Admonition to Teach Sound Doctrine

“As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” – 1 Timothy 1: 3-5 (ESV).

Paul the Apostle wrote the epistle of 1 Timothy to advise young Timothy how to deal with problems in the church at Ephesus in Asia Minor. He left Timothy to help in instructing the people while Paul was elsewhere. Scholars generally agree that Paul wrote the letter between his two Roman imprisonments (sometime about the mid 60’s of the first century). Timothy was to note what was being taught and to promote sound doctrine, not “myths and endless genealogies.” Paul was eager that the Christians there learn to dwell together in peace and harmony and have “pure hearts…good consciences…sincere faith.”

Paul warned against “myths,” or any false teaching concerning the Lord Christ. Some teachers were teaching that Jesus Christ was not both human and divine. They wanted to deny the virgin birth of Jesus and His sacrificial death on the cross. What the Christian believes and why he believes it are important in establishing faith.

We are often warned not to have “itching ears,” to seek a rose-coated gospel that fits our own ideas of scriptural interpretation, an easy gospel that allows for what we want instead of what the Bible teaches about God and His expectations for us.

Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe in commenting upon the focal passage from Timothy tells us that today much false doctrine is being taught. We are to study so that we ourselves can “rightly divide the word of truth,” knowing what is biblically sound. He also warns that a grave danger in churches today is the desire to be “entertained.’ The music often, instead of honoring God and being used to praise and glorify Him, appeals to our likes. He states: “Far too many songs not only teach no doctrine, but many even teach false doctrine. A singer has no more right to sing a lie than teacher has to teach a lie” (Warren W. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary. “I Timothy.” Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2007, p. 749).

Paul admonished that in our charge (that is, those in the church who are sincere believers, seeking to learn and to practice the Christian way) we are to love one another. That love issues from a pure heart, undergirded by a good conscience and a sincere faith. It matters what we learn, what we teach, what we practice. Is our doctrine sound, and based on the truths of the Scriptures?

-Ethelene Dyer Jones ~August 2, 2015