A note from our Pastor:

”But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”

1 Timothy 4:7

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

The refuting of false teachings, especially those which placed burdens on the disciples, was of great importance to the Apostle Paul. With his personal experience in the Jewish faith and how far from God these teachings could take a people, he was determined to address them in the New Testament church. Thus, in our study verse this week he continues along those same lines.

Here the Apostle addresses a different type of false teaching. Among the Rabbis of the day, there was a practice of spending all the time studying the smallest details of scripture and attempting to extrapolate a lesson from these details. The Rabbis would not only study every verse, but every word, and sometimes every letter to draw out meaning. The result was the creation of extra-scriptural teachings created in the mind of the Rabbis which had little or nothing to do with the actual meaning of scripture.

The danger in these false teachings was distraction. If Timothy and others began trying to teach in the same way bringing in these fables would only serve to take away attention from Jesus Christ and him crucified. The Apostle in writing to the church at Corinth told his audience when he was there he resolved to know nothing but Jesus and him crucified. This is not to say the Apostle only taught this limited doctrine, but rather to say all teachings must begin and end with this truth. The fables, if Timothy taught them, would not be focused on this truth.

The application for the modern disciple is not any different. The false teachings might change over the years. The focus of extra-scriptural fables might be on new social issues. Regardless of the nature of the false teachings and fables, if they distract from the truth of Jesus Christ then they serve only as a distraction from actually following Christ. The disciple needs to be prepared to evaluate any teaching that sounds new against the truth of Jesus Christ and his salvation.

Finally, the Apostle tells Timothy regarding his preaching to exercise himself toward godliness. This was not a random instruction, but rather pointing back to the end of chapter three. There the Apostle told Timothy the mystery of godliness has multiple parts. Now the Apostle tells Timothy, do not study things to come up with pointless teachings but rather spend your time studying those mysteries so you might be able to bring understanding to the congregations.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah