N.B. Much of the discussion on ‘tolerance’ was derived from a sermon preached by D.A. Carson entitled ‘The Intolerance of Tolerance’. I’m sure you could find this sermon - free to download - if you googled it. For further discussion on ‘antithesis’ and the implications for a culture that shuns it, I would recommend the book ‘The God Who Is There’ and/or ‘Escape From Reason’ by Francis Schaeffer.
When the writers of the New Testament speak of the truth of Christianity, and that particular doctrine which encompasses it as an entity or system, it is always in the singular, i.e. ‘the truth’; that is, a unit - a perfect, harmonious, consistent and singular unit of truth. This is how the New Testament writers refer to the solitary truth of Christianity:
‘Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them’ (Rom. 16:17). ‘Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine’ (1 Tim. 4:16). ‘There is... one faith’ (Eph. 4:17). ‘If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine’ (Jn. 7:17). ‘And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’ (Jn. 8:32). ‘For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness’ (Rom. 1:18). ‘The elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also those who have known the truth’ (2 Jn. 1:1). ‘But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude...; And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way...; But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets’ (Acts 19:9, 23; 24:14). ‘...not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things’ (Titus 2:10). ‘He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy’ (Gal. 1:23). ‘My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality’ (Jam. 2:1). ‘Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him’ (1 Jn. 9, 10). ‘...so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith’ (2 Tim. 3:8). ‘...contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints’ (Jude 3).
Though the terms used to describe the embodiment of the teaching of Christianity are varied in each context (such as ‘faith’, ‘teaching’, ‘doctrine’, ‘way’, ‘truth’, etc.), it should be obvious that they all, with the preceding definite article, encapsulate the single sum of the Christian faith as a whole. There was no plurality in truth or way or doctrine in the Christianity taught by either Christ, or His apostles. Conversely, when the inspired writers of Scripture warned against false doctrines and teachings and prophets, it was always in the plural sense:
‘But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies... And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed’ (2 Pet. 2:1, 2). ‘...Which all concern things which perish with the using - according to the commandments and doctrines of men’ (Col. 2:22). ‘...not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth’ (Titus 1:14). ‘For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away form the truth, and be turned aside to fables’ (2 Tim. 4: 3, 4). ‘Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world’ (1 Jn. 4:1). ‘Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons’ (1 Tim. 4:1).
That is, deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, plural; in contradistinction to the blessed Spirit of Truth, who alone teaches the believer all things (1 Jn. 2:27; Jn. 14:26). And so it goes...
‘Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them’ (Rom. 16:17). ‘Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine’ (1 Tim. 4:16). ‘There is... one faith’ (Eph. 4:17). ‘If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine’ (Jn. 7:17). ‘And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’ (Jn. 8:32). ‘For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness’ (Rom. 1:18). ‘The elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also those who have known the truth’ (2 Jn. 1:1). ‘But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude...; And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way...; But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets’ (Acts 19:9, 23; 24:14). ‘...not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things’ (Titus 2:10). ‘He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy’ (Gal. 1:23). ‘My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality’ (Jam. 2:1). ‘Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him’ (1 Jn. 9, 10). ‘...so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith’ (2 Tim. 3:8). ‘...contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints’ (Jude 3).
Though the terms used to describe the embodiment of the teaching of Christianity are varied in each context (such as ‘faith’, ‘teaching’, ‘doctrine’, ‘way’, ‘truth’, etc.), it should be obvious that they all, with the preceding definite article, encapsulate the single sum of the Christian faith as a whole. There was no plurality in truth or way or doctrine in the Christianity taught by either Christ, or His apostles. Conversely, when the inspired writers of Scripture warned against false doctrines and teachings and prophets, it was always in the plural sense:
‘But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies... And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed’ (2 Pet. 2:1, 2). ‘...Which all concern things which perish with the using - according to the commandments and doctrines of men’ (Col. 2:22). ‘...not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth’ (Titus 1:14). ‘For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away form the truth, and be turned aside to fables’ (2 Tim. 4: 3, 4). ‘Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world’ (1 Jn. 4:1). ‘Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons’ (1 Tim. 4:1).
That is, deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, plural; in contradistinction to the blessed Spirit of Truth, who alone teaches the believer all things (1 Jn. 2:27; Jn. 14:26). And so it goes...
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