DOCTRINE . The only word in the OT that RV [Note: Revised Version.] as well as AV [Note: Authorized Version.] renders ‘doctrine’ is leqah = ‘instruction,’ lit. ‘what is received’ ( Deuteronomy 32:2 , Job 11:4 , Proverbs 4:2 , Isaiah 29:24 ). In the NT ‘doctrine’ stands once for logos ( Hebrews 6:1 AV [Note: Authorized Version.]; but cf. RV [Note: Revised Version.] ), otherwise for didachç and didaskalia , of which the former denotes esp. the act of teaching, the latter the thing that is taught. For didaskalia RV [Note: Revised Version.] has usually retained ‘doctrine’ of AV [Note: Authorized Version.] , but in the case of didachç has almost invariably substituted ‘ teaching .’ It is noteworthy that didaskalia is never used of the teaching of Jesus, always didachç; also that didaskalia is found chiefly in the Pastoral Epp., and outside of these, with two exceptions ( Romans 12:7; Romans 15:4 ), is used in a disparaging sense ( Matthew 15:9 , Mark 7:7 , Ephesians 4:14 , Colossians 2:22 ). This is in keeping with the distinction between didachç as ‘teaching’ and didaskalia as ‘doctrine.’ It reminds us that at first there were no formulations of Christian belief. The immediate disciples of Jesus had the Living Word Himself; the earliest generation of Christians, the inspired utterances of Apostles and other Spirit-filled men.
J. C. Lambert.