TLDR: A Pentecostal pastor’s letter to a convert to Catholicism sparks a deeper look into 1 Timothy 4:1-3, where the pastor accuses the Catholic Church of teaching “doctrines of demons.” We delve into the biblical context and historical background to set the record straight.
The Accusation
A Pentecostal pastor wrote to a convert to Catholicism, warning her about the Catholic Church’s alleged “doctrines of demons” based on 1 Timothy 4:1-3. The pastor claimed that the Church’s teachings on consecrated celibacy and mandatory abstinence from meat during Lent are condemned by St. Paul.
Innocent on Both Charges
However, a closer examination of the biblical context and historical background reveals that the pastor’s claims are unfounded.
Consecrated Celibacy
In 1 Timothy 5, St. Paul instructs Timothy on the proper implementation of consecrated celibacy, showing that he was not condemning it. The “widow” in question had been “enrolled,” equivalent to being “consecrated,” and was not permitted to remarry.
Mandatory Abstinence
The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:28) declared that Gentile converts should abstain from certain foods, similar to the Catholic Church’s teachings on abstinence. This demonstrates that St. Paul was not condemning the Church’s practices.
What Was St. Paul Actually Calling “Doctrines of Demons?”
Fr. R.J. Foster’s commentary on Sacred Scripture provides insight into St. Paul’s writing in 1 Timothy 4. The “doctrines of demons” refer to the dualistic principles of the Gnostic heresy, which emerged in Asia Minor during the first century.
The Gnostic Heresy
Gnostics believed that spirit was good and matter was evil. They taught that humans had a pre-human existence and were trapped in evil bodies through marriage. Salvation came through regaining the “gnosis” or “knowledge.” They forbade marriage and certain foods, which is what St. Paul was actually condemning.
Conclusion
St. Paul was not warning against the Catholic Church’s teachings but rather against the early Gnostic heresy that led Christians astray. The Catholic Church’s practices on consecrated celibacy and abstinence are not “doctrines of demons.”