Tag: Give Heed to Fables

Give Heed to Fables Part 2

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

1Timothy 1:3-4 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou might charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

‘No other doctrine’ – No doctrine other than those of the gospel or of the New Testament (continues). The New Covenant however was also known as the second covenant (Heb. 8:7; 10:1-9); and the New Testament (3:6); came by Christ (Heb. 8:6; 9:15) and was started by Christ (Heb. 8:6; 10:9). It was thus also called the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2), the law of righteousness (Rom. 9:31), the law of the Spirit (Rom. 8:2), the law of faith (Rom. 3:27), the law of liberty (Jas. 1:25), and the law of grace (John 1:17) that saves from wrath (Rom. 5:9) and redeems (Gal. 3:13; Heb. 9:12-15). It brought life (Rom. 8:2; Gal. 3:1-29) and was the reality (Heb. 10:1-18); it makes free (Gal. 5:1; John 8:1-59), and is now in force (Heb. 8:6; 10:9). It gives righteousness (John 1:17; 3:16), makes perfect (Heb. 7:19), it is more glorious (2Cor. 3:8-10). Saves to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25), had one human sacrifice (Heb. 9:14-28; 10:12), that was ratified by the blood of Christ (Matt. 26:28) and forgets sins (Heb. 8:12; 10:17). It has an eternal priest through the tribe of Judah (Heb. 7:14, 17), from the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 5:5-10; 7:21) with eternal atonement (Heb. 10:14) and it is a sinless ministry (Heb. 7:26). It has a heavenly tabernacle (Heb. 8:2) a sinless mediator (1Tim. 2:5), offers an eternal inheritance (Heb.9:15). It does satisfy God (Heb. 10:15-18) had miracle power (Gal. 3:1-5; John 14:12) and its establishment was predicted (Heb. 8:7).

‘Fables’ [Greek: muthos] anything delivered by word of mouth; legendary tales, as opposed to historical account; a fable; foolish or improbable story (1Tim. 1:4; 4:7; 2Tim. 4:4; Tit. 1:14; 2Pet. 1:16).

‘Endless’ [Greek: aperantos] endless, boundless, infinite; something that cannot be passed through or settled.

‘Genealogies’ [Greek: genealogia] genealogy, a record of descent or lineage (1Tim. 1:4; Tit. 3:9). Among the heathen were endless tales of offspring of numberless gods. Jews and Samaritans took great pride in their ancestors (Matt. 3:9, John 4:12; 8:39). Paul warned against this (2Cor. 5:16; 11:22; Php. 3:4-6) and charged Timothy to be occupied with essentials of the Christian faith. Emphasis on natural descent is foreign to Christianity, for in Christ there is no difference (1Cor. 12:13; Col. 3:11).

‘Questions’ [Greek: zetesis] a searching after; investigation. Translated “question” (1Tim. 1:4; 6:4; John 3:25; Acts 25:20; 2Tim. 2:23; Tit. 3:9). Here it means disputing that causes strife, divisions, and parties.

‘Edifying’ [Greek: oikonomia] the dispensation of God which is in faith (Eph. 1:10).

Give Heed to Fables Part 1

~ iolaHC ~ 1 Comment

1Timothy 1:3-4 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou might charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. 

‘As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went to Macedonia.’ Just when this happened is not clear. Some suppose that by this time Paul was liberated from prison, he went into Asia and then into Macedonia, leaving Timothy in Ephesus to carry out this charge.

‘Some that they teach’ – These were Judaizing teachers who were constantly seeking to bring Christians back under the law of Moses which is the same religion that crucified Christ and is still influencing most religions today in not believing in the gospel and Christ (1Tim. 1:3-4, 6-7).

‘No other doctrine’ – No doctrine other than those of the gospel or of the New Testament. Those in the law of Moses or the old covenant who are not brought into and made a part of the new covenant are not to be taught the gospel for they are scoffers (Prov. 9:7.9) and reject Christ’s salvation work (Gal. 1:6-16; 2:15-21; 3:1-29; 4:1-31).

The Old Covenant contrasts the New Covenant as follows: it is called the Old Testament (3:14) and the first covenant (Heb. 8:7; 9:1); it came by Moses (John 1:17) and is thus called the law of Moses (Acts 13:38-39), the law of works (Rom. 3:26-31) that works wrath (Rom. 4:15); the law of sin (Rom. 7:23; 8:2) the law of the flesh (Rom. 7:5-6); not of faith (Gal. 3:12); was the yoke of bondage (Gal. 5:1); ended by Christ (Rom. 10:4); it brought death (3:7); it made guilty (3:9) it was a shadow (Col. 2:14-17); it is fulfilled (Matt. 5:17-18); it demanded righteousness (Luke 10:28); made nothing perfect (Heb. 7:19) while it was glorious (3:7) it was powerless to save (Heb. 9:9; 10:4); many animal sacrifices where needed (Heb. 9:12-13); ratified by animal blood (Heb. 9:16-22); it was a sinful ministry (Heb. 5:1-4); had temporary priests (Heb. 7:23); the Aaronic priesthood and was of Levi (Heb. 7:11); yearly atonement that remembered sins (Heb. 10:3); had an earthly tabernacle (Heb. 9:2); a sinful mediator (Gal. 3:19); offered no inheritance (Rom. 4:13); it could not redeem (Heb. 10:4) nor satisfied (Isa. 1:13-14); it had no miracle power (Heb. 7:18) and its abolishment was predicted (Hos. 2:11).

To be continued…