Journal: Eikon
Volume: EIKON 07:2 (Fall 2025)
Article: Unflinching At The Point Of Attack
Author: Jonathan E. Swan

Eikon 7.2 (Fall 2025) p. 22

Unflinching At The Point Of Attack

Jonathan E. Swan

Jonathan E. Swan is Executive Editor of Eikon

Church History And Doctrinal Controversy

The history of the church can largely be outlined in a history of doctrinal controversy and challenges to “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). By this we should not be surprised. The Apostle Paul himself warned young Timothy that “in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” (1 Tim 4:1), and that “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Tim 4:3–4). In a gut-wrenching moment, Paul informed the Ephesians elders, “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” From there it gets worse: “and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:29–30; see also 2 Pet 2:1). In addition to “the ignorant and unstable” who “twist” Scripture “to their own destruction” (2 Pet 3:16), Paul predicted that from the elders themselves — those tasked with teaching, leading, and shepherding God’s people — will come those who twist the Scriptures to lead away members of the flock.

Of course, this was not merely a future issue for the Apostles. The New Testament itself

Eikon 7.2 (Fall 2025) p. 23

identifies false teaching as a contemporary problem, presenting the occasion for much of what is written in it. Paul contended against the Judaizers who demanded circumcision for justification (Galatians); the author of Hebrews sought to convince believers to forsake Israelite worship and to trust in the finished work of Christ; and the Apostle John warned against “false prophets” and “antichrists” — those who deny that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 4:1–3). Examples could be multiplied.

As one looks beyond the apostolic era, we see theological struggles continue as the early church became embattled in the defense of the gospel against Gnosticism, Sabellianism, Arianism, and Pelagianism, to name but a few early heresies. Each of these errors required direct confrontation, refutation in accordance with bibl...