Joseph Prince is the senior pastor of New Creation Church in Singapore and a prominent teacher of the Word of Faith movement and the prosperity gospel. Known for his emphasis on grace, prosperity, and health, Prince has gained a global following through his books, sermons, and television programs. However, his teachings exhibit elements of antinomianism (rejecting the need for the moral law in the Christian life) and prosperity theology, which stand in stark contrast to confessional Christianity, especially concerning views on grace, law, and the nature of the gospel.
Key Beliefs and How They Differ from Confessional Christianity
1. Prosperity Gospel and Health and Wealth Teaching:
- Joseph Prince's View: Prince teaches that God’s desire is for all believers to experience financial prosperity, health, and success. He often claims that Christians who live by faith can expect to be wealthy, healthy, and free from suffering, promoting a “health and wealth” message that suggests that these are guaranteed outcomes of God’s blessing. Prince frequently asserts that believers can “claim” their blessings through positive confessions and by exercising faith in God’s promises.
- Confessional Christianity: Confessional Christianity rejects the prosperity gospel as a distortion of biblical teaching. The Bible emphasizes that God’s blessings are not primarily material and that Christians may experience suffering, trials, and financial hardship as part of their faith journey (Philippians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 6:6-10). The Westminster Confession of Faith teaches that true riches are found in Christ and that believers are called to be content in all circumstances. Reformed theology emphasizes that God’s favor is not measured by financial success or physical health but by the spiritual riches given through Christ (Ephesians 1:3).
2. Antinomianism and the Role of God’s Law:
- Joseph Prince's View: Prince’s teachings often exhibit antinomian tendencies, because, he reasons, believers are not under the law but under grace. He frequently suggests that focusing on the law, repentance, or obedience is detrimental to experiencing God’s grace and favor. According to Prince, believers should no longer worry about sin or judgment since Christ has already taken care of all sin on the cross, and therefore, Christians should only focus on grace, favor, and blessings.
- Confessional Christianity: Confessional Christianity teaches that while believers are justified by grace through faith in Christ and are no longer under the condemnation of the law (Romans 6:14; Galatians 3:24-25), the moral law remains a guide for Christian living (Romans 3:31; James 2:14-26). God’s law continues to serve as a rule of life for believers, directing them in how to live in gratitude for God’s grace. Grace leads to a transformed life marked by obedience and holiness (Romans 6:1-2), not a license to disregard God’s commandments.
3. The Nature of Grace and Sanctification:
- Joseph Prince's View: Prince often teaches that believers should focus solely on God’s grace and reject any notion of effort, discipline, or striving for holiness. He suggests that any emphasis on obedience, repentance, or personal discipline is tantamount to returning to legalism. Prince’s approach implies that sanctification is primarily about receiving more grace, without the need for active participation in growing in holiness.
- Confessional Christianity: While believers are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), sanctification is an ongoing process in which the believer, in union with Christ, is operated on by the Holy Spirit to grow in holiness (Philippians 2:12-13). Believers are called to obey the commands of Christ, which involves a lifelong struggle against sin and a commitment to living according to God’s will. We maintain that grace not only justifies but also empowers believers to live lives that are pleasing to God, resulting in genuine transformation and obedience (Titus 2:11-12).
4. Approach to Suffering and Trials:
- Joseph Prince's View: Prince teaches that suffering, trials, and sickness are not part of God’s will for believers and that Christians should expect to live lives of victory, health, and abundance. He often implies that suffering is the result of a lack of faith or incorrect beliefs about God’s promises. This view aligns with the broader prosperity gospel narrative that equates faith with success, health, and prosperity.
- Confessional Christianity: Suffering and trials are a normal part of the Christian life and God uses them to refine believers, strengthen their faith, and conform them to the image of Christ (James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7). Believers are called to trust in God’s sovereignty and goodness, even in suffering, knowing that He works all things for their good (Romans 8:28). Suffering, according to the Bible, is not an indication of weak faith but often a means through which God accomplishes His purposes in the lives of His people.
5. Understanding of the Gospel and Repentance:
- Joseph Prince's View: Prince’s version of the gospel emphasizes God’s grace, favor, and blessing but often minimizes or omits the need for repentance, self-denial, or confronting sin. He suggests that focusing on sin or judgment is unnecessary since Christ has already dealt with sin on the cross, leading him to downplay the call to repentance and the ongoing battle against sin.
- Confessional Christianity: The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and repentance and faith are essential responses to the gospel (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38). True repentance involves turning from sin and turning to God, leading to a transformed life. The gospel not only assures believers of forgiveness but also calls them to a life of holiness and obedience to God’s commands (Romans 6:1-4).
Summary of Differences
Why Joseph Prince should be regarded as a false teacher and why his teachings should be avoided:
1. Preaching a Distorted "Hyper-Grace" Message
One of the most problematic aspects of Joseph Prince’s teachings is his emphasis on "hyper-grace," which downplays the importance of repentance, confession of sins, and the pursuit of holiness. Prince teaches that, because believers are under grace, they no longer need to confess their sins, since all their sins—past, present, and future—are already forgiven. This message leads to a dangerous form of antinomianism (the belief that God’s moral law no longer applies to believers) and promotes a distorted view of God’s grace that dismisses the need for ongoing repentance and sanctification.
