Paul calls Timothy his "true child in the faith" (1 Tim 1:2). Apparently Paul led Timothy to Christ. Then he took him around with him for some 20 years and taught him. Now, that would be some seminary, wouldn't it? Eventually, Paul took Timothy to Ephesus while he went on to Macedonia with instructions to "remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines" (1 Tim 1:3). Quite an assignment for the young pastor. Handle the local false teachers.
What makes a false teacher? I don't mean what makes their teaching false; I mean how does one become a false teacher? Paul told Timothy, "The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Tim 1:5). (Which might very well be a surprise to more than a few. The goal is love? Yes.). Then he tells Timothy "Some men, straying from these things, have turned aside ..." (1 Tim 1:6-7). Apparently, the way people arrive at "false teacher" is to stray from this instruction, aimed at love and centered on a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. So Paul commands Timothy to "fight the good fight" (1 Tim 1:18) by "keeping faith and a good conscience" (1 Tim 1:19). Good teachers, then, aim at love and false teachers aim at ... something else. False teachers are promised (1 John 2:18-19) and prevalent. Their goal is not love, but personal gain. They want to be teachers without regard to the truth of what they're teaching (1 Tim 1:7). They want to be in power without regard to a good conscience or a sincere faith (1 Tim 1:9-11). They don't care about the gospel; they care about themselves and their own gain.
Which brings us back to Timothy's task: teach them not to teach strange doctrines. Because, you see, strange doctrines occur when the gospel is neglected, love is not the aim, and a good conscience and sincere faith is not a consideration. False teaching comes about when it is based on speculation rather than under God's administration (1 Tim 1:4). And, note, that any one of us could neglect love as the primary focus, so keep an eye on yourself. Instruct yourself not to "teach strange doctrines", too.
1 comment:
Having a particular false teacher in mind, I would no doubt believe this false person to insist his false teaching is him loving his fellow man as Christ taught. But the doctrine is clearly of the world, not of the gospel. He's also made comments meant to convince us he's possessed of the other qualities as well...a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. He may be so given over to his corruption that he actually believes this about himself. (I'm being gracious here. I believe him totally given over.)
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