3. the sect holding the opinion.
In the Acts of the Apostles
(Acts 5:17; 15:5; 24:5,14; 26:5) it denotes a
sect, without reference to its character. Elsewhere, however, in the
New Testament it has a different meaning attached to it. Paul ranks
"heresies" with crimes and seditions
(Galatians 5:20) This word also denotes
divisions or schisms in the church
(1 Corinthians 11:19) In
(Ti 3:10) a
"heretical person" is one who follows his own self-willed "questions,"
and who is to be avoided. Heresies thus came to signify self-chosen
doctrines not emanating from God
(2 Peter 2:1)
