4/12/2007

1 Timothy 1 - Love, the point of good doctrine

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus 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. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. - 1 Timothy 1:3-7 (ESV)

Paul urges Timothy to curtail certain individuals from spreading false and divisive doctrines. There are two points in this passage that stick out to me:

1) Confidence and certainty are admirable qualities, but they are not king. There are people who seem to be experts, but yet they, in truth, don't understand what they are talking about. They speak with authority, casting everyone who does not agree with them as from the devil. They tend to use straw man arguments or personal attacks - but usually lacking in actual substance.

Be careful what you buy into. Always, ALWAYS, keep your nose in Scripture, test the proof texts offered, and don't be drug along by the latest and greatest. I am always and immediately leery of someone who has a pocket of truth that no one else has. I can't think of a time where this instinct has been unhelpful.


2) The goal is love, not being right. Curtailing bad theology is not for those that like to fight, but it stems from a goal of love that "issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." (v 5) The motivation for wandering into the waters must be one of love for the individual and for the Lord. Love should hinder the pugnacious and prod the timid.

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