WHEN SHOULD A CHRISTIAN BE FILLED WITH APPREHENSION ABOUT A CERTAIN BIBLE TEACHER? IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH WRITING TO POLYCARP SOMEWHERE AROUND 105 AD

In light of how we separate living and doctrine with so many popular Bible teachers, Pastors and Christian personalities where we use one to justify the other or the other to minimize the one, here is a line from a letter that Ignatius wrote to Polycarp:

Let not those who seem worthy of credit, but teach strange doctrines, fill thee with apprehension.

 Often these days, what is considered worthy of credit (which means by their life and all of its associative properties as well as having a record of soundness, according to Ignatius' writings) wouldn't even get one a handshake with Ignatius in considering many modern Bible teachers. If you were to read his letters and have revealed to you what he, an early church father and disciple of John the Apostle, considered credit worthy, you would immediately understand what I am talking about. However, if you don't have time, let's just say, Ignatius' views would leave many of Evangelicalism's beloved personalities in a rather chilly place.

But notice his conclusion, that such a thing should fill a person with apprehension. Not that we should be a bit apprehensive but filled with apprehension!

As well, he does not say we should take this strange doctrine and somehow compare it to sound things that teacher has taught elsewhere thus, calm ourselves with this knowledge but to be filled with apprehension, even if they seem credit worthy. 

Ignatius has in view alarm bells going off like a 99 alarm fire. It doesn't mean, in fact, there is a fire, but you better bring the fire trucks because the smoke is rolling out. 

Past soundness, decent or notable morality and ethical living and sincerity of ministry as well as amicable dispositions do not exist to somehow mitigate when Bible teachers begin teaching strange doctrine. And for you to not be filled with apprehension when this occurs in a received Bible teacher, tells others, you, too, have a problem with your discernment. 

Well, Christian, who is filling you with apprehension in that they have taught strange doctrines? Or should I ask, who should be filling you with apprehension?

*Another similar question. Go through your list of known Bible teachers whom you believe to live in what might be called a godly manner and has a record of teaching right things but also has taught, now teaches or now associates with thus, approves, strange doctrine?

**I added a prefix to the title of my post, as my readers can see.