Revelation Chapter Two, Rejecting Evil Doers

Revelation 2:2d and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

The Greek term for bear is, “bastazo,” and it means, “to lift, endure, sustain, declare, receive. It signifies to support as a burden.” The Lord relates that the Ephesian church cannot lift up or support evil doing. They do not endure or receive evil.

How does this evil manifest? The first recorded history of heterodox teaching in the church is found in Acts chapter 15. Judaizers taught, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved,” Acts 15:1. This, of course, stirred a firestorm of controversy in the church from James, Peter, and Paul, among others. The gospel was being challenged; proponents of incorporating Judaism’s tenets pushed for circumcision and law obedience, see Acts 15:5. Paul, writing to the Galatian church of this event, said, “And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you,” Galatians 2:4, 5. These men attempted to add to the gospel. They desired that Judaism be integrated into salvation, but Judaism was a temporary teacher, a tutor whose sole design was to lead Israel to Christ, Galatians 3:24.

The Corinthian church likewise suffered an attack by Judaizers who were apparently claiming apostleship and Jewish pedigree, 2 Corinthians 11:13, 22. These men were boasters, proud of their accomplishments and holding them up as accolades for respect and authority, 2 Corinthians 10:12, 11:18. John contended with an evil teacher who adored possessing preeminence in the church, 3 John 9, 10. This man had secured a position of authority, and the usage of the word preeminence suggests he held the sole position of spiritual leader in this specific church. The term means, “to be fond of being first or ambitious of distinction.” Diotrephes may not have been teaching false doctrine, but his malicious, angry, proud spirit disqualified him from the position of being a teacher, and he needed to be removed from the position, 1 Timothy 3:1-7.

In 1 John, the apostle contends with the advent of Gnostic thought invading Christian doctrine. While he does not use the term, Irenaeus of Lyons (140-202 AD) penned a long discourse regarding the Gnostic sect, linking it back to John’s writing in his epistle. Irenaeus’ contemporary and rival was a man named Tatian, a former disciple of Justin Martyr that embraced Gnosticism after Justin’s death and wrote the Diatessaron, a Gnostic harmonizing of the four gospels that omitted the passages reflecting Jesus’ humanity. Suffice to say, embryonic Christian Gnosticism existed in John’s time, and he withstood it vigorously, pointing to their departure from the church as evidence that they never truly knew Christ, 1 John 2:19.

Simon the sorcerer was another man who wanted to misuse the Holy Spirit and His gifts for monetary gain, only for Peter to shut him down harshly, Acts 8:20-23. In all things the apostles showed themselves to be unyielding toward evil that threatened the doctrinal–and therefore the moral–core of the Christian church. Yes, doctrine and morality are intrinsically linked. A saint may not know how the Holy Spirit desires us to conduct ourselves unless we submit to the word He inspired as our guide in life. We may not intuit what is right; revelatory truth comes externally to us from divine inspiration. It is taught from teacher to disciple, and we internalize it, employ it, and in turn share it with others. The highest doctrine the Christian church professes is without doubt the gospel. It is the pinnacle of Christian truth. It is what delivers men from Hell, delivers men to God, forgives sin and sets us at liberty. Paul invoked a curse from God that anyone who dared to preach another gospel apart from the simplicity of Biblical truth should be separated from God forever, Galatians 1:8, 9.

The Ephesian church tested supposed apostles and found them to be liars. How? “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them,” Isaiah 8:20. In the OT, Moses wrote that if a prophet arose, even performing signs that came to pass but then enticed Israel to abandon God for false gods, Israel was to reject that prophet. The man was a liar, attempting to lead Israel astray, Deuteronomy 13:1-4. The same may be said today. If a teacher arises and entices Christians to abandon the bedrock of Scripture, we must adhere to the example of Ephesus. We test them, and reject them as liars if they do not hold fast to the word of God. What parts of the word of God? All of it, of course. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” 2 Timothy 3:16. Even the parts my modern sensibilities do not agree with? God and His word are timeless; man’s supposed sensibilities change like the seasons. We cling to what is objectively true and reject what is false, by extension rejecting those who propagate it. For this Ephesus was praised.