1 Timothy 1:3-4 – Different Doctrines

After greeting Timothy (v.1-2), Paul reminds the younger man of why he left him in Ephesus. When the Apostle and his true child in the faith visited this city, they found that some were teaching doctrines that were inconsistent with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the whole counsel of God found in the Bible. Instead of promoting a deeper understanding of God’s revealed Word, many were devoting themselves to “myths and endless genealogies.” These were probably fables and legends involving the people who appear in the Old Testament tables of nations and lists of family lines. Rather than encouraging sound application of Biblical principles to people’s faith and lives, they were promoting speculations beyond the teachings of Scripture.

Paul says that people in the Ephesian church were “devoting” themselves to these speculations, rather than “the stewardship of God that is by faith” (ESV). The term translated here as “stewardship” might also be translated “good order” or “edification.” In other words, these speculations, instead of edifying the church’s faith in Jesus Christ (which is what all sound teaching does), were distracting people from good Biblical doctrine.

While it is good for Christians to be aware of (and able to answer) what others teach – particularly if they claim to be teaching from the Bible – we must never let speculations distract us from study of what the Scriptures are actually teaching. The Bible has far more depth than can be plumbed in a lifetime. Let us be content to learn what God has clearly spoken.

Questions
1. Why did Paul leave Timothy in Ephesus?
2. What did these “myths and endless genealogies” promote?
3. Why is speculation beyond Scripture a bad idea?

Prayer Points
1. Pray that we all might be content to learn what God clearly teaches in the Bible.
2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
3. Pray for family matters.