Enlightenment - Root and Branch Attack on Reformers: Handout Church History with John Gerstner

Dr. Gerstner examines the twists and turns of church history, addressing major theological developments along the way. He demonstrates how God has been at work in each stage of church history and explains that Christians today can be confident that God continues to work in the church for His glory.
This is the 33rd in a series of messages by Dr. Gerstner on church history. See other videos in the series: • Handout Church History...
This message was originally published by Ligonier Ministries: www.ligonier.org/

[@kr57ns]

Jesus taught His disciples to beware of the leven of the Pharisees, and to let them alone, they be blind leaders of the blind. Where did He say, " the Pharisees are very learned, and you can benefit from their great minds"? Should not an "enlightened" false teacher should be avoided?

[@simeondutoit6545]

Well, Jesus also told the people to obey the pharisees since they were in the seat of Moses. So, learning from the pharisees and avoiding their leaven are not contradictory. This is expanded to heathen teachers when Paul quotes the Greek poet Aratus when saying "in Him we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:28). That was written about Zeus by an unbeliever, who by common grace observed something true about deity, even though he applied it to false idol. So while Aratus was a false teacher and got quoted in scripture, and the pharisees were false teachers from whom could be learned but whose leaven had to be avoided. Consequently, the wicked gather that the righteous might receive (Eccl 2:26) in this area of life too.
At least, it seems this way to me, and church history is full of false teachers, like Erasmus, furnishing God's people with great benefits, so the theory fits the practice.