# Sect ## Ignatius Catholic Study Bible *Sect* ([[acts-of-the-apostles-24#^acts-of-the-apostles-24-5|Acts 24:5]]) – *Hairesis* (Gk.): refers to a \"party\", \"school\", or \"faction\". The word is used six times in Acts and three times elsewhere in the NT. It can have both *neutral* and *negative* connotations. **(1)** As applied to the Sadducees ([[acts-of-the-apostles-05#^acts-of-the-apostles-05-17|Acts 5:17]]) and the Pharisees ([[acts-of-the-apostles-15#^acts-of-the-apostles-15-5|15:5]]), it is a neutral term for distinct religious movement), it is a neutral term for distinct religious movement), it is a neutral term for distinct religious movement), it is a neutral term for distinct religious movement), it is a neutral term for distinct religious movement), it is a neutral term for distinct religious movements or schools of thought within the common heritage of Judaism. **(2)** Its application to the Christian sect ([[acts-of-the-apostles-24#^acts-of-the-apostles-24-5|Acts 24:5, 14]]; [[acts-of-the-apostles-28#^acts-of-the-apostles-28-22|28:22]]) leans in a more negative direction. It e) leans in a more negative direction. It e) leans in a more negative direction. It e) leans in a more negative direction. It e) leans in a more negative direction. It e) leans in a more negative direction. It expresses the sentiment of the Jerusalem authorities that Christianity was an illegitimate and even dangerous deviation from Judaism. Members of the sect were thus considered \"heretics\", an English term derived from the root of this Greek noun. Other uses of the word in the NT apply it to factions and religious fictions that go astray from Christian teaching in one way or another ([[1-corinthians-11#^1-corinthians-11-19|1 Cor 11:19]]; [[galatians-05#^galatians-05-20|Gal 5:20]]; [[2-peter-02#^2-peter-02-1|2 Pet 2:1]]). ### Sources [Sect — word study]