OPPOSE FALSE TEACHERS

1 Timothy 1:1-11 / Keywords 1:5

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

 

1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

2 To Timothy my true son in the faith:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers

3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

1. Paul introduces himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s command and with Christ’s hope. He called Timothy his true son in the faith. Paul entrusted to Timothy his ministry, as a father passes on his business to his son. Are we entrusting the next generation with our ministry?

 

2. Paul charges Timothy to oppose false teachers in Ephesus who were teaching wrong doctrine, emphasizing genealogies, and spreading myths. Their bad influence misdirected believers, who then devoted themselves to debates on doctrine rather than the advancement of God’s work. God’s kingdom grows when we have faith that anyone can be saved, not through arguments about the Bible.

 

3. Paul emphasizes that proper Bible teaching leads people to love God and others, to be pure-hearted, to have a clear conscience, and to act with sincere faith. The law is given to help us acknowledge our despicable sins and to repent. Paul wants Timothy to direct others to Bible study that leads us to believe in the gospel of salvation for anyone and to live a life of integrity, free from the strong grip of sin.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for calling us to live for Christ. Help us to teach the Bible properly to advance the ministry with a goal of love.

One Word Teach the Word properly