oikeaoppiset

Oikeaoppiset is a Finnish term that roughly translates to “those who hold correct doctrine.” It is used to describe individuals or groups that emphasize strict adherence to established theological or doctrinal propositions. The word is a compound of oikea (right, correct) and oppi (doctrine) with the plural suffix -iset. In religious discourse, oikeaoppiset are characterized as insisting on a particular interpretation of creeds, confessions, or confessional standards, and they may view divergent interpretations as deviations from true teaching. The label is descriptive in some contexts but often carries evaluative or polemical connotations, signaling perceived dogmatism or rigidity by those who employ it against opponents.

Oikeaoppiset is not tied to a single church or denomination; it can be used across different Christian contexts in Finland to discuss debates over orthodoxy, confessional boundaries, or the authority of church teachings. It is distinct from terms referring to specific churches, such as ortodoksiset (Orthodox Christians), which denotes members of the Eastern Orthodox tradition. In contemporary Finland, the term is relatively uncommon in everyday language and is more likely to appear in historical analysis, church history, or polemical writings that address questions of doctrinal purity and doctrinal authority within Lutheran, Catholic, or other Christian communities.