“As I urged you
when I went into Macedonia– remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that
they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies,
which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now the
purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience,
and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to
idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they
say nor the things which they affirm.” (1Timothy 1:3-7 NKJ)
when I went into Macedonia– remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that
they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies,
which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now the
purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience,
and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to
idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they
say nor the things which they affirm.” (1Timothy 1:3-7 NKJ)
In a court of law
the witnesses are asked to swear or affirm that their testimony is “the
truth and nothing but the truth.” And this is the Apostle’s point to
Pastor Timothy. Charge the saints at Ephesus to teach the truth and only the
truth. And truth is decided by the One who is the Truth. Truth is the One who
came from God, ascended back to God, and will return for us from God.
the witnesses are asked to swear or affirm that their testimony is “the
truth and nothing but the truth.” And this is the Apostle’s point to
Pastor Timothy. Charge the saints at Ephesus to teach the truth and only the
truth. And truth is decided by the One who is the Truth. Truth is the One who
came from God, ascended back to God, and will return for us from God.
Matthew recorded our
Lord’s command to the Church. “teaching them to observe all things that I
have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20 NKJ). This is a double-edged command.
Obviously we are to teach what the Lord commanded, but the other side of that
is that we are not to teach what he didn’t command. Yet, many folks have been
captured by ideas and fictional concepts they do not understand, but still want
to teach as truth. And that was the challenge at Ephesus which confronted
Pastor Timothy.
Lord’s command to the Church. “teaching them to observe all things that I
have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20 NKJ). This is a double-edged command.
Obviously we are to teach what the Lord commanded, but the other side of that
is that we are not to teach what he didn’t command. Yet, many folks have been
captured by ideas and fictional concepts they do not understand, but still want
to teach as truth. And that was the challenge at Ephesus which confronted
Pastor Timothy.
What concerns me is
that many pastors today are captured by the same fables and endless genealogies
that are proliferated across the internet. They seem to forget their oath of
office. By accepting the call of God, a minister accepts the command of God to
preach and teach the truth and nothing but the truth. We find truth in the Holy
Scriptures!
that many pastors today are captured by the same fables and endless genealogies
that are proliferated across the internet. They seem to forget their oath of
office. By accepting the call of God, a minister accepts the command of God to
preach and teach the truth and nothing but the truth. We find truth in the Holy
Scriptures!
Of course, one might
ask: what is a fable or endless genealogy? According to Paul’s context and
language, these are fanciful, unreliable narratives that have been invented by
people who want to teach others but do not understand the fiction they affirm. And
Paul instructed Timothy to charge them to not teach anything different or
diverging from the truth.
ask: what is a fable or endless genealogy? According to Paul’s context and
language, these are fanciful, unreliable narratives that have been invented by
people who want to teach others but do not understand the fiction they affirm. And
Paul instructed Timothy to charge them to not teach anything different or
diverging from the truth.
We pastors are to
make disciples for Christ. And as disciples of Christ, we are not afraid of
what the adversary has done on any given day in the past. We are not afraid of
what the adversary is doing today. We are not afraid of what he might do in the
future. Our hope is not in our refusal to participate in a Christian activity
that happens to coincide with a day which the adversary desecrated. Our hope is
in the TRUTH, the One who died, was buried, is resurrected and is coming back
again.
make disciples for Christ. And as disciples of Christ, we are not afraid of
what the adversary has done on any given day in the past. We are not afraid of
what the adversary is doing today. We are not afraid of what he might do in the
future. Our hope is not in our refusal to participate in a Christian activity
that happens to coincide with a day which the adversary desecrated. Our hope is
in the TRUTH, the One who died, was buried, is resurrected and is coming back
again.
Pastor Timothy was
to remember that Paul’s command proceeded from the goal of love. Discipleship
is produced by love in a pure heart out of a good conscience and in sincere
faith. Paul recognized that some of the folks at Ephesus had been deceived by
the empty talk of the false teachers, and had strayed from the truth they had
learned. The pastor was to set them straight again.
to remember that Paul’s command proceeded from the goal of love. Discipleship
is produced by love in a pure heart out of a good conscience and in sincere
faith. Paul recognized that some of the folks at Ephesus had been deceived by
the empty talk of the false teachers, and had strayed from the truth they had
learned. The pastor was to set them straight again.
Dear Father, thank
you for the truth of your Word. Grant us the confidence and fortitude to reject
all fictions and maintain our pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith. I
pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
you for the truth of your Word. Grant us the confidence and fortitude to reject
all fictions and maintain our pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith. I
pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Truth today and
nothing but the Truth,
nothing but the Truth,