SPECIAL TOPIC: FALSE TEACHERS

I have assembled several exegetical notes from the Pastoral Letters to define and illustrate this terminology.

  1. 1 Tim. 1:3 "certain men not to teach strange doctrines" There is much modern academic speculation about these false teachers. They seem to combine aspects of Jewish and Greek thought (like the false teachers of Colossians). In this context (1 Tim. 1:3-4) they are characterized by
    1. strange doctrines
    2. attention to myths
    3. attention to endless genealogies
    4. mere speculation

      Some commentators relate these to Gnosticism's aeons or angelic spheres (pleroma) between a high good god and lesser gods/angels, the least of which molded/formed evil matter. ( SPECIAL TOPIC: GNOSTICISM )
      The Jewish element is obvious in:

      1. "teachers of the Law" (1 Tim. 1:7-10)
      2. "Jewish myths" (Titus 1:14; 2 Tim. 4:4)
      3. "disputes about the Law" (Titus 3:9)
      4. "those of the circumcision" (Titus 1:10)
      5. possibly the origins of the Messiah in Titus 3:9a

  2. 1 Tim. 1:6-7 These verses further characterize the false teachers in very Jewish categories
    1. they strayed from the goal of ethical teachings (cf. 1 Tim. 1:5)
    2. they turned aside to
      1. "fruitless discussion" (NASB)
      2. "idle talk" (NKJV)
      3. "meaningless talk" (NRSV)
      4. "empty speculation" (NJB)
    3. they wanted to be teachers of the Law
    4. they do not understand the Law
    5. they make confident assertions about things they do not understand
    6. verses 9c-10 seem to reflect the Ten Commandments
      The tragedy of false teachers is either
      1. their spiritual blindness, which is often expressed by insincerity
      2. their willful rejection of light, not just ignorance
      3. they lead others into error and ruin

  3. Several texts illustrate the Jewish component
     These claim to be "teachers of the Law" (cf. 1 Tim. 1:7). There was obviously an element of Judaism involved. They are vividly described in 1 Tim. 1:3-7; 4:2-3,7 and 6:3-10,20-21.
    1. they teach strange doctrines (1 Tim. 1:3; 6:3)
    2. they pay attention to myths and genealogies (1 Tim. 1:4)
    3. they have turned aside to fruitless discussion (1 Tim. 1:6)
    4. they make confident assertions about what they do not understand (1 Tim. 1:7; 6:4)
    5. they are hypocritical liars (1 Tim. 4:2)
    6. they have seared consciences (1 Tim. 4:2)
    7. they forbid marriage (1 Tim. 4:3)
    8. they advocate abstaining from foods (1 Tim. 4:3)
    9. they put forth fables (1 Tim. 4:7)
    10. they are conceited (1 Tim. 6:4)
    11. they have a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words (1 Tim. 6:4)
    12. they cause constant friction (1 Tim. 6:5)
    13. they have false knowledge (1 Tim. 6:20-21)
    14. they have gone astray from the faith (1 Tim. 4:1; 6:21)

  4. It helps to contrast these false teachers with "sound teaching" (from exegetical notes from 1 Tim. 1:10)
    1 Tim. 1:10 "sound teaching" We get the English word "hygiene" from this Greek word. This term is used in the NT eleven times; nine are in the Pastoral Letters. It speaks of teachings that make believers spiritually healthy.
     This concept (though different phrasing) is a repeated theme in the Pastoral Letters (cf. 1 Tim. 1:10; 4:6; 6:3; 2 Tim. 1:13; 4:3; Titus 1:9,13; 2:1,2,7). In this context it is parallel to "the glorious gospel" in 1 Tim. 1:11.
     The difficult contemporary application of this text relates to modern believers being able to define "false teachers." How does one differentiate between items of personal preference and culture versus crucial doctrinal issues? The answer must lie in the Apostolic preaching of the gospel, especially as it relates to the person and work of Christ and how humans receive the benefit of Christ's work and live in light of the gospel's mandate of Christlikeness.
     "Sound teaching" is one of several words and phrases that lift up and describe God's true revelation (i.e., Jesus' actions and teachings) reflected in
    1. "Word of God" (cf. 1 Tim. 4:5; 2 Tim. 4:2; Titus 2:5)
    2. "word of our Lord" (cf. 1 Tim. 6:3; 2 Tim. 1:13)
    3. "words of truth" (cf. 2 Tim. 2:15)
    4. "words of faith" (cf. 1 Tim. 4:6)
    5. "teaching" (cf. 1 Tim. 1:10; 2 Tim. 4:3; Titus 1:9, 2:1)
    6. "entrusted" (cf. 1 Tim. 6:20; 2 Tim. 1:14)
    7. "truth" (cf. 2 Tim. 2:15,25; 3:7,8; 4:4)
    8. "the Gospel" (cf. 1 Tim. 1:11; 2 Tim. 2:8, 10, 11)
    9. "the faith" (cf. 1 Tim. 6:21; 2 Tim. 4:7)
    10. "Scriptures" (cf. 3 Tim. 2:15-16)

  5. The Orthodoxy of the Pastorals
     By the time of the writing of the Pastoral Letters (i.e., 1 Timothy, Titus, 2 Timothy) in the mid 60's (Paul was beheaded in A.D. 67); I believe these books were written on Paul's fourth missionary journey, already a sense of the truths of the gospel were being developed into doctrinal formulations. Notice the way Paul refers to this "developed kerygma" (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE KERYGMA OF THE EARLY CHURCH), which was the church's defense against the false teachers.
    1. "sound teaching"
      1. 1 Tim. 1:10
      2. 2 Tim. 4:3
      3. Titus 1:9; 2:1
    2. "faithful sayings"
      1. 1 Tim. 1:15; 3:1; 4:8-9
      2. 2 Tim. 2:11-13
      3. Titus 1:9; 3:5-8
    3. "the teaching"
      1. 1 Tim. 4:16; 6:1
      2. 2 Tim. 3:10
      3. Titus 2:7
    4. "the good teaching" ‒ 1 Tim. 4:6
    5. "the teaching of godliness"
      1. 1 Tim. 6:3
      2. Titus 1:1
    6. "sound words"
      1. 1 Tim. 6:3
      2. 2 Tim. 1:13
    7. "what has been entrusted"
      1. 1 Tim. 6:20
      2. 2 Tim. 1:12,14 (i.e., "the good deposit")
    8. "the faith"
      1. 1 Tim. 1:5,19; 3:9,13; 4:1,6; 5:8; 6:10,12,21
      2. 2 Tim. 3:10; 4:7
      3. Titus 1:13; 2:2

  6. This doctrinal formulation of the gospel must be
    1. guarded ‒ 1 Tim. 6:20; 2 Tim. 1:14
    2. kept ‒ 2 Tim. 4:7
    3. held fast ‒ Titus 1:9
    4. entrusted to faithful people ‒ 2 Tim. 2:2

      All believers have been entrusted with the gospel. We must protect it, keep it, and pass it on intact!

      Remember, the gospel is
      1. a person to be welcomed (personal relationship by faith)
        SPECIAL TOPIC: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "RECEIVE," "BELIEVE," "CONFESS/PROFESS," AND "CALL UPON"?
        SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FAITH (NT)
      2. truths about that person to believe
        SPECIAL TOPIC: INSPIRATION
        SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BIBLE (its uniqueness and inspiration)
      3. a life (i.e., characteristics) like that person to live, each day, every day
        SPECIAL TOPIC: DISCIPLES
        SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSEVERANCE
        SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

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