1 Timothy 1:3-7 – Don’t be taken in by distorted teaching

In the church at Ephesus, false teachers were abusing the Law and its application. They wrongly presumed that they knew the Law and how it should be applied. So Paul left Timothy there to deal with this issue.

As predicted in his farewell message in Acts 20, “savage wolves” had besieged the church in Ephesus. They were tearing up the flock there. One of the reasons Paul left Timothy at Ephesus was for the latter to tackle this problem.

Paul probably had already pointed out these “certain men” to Timothy. Hymenaeus and Alexander whom he mentioned in 1 Timothy 1:20 could be two of them. He highlighted that one activity of such false teachers was the propagation of strange doctrines, myths and endless genealogies. Needless to say, their strange doctrines were teachings which deviated from the truth that Paul had taught. Furthermore, they were myths, meaning that they were old wives’ fables and tales, used possibly to justify their immoral and improper behavior and conduct. In referring to “genealogies,” Paul was talking about their vain indulgence at tracing one’s lineage to the Jewish patriarchs.

Verse 4 tells us why he objected to these strange doctrines, myths and endless genealogies, saying that they only caused endless unfruitful speculations or controversies. Furthermore, they would not promote faith and God’s salvation plan, which a right interpretation of the Scriptures would bring. In verse 5, Paul showed what sound teachings would result. Sound teachings produce love that springs from a pure heart, a good conscience and sincere faith. Here we are given two critical elements, love and faith, to evaluate all instructions. Love will promote unity in the church and faith will promote God’s glory.

In verses 6-7, Paul described the false teachers. He revealed several negative elements about these “savage wolves”. Firstly, they strayed from sound instruction, meaning the truth; secondly, they engaged in meaningless discussion with no sound objective; thirdly, they claimed to be teachers of the Law which they did not even understand; and finally, in referring to their confident assertion, Paul was talking about their stubbornness and dogmatism. In other words, they were foolishly stubborn.

All kinds of teachings purported to come from God have proliferated the Christian community. And believers must learn to discern what is of God and what is not. Many have already been taken in by everything – hook, line and sinker. The Lord advises us to abide in Him and let His Word abide in us. Then we shall know the truth and the truth will set us free. Be sure to heed His Word!