Test by Apostolicity
Sound didaskalia always leads us to "behold His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
Test by Fruit Jesus gave the diagnostic: "You will know them by their fruits" (Matt.
7:16). Paul applies this to doctrine. Sound didaskalia produces love, purity, contentment, and godliness. False teaching produces conceit, controversy, strife, and greed (1 Tim. 6:3-5). Does this instruction make us more like Christ — humble, loving, holy, obedient to the Father? Or does it feed the flesh — pride, division, worldliness, license? The fruit reveals the root. A doctrine that excuses sin, inflames factionalism, or promotes exploitation stands condemned, regardless of its theological vocabulary.
Test by Apostolicity Is this teaching consistent with "the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints" (Jude 3)? The church does not have authority to invent new didaskalia . Novelty is not a mark of the Spirit but a warning sign.
Does this doctrine harmonize with the whole counsel of God as delivered by the prophets and apostles? Or is it an innovation of recent origin? The creeds and confessions of the historic church are not infallible, but they are