the desires of the crowd, the gospel takes a back seat to popularity.
- Harshest criticism reserved for faithful servants. False teachers often defame those who carry faithful convictions, painting them as rigid or divisive, while excusing their own compromises.
- Teaching their own wisdom or vision. Instead of expositing Scripture, some push their “revelations” or frameworks, subtly shifting authority away from God’s Word.
- Missing central issues; focusing on side issues. Small debates become their passion, while the essentials of the faith are ignored or downplayed.
- Eloquent speech masking weak doctrine. Sound theology becomes the background scenery. What matters is the “flow,” the emotional journey, or the sophisticated logic, even when the foundation is shaky.
- Greater concern with persuasion than pastoral care. Winning converts to their vision is more important than shepherding souls into maturity.
- Exploitation of followers. At the heart: people are used. Financial pressure, emotional manipulation, dependency on the teacher—all are red flags.
Challies’ list is a stark reminder that false teaching isn’t just wrong ideas. It’s relational, cunning, and manipulative. A false teacher can charm, guide, or coerce you into secondary commitments that ultimately lead away from Christ.
Colin Smith’s “7 Questions of False Teachers”
Colin Smith gave this list of questions to ask in his post 7 Traits of False Teachers (2013) on The Gospel Coalition’s website.
Smith shifts from “what to look for” to “what to ask”—a helpful pivot from attempting to “spot” false teachers like a checklist, toward engaging discernment questions.
- Different Source – Where does the message come from?
- Different Message – What is the substance of the message? For the true teacher, Jesus Christ is central.
- Different Position – In what positions will the message leave you?
- Different Character – What kind of people does the message produce?
- Different Appeal – Why should you listen to the message?
- Different Fruit – What result does the message have in people’s live?
- Different End – Where does the message ultimately lead you?”
Here’s how I would summarize and explain his list:
- Different Source. False teachers do not stand on the authority of Scripture. They may quote the Bible, but their true source is often personal visions, private interpretations, popular opinion, or human tradition. They substitute God’s Word with man’s ideas.
- Different Message. Instead of proclaiming the gospel—that we are saved by faith in Christ alone—they offer an alternative: moralism, self-help, legalism, or prosperity. They distort or dilute the good news and shift the focus away from Jesus.
- Different Position. False teaching elevates the self. It encourages pride, self-reliance, or independence from God. Rather than pointing people toward humility and surrender, it tells them they are fine as they are. Or that they can save themselves.
- Different Character. Their lives lack the marks of spiritual maturity: humility, gentleness, holiness, and love. Instead, you’ll often see arrogance, manipulation, greed, or an unhealthy craving for recognition and control.
- Different Appeal. Their teaching caters to what people want to hear rather than what they need to hear. They seek to please crowds, not to honor God. Their messages soothe, flatter, or entertain, but they rarely convict or call for repentance.
- Different Fruit. Over time, their influence leads to division, confusion, stagnation, or moral compromise. The spiritual fruit of their ministry is rotten or barren, rather than producing growth in godliness, unity, and love.
- Different End. Ultimately, false teaching does not lead people to eternal life. It leads them away from Christ. Though the path may look attractive at first, it ends in destruction.
Every sermon, social media post, or “influential voice” ought to answer these. Don’t let yourself be a sponge for ideas. You are a discerner before a receiver.
Related Interesting Articles:
An Unconditionally Conditional Faith: Emergent theology Part 1
Understanding Emergent Theology Part 2
(Dis)ingenuous – Emergent Theology Part 3
Why I reject Emergent Theology
Beth Moore Confronts Young Pastor’s Wife for Criticizing Her Direct, Divine Revelation
A Few Brief Thoughts on the Hatmaker Hermeneutic
Part of the Series: Bible Study 201: Learn to teach
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