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What is a "Root
of Bitterness?"
MP3
Got a question about this the other day. Actually the person
writing felt that a root of bitterness was speaking to the mind of a
person having a problem or dispute with another in the congregation.
I knew this was not the case and felt that a paper on the subject was in
order. This paper follows. We keep these letters on file in
the Letter Answering Department of the Web Site Office.
SUBJECT: Root of Bitterness
QUESTION: What is a “root of bitterness”?
ANSWER:
Someone contacted the Web Site Office the other day and expressed a belief
that a root of bitterness was something that had to do with relationships
among the brethren. The person thought that a person could develop a root
of bitterness toward another person. Clearly bitterness can take several
forms, but when the Bible speaks to a “root of bitterness” is it speaking to
relationships or something else entirely?
First the key verse and related verses:
Hebrews 12:14-16a
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see
the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root
of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person.
Deuteronomy 29:18
Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose
heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods
of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall
and wormwood.
Note:
We readily see that the root
of bitterness is speaking to an individual being defiled by false doctrines
and things not of Christ. They are being led astray from the Salvation
Process by false doctrines.
Matthew 7:16-19
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or
figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree
bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree
bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into
the fire.
Note:
It is interesting that the
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, which pairs related verses together has
Matthew 7:16-19 which discusses true and false ministers. False ministers
spread false doctrines. False teachers can lead weak and neglectful
firstfruits astray, off the path God has laid out and from the truth of the
Word of God.
Hebrews 3:12
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Note:
Again we see that we are talking
about a heart of unbelief. I have personally seen this root of bitterness
in people who were once a part of the faith, but now, even years and decades
later, hold bitterness FOR THE CHURCH and NOT the fact that they are now out
of that faith.
Notice the commentary…
Hebrews 12:15
Lest any root of bitterness springing up
- Any bitter
root. There is doubtless an allusion here to Deuteronomy 29:18. "Lest there should
be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away
this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations;
lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood." The
allusion there is to those who were idolaters, and who instead of bearing
the fruits of righteousness, and promoting the piety and happiness of the
nation, would bear the fruits of idolatry, and spread abroad irreligion and
sin. The allusion, in both cases, is to a bitter plant springing up among
those that were cultivated for ornament or use, or to a tree bearing bitter
and poisonous fruit, among those that produced good fruit. The reference of
the apostle is to some person who should produce a similar effect in the
church-to one who should inculcate false doctrines; or who should
apostatize; or who should lead an unholy life, and thus be the means of
corrupting and destroying others. They were to be at especial pains that no
such person should start up from among themselves, or be tolerated by them.
Trouble you - By his doctrines and example.
And thereby many be defiled - Led away from the faith and
corrupted. One wicked man, and especially one hypocrite in the church, may
be the means of destroying many others.
~from Barnes' Notes
Note:
The commentary confirms that
a root of bitterness is caused by false doctrines entering the heart of the
firstfruit and leading him or her from the faith. Notice another
commentary…
Hebrews 12:15
Lest any root of bitterness springing up
- A root of
bitterness signifies a poisonous plant. The Hebrews call every species of
poison a bitter, and with considerable propriety, as most plants are
poisonous in proportion to the quantum of the bitter principle they possess.
The root of bitterness is here used metaphorically for a bad man, or a man
holding unsound doctrines, and endeavoring to spread them in the church.
Trouble you - This alludes to the effects of poison taken
into the body: the whole animal system is disturbed; sometimes violent retchings, great disturbances through the whole alimentary canal, together
with the most fatal changes in the whole sanguineous system, are the
consequences of poison taken into the stomach. The blood itself (the
principle, under God, of life) becomes putrescent; and probably to this the
intelligent apostle alludes when he says, and thereby many be defiled, mianthoosin (NT:3392), corrupted or contaminated.
Bad example and false teaching have corrupted thousands,
and are still making desolation in the world and in the church.
~from Adam Clarke's Commentary
Note:
The proof is overwhelming that a
root of bitterness is caused by false doctrines spread by false teachers.
The Wycliffe Commentary
After I presented the above text to the person who believed the root of
bitterness might be speaking to personal relationships, the person pointed
out the Wycliffe Commentary on Hebrews 12 and verses 14-15,
which they felt said something different. Take a look:
Hebrews 12:14-15
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the
Lord:
Human relationships improve when the nature of adversity is understood.
Follow after peace with all men (ASV). As one seeking harmony, as one having
a peaceful spirit, and as one who desires unity and fellowship among the
righteous. Men. Better omitted. And holiness. The covering or comprehensive
term (hagiasmon, "sanctification"). Lord (kyrion) is more probably God than
Christ. Certainly one of the essential proofs of new life in Christ lies in
the way believers get along with each other.
The antithesis follows. Here is one who comes short, who fails because deep
within him is a root of bitterness that poisons everything and everyone -
thereby many be defiled. This root of bitterness is like an infection that
spreads through the whole community (hoi polloi) of believers. Notice, this
describes a breakdown in human relations among believers because one
believer has become bitter.
~from The Wycliffe
Bible Commentary
If you are armed with the other two commentaries I used above, you will see
where this one is coming from. It is not speaking to relationships, as in
their feelings for each other. It is specifically speaking to common belief
and doctrine. The relationships here are speaking to unity in the
congregation. What does it mean to "follow after peace with all men."? It
says it right in the commentary above: “...As one seeking harmony (of
doctrine and belief).”, “...as one who desires unity and fellowship among
the righteous.” This is not talking about friendship or marriage. It is
talking about a unity of righteousness. Righteousness is a word describing
one in the Salvation Process, possessing truth and immersed in the Word of
God. The righteous, by definition do not hold to false doctrine. The only
way a congregation can have unity and fellowship is if they are all
righteous...in common belief, in the same truth and in the same Salvation
Process. Then we see the antithesis in the commentary.
This person cannot, by definition have fellowship and unity with the
righteous. Reason? He has contrary doctrine and beliefs. In all
probability, he is falling or has fallen from the faith [the Salvation
Process]. As the commentary says, there is a breakdown in relations among
believers because one believer has become bitter [because of his hold on
false, contrary doctrine]. His bitterness is against truth and those who
hold to that truth. His connection to the unity and fellowship is now
destroyed.
Again, this is about doctrine and the unity of that doctrine and not the
feelings and emotions and other related elements of a relationship between
two individuals. Indeed, the commentary is speaking to the entire
congregation and makes no reference to a relationship between two specific
individuals.
---End---
Note: Understand that the phrase "root of bitterness" is used by
ministers and others in speaking of interpersonal relationships. We
just recently posted a sermon by Garner Ted Armstrong entitled, "Root of
Bitterness". In it he is speaking of interpersonal relationships.
As you go through the Salvation Process, maintain a clear understanding of
the difference in subjects though the phrase is used for both.
From the study above we see ample proof that the phrase "root of bitterness"
is a biblical term with a specific meaning speaking to doctrine.
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