However, the Bible clearly teaches that while believers are indeed saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), grace does not nullify the call to holiness or the need for ongoing repentance. The apostle John wrote, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8-9). This passage shows that confession and repentance are continual aspects of the Christian life. Additionally, Paul emphasizes that grace is not a license to sin: "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2).
By promoting a version of grace that eliminates the call to repentance and obedience, Prince leads people into a false sense of security that ignores the biblical call to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). This false teaching can lead to complacency in the Christian life and a failure to pursue true holiness, which Scripture calls every believer to seek (Hebrews 12:14).
2. Emphasizing Health and Wealth as God's Will for Every Believer
Joseph Prince is also a proponent of the Prosperity Gospel, which teaches that God’s will is for every believer to be physically healthy, financially prosperous, and free from suffering. Prince claims that by declaring and believing in God's promises, Christians can experience abundant health and wealth in this life. This teaching misleads people into believing that faith is a means to material gain and that a lack of prosperity is due to insufficient faith or understanding.
However, the Bible teaches that the Christian life often involves suffering, trials, and hardship. Jesus Himself said, "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). The apostle Paul wrote about learning to be content in all circumstances, whether in abundance or in need (Philippians 4:12). Nowhere does Scripture promise that believers will always experience health and wealth; in fact, many faithful servants of God, including Paul, faced suffering, persecution, and poverty (2 Corinthians 11:23-27).
By equating faith with material prosperity, Prince’s teaching leads people to pursue worldly gain rather than the eternal treasures found in Christ. It shifts the focus from a life of sacrificial discipleship to one of self-centered desire, contrary to Jesus’ call to "deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24).
3. Misusing Scripture to Support His Teachings
Joseph Prince frequently takes Scripture out of context to support his doctrines, especially regarding grace and prosperity. He often interprets verses in a way that aligns with his message, even when it contradicts the clear meaning of the text. For example, Prince frequently cites Romans 5:20, "where sin increased, grace abounded all the more," as a justification for his hyper-grace teaching, without addressing the immediate context in Romans 6, where Paul explicitly condemns using grace as an excuse to continue sinning.
The Bible warns against distorting or mishandling God’s Word. Paul instructed Timothy to "rightly handle the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15), and Peter warned about those who twist the Scriptures to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). By selectively using Scripture to promote his message, Prince leads people away from the full counsel of God’s Word and encourages a superficial understanding of biblical teaching.
4. Promoting a Man-Centered Gospel
Joseph Prince’s teachings often emphasize personal success, happiness, and self-esteem, presenting the Christian life as a path to achieving one’s desires and goals. This man-centered approach to the Gospel focuses on what God can do for us rather than on how we are called to live for His glory. It encourages believers to view God as a means to achieve personal fulfillment, rather than understanding that we are called to serve and glorify Him.
The true Gospel calls us to surrender our lives to Christ and to live for Him. Paul wrote, "You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The Christian life is not about using God to fulfill our desires but about being transformed into the image of Christ and living for His purposes. By promoting a message that places self at the center, Prince distorts the Gospel and diverts attention away from the call to follow Christ with humility, obedience, and sacrifice.
5. Diminishing the Need for Holiness and Spiritual Growth
Prince’s teaching often minimizes the need for spiritual growth, sanctification, and the pursuit of holiness, suggesting that believers are already "perfected forever" in Christ and therefore need not concern themselves with their ongoing struggle against sin. While it is true that believers are justified by faith and declared righteous before God (Romans 5:1), the Bible also teaches that sanctification is an ongoing process in the life of a Christian. We are called to "put to death" the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13) and to "be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16).
By suggesting that Christians do not need to actively pursue holiness, Prince encourages complacency and a distorted view of what it means to grow in Christ. The Bible calls believers to "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14) and to strive to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18).
Conclusion from Scripture
The Bible repeatedly warns against false teachers who distort the truth of the Gospel for personal gain or to please their audience. Paul warned Timothy, "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions" (2 Timothy 4:3). Joseph Prince’s teachings align with this warning, as he offers a version of Christianity that is focused on worldly success, personal comfort, and an unbiblical view of grace.
Jesus warned that false prophets would come in "sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15), and Paul urged believers to "test everything; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Prince’s teachings deviate from the clear message of Scripture, leading people into a superficial, self-centered faith rather than to the life-transforming power of the Gospel that calls us to repentance, faith, and obedience to Christ.
For these reasons, based on the authority of Scripture, Joseph Prince should be regarded as a false teacher, and his teachings should be avoided. Christians are called to remain steadfast in the truth of God’s Word, which is "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). The true Gospel is about Christ, not about us, and it calls us to a life of humble submission, repentance, and obedience to Him.
Believers should reject Prince’s false teachings and remain faithful to the Gospel that offers not just grace but transforming grace that leads to holiness, faithfulness, and a life fully surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This is the path to true freedom, joy, and eternal life with God.