A '''heretic''' is a person who while a Christian creates controversy, dissension, and division concerning doctrine and belief within the Orthodox Christian church. Such issues arose early in Christ's Church, being noted in a number of the letters of the [[Apostles]], notably in [[Apostle Titus|Titus]], [[Apostle Timothy|Timothy]], [[Apostle Peter|Peter]], and [[Apostle John|John]].

As used in Titus, in the [[New Testament]], the word ''heretic'' comes from the phrase ''hairetikon anthropon'' which is best translated as "one who fosters factions"; that is a person who uses controversy to cause division in the church. Thus, the center of the use of heretic is toward individuals who create factions that espouse an unorthodox idea than to the idea itself, the heresy.

While differences of opinion arise within the [[church]], traditionally these differences are debated and, under God, brought to a common doctrinal and religious understanding by conciliatory means. At times such agreement could not be developed and the parties championing the new ideas, if they continued to press their position, were found to be in [[heresy]] and the individuals were declared heretics. Notable examples of heretics during the early centuries during period of the ''[[Christological Controversies]]'' are [[Paul of Samosata]], [[Arius]] and [[Nestorius]].

⁹I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not. ¹⁰Wherefore if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doeth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. ¹¹Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.  ==External link==[http://www.angelfire.com/ks2/fallacies/heretic.html What is a heretic?]

[[Category:Heretics|*]]