Doctrinal knowledge is a safeguard against error. Matt. 22:29; Gal.
1:6–9; 2 Tim. 4:2–4
It is often said that the stars came before the science of astronomy, and that flowers existed before botany, and that life existed before biology, and that God existed before theology.
That is true. But men in their ignorance conceived superstitious notions about the stars, and the result was the false science of astrology. Men conceived false ideas about the plants, attributing virtues which they did not possess; and the result was witchcraft. Man in his blindness formed wrong conceptions of God, and the result was paganism with its superstitions and corruption.
But astronomy came with true principles about heavenly bodies and so exposed the errors of astrology; botany came with the truth about plants and so banished the errors of witchcraft. In like manner, Bible doctrine exposes false notions about God and His ways. “Let no man think error in doctrine a slight practical evil,” declared D. C. Hodge, the noted theologian. “No road to perdition has ever been more thronged than that of false doctrine. Error is a shield over the conscience, and a bandage
over the eyes.”
KNOWING THE DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE by MYER PEARLMAN
© 1937, revised 1981 by Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, Missouri 65802-1894.
Cross Mission Media 