The Law of Primacy

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6)

In this proverb Solomon describes an application of the law of primacy. The law of primacy states that what is learned first is learned best. This principle is true for academic or cognitive learning as well as for learning skills and performance of tasks. You may have watched a televised interview of firefighters, policeman or soldiers following a crisis. When asked how they managed the crisis, quite often the response is something to the effect that, “we relied on our training” or “our training kicked in.” Hence another way to state the law of primacy is the first thing learned is what is remembered and relied on during times of stress. The law of primacy applies equally to learned attitudes and behaviors. In this respect, what we first learn from parents, teachers and others in positions of authority tends to produce an almost unshakable belief in what we have been taught. In proverbs 22:6, Solomon describes a positive consequence of the law of primacy, but there can be negative consequences as well.

It’s a challenge to unlearn error or to even reassess that which we’ve come to hold as truth. This is particularly difficult when our teachers are those we dependent upon, respect or hold in high esteem. A child taught by his parents that storks bring babies, bunny rabbits lay eggs and Santa Clause leaves gifts under the Christmas tree is not easily convinced otherwise. Nevertheless, the fact remains that our teachers (parents, religious leaders, educators, etc.) do teach erroneous concepts, principles and doctrines both unintentionally and intentionally. Erroneous teachings result from any number of causes including lack of knowledge, poor scholarship, flawed data, invalid assumptions and miscalculations. Erroneous teachings also arise from ego, pride, greed and hatred. Regardless of the source of the error or motivation of the teacher, the results of erroneous teachings can be disastrous and long term. Imagine what might happen to a commercial airliner experiencing engine failure if the pilots learned improper emergency procedures and were never quite able to unlearn them. Many are naïve or genuinely unaware of the erroneous teachings of their religious leaders and denominations. Others (being subject to the law of primacy) may be aware that a teaching is erroneous, but they cannot or will not unlearn them. The outcome is promulgation and perpetuation of the traditions of men, idolatry, superstition and false doctrine.

By no means am I promoting rebellion against legitimate authority. The word of God clearly and repeatedly instructs us to honor, respect and support legitimate authority.[i] The same word of God imposes a duty upon us to be subject to His authority more so than the authority of men.[ii] The word of God even warns that our understanding of this imperative is subject to test.[iii] Furthermore we are charged to prove all things.[iv]

Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

The phrase, “prove all things” is centered between the admonitions to not despise prophecy and to embrace good while avoiding even the appearance of evil. To comply with such a charge, there must be a reliable standard against we can test prophecy, distinguish between good and evil and thereby prove all things (customs, traditions, doctrines etc.). At the time that Shaul (called Paul) Silvanus and Timothy wrote to the Thessalonians, the Hebrew Scriptures[v] were the scriptures that were given by inspiration of God, which are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness.[vi] The Hebrew Scriptures includes the Torah of Moses[vii] the perfect standard[viii] against which we can prove all things. In fact this is the standard specified in Deuteronomy 13:4 against which prophecy and dreams are to be tested. Even if a prophecy comes to pass, a false prophet/dreamer is exposed if his/her prophecy/dreams fail to line up with the Torah. Yahushua the Anointed Son of the Living God confirmed that the Torah is the standard against which we are to measure the teachings of religious leaders. Unfortunately many believe that Yahushua taught abrogation of the Torah. This is a classic case of the law of primacy. Those who hold this tradition are often ignorant of or only marginally familiar with the Torah. Yahushua did not teach abrogation of the Torah; on the contrary, he upheld the Torah while condemning deviation there from.[ix] The Torah was the basis upon which judges were to decide difficult cases and upon which the kings of Israel were to rule. The Torah was to be so important to the authority of the king that he was commanded to write himself a copy of the Torah.[x]

Yahushua who exemplified the Torah is to be esteemed greater than parents and teachers.[xi] Therefore we must walk his walk even if we were taught, have learned or became conditioned to do otherwise.[xii] The Spirit of Truth will enable us to overcome all things even the law of primacy.

But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)



[i] Exodus 20:12, Exodus 22:28, Deuteronomy 5:16, Deuteronomy 17 (particularly 17:8 - 17:13), Deuteronomy
18:15 – 18:22, Leviticus 19:32, Proverbs 5 (particularly 5:12 & 5:13), Hebrews 13:7 and 13:17, 1st Peter 2:13 – 15,
[ii] Mathew 15:1 – 9, Mark 7:1 – 13,
[iii] Deuteronomy 13:1-5
[iv] 1st Thessalonians 5:20 – 5:22
[v] Luke 24:25 - 45
[vi] 2nd Timothy 3:16
[vii] The true Hebraic understanding of "Torah" is "instructions" and "teachings" such as from a father to his children. http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/5_torah.html
[viii] Psalm 19:7 – 11
[ix] To destroy or fulfill the law means, idiomatically, to give either a wrong interpretation or the correct interpretation thereof. The teaching and application of an erroneous interpretation of the law would have the effect of destroying the law while the teaching and application of the correct interpretation leads to fulfillment of the law (Matthew 5:17 – 20). In verses 21 – 48, Yahushua began to teach the correct interpretation and application of the Torah i.e. the spirit of the Torah.
[x] Deuteronomy 17:18 - 20
[xi] Mathew 10:34 - 37
[xii] John 4:3 – 26, Jeremiah 23:1 – 40, 16:19 and 13:23 Jeremiah 13:23 is more accurately translated, "Would the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? [Then] may ye also do good, that are accustomed to doing evil. As the beauty of a leopard's spots so the Ethiopian cherishes the complexion of his skin, which neither would willingly alter. Likewise, the pleasures of sin are not easily cast off by those who have become practiced therein.