FALSE TEACHERS - FALSE TEACHINGS

1 TIMOTHY 1:1-4

Church Order and Christian Character – As you can see from the slide, the sermon notes that the overarching theme of 1 Timothy is Church Order which includes Christian Character which ultimately plays a major role in church order.

Let’s start with the basics of writing, research and journalism – the who, what, when, where, and why – (the how we know – letter)

1st Timothy is one of 3 pastoral letters (2 Timothy and Titus) – where these letters are written to an individual not the whole church and it is for the individual with pastoral oversight. Paul writes these to give Church organization, discipline, and leadership as well as the need for them as shepherd to protect the flock from false teachers and doctrines and removal of such false teachers.

Who – Paul – called to evangelize the Gentiles and James, Peter and John gave Paul permission to take Barnabas and preach to the Gentiles. Timothy was a young man in the city of Lystra in Galatia. He was the son of Greek dad and Jewish mom. His Jewish mom and grandmother had raised him in the faith. Paul, on his secondary missionary journey meets Timothy, could sense the power of the Holy Spirit and calling on Timothy’s life. This is found in Acts 16.

What – The church at Ephesus had fallen into the trap of false teachers and false doctrines being taught. Timothy, while young, had been assigned to not only lead the church but rid the church of these false teachers with their false doctrines. As we travel the next 15 weeks through 1 Timothy, we will see that Paul calls on Timothy to doctrinal correction, proper worship, establishing and formalizing qualifications for elders and deacons as well as confronting individuals who were purposefully undermining Timothy and his calling and leadership. Paul charges Timothy to live a life above reproach giving believers in Ephesus and us as well a standard to emulate in not only our church lives but our daily lives which in all honesty should be the same.

When – Paul wrote this probably between the years of 62-66AD his third missionary journey but mostly likely before his arrest in Jerusalem.

Where – Paul sent this letter to Timothy in Ephesus which is current day Turkey. Ephesus was one of the major cities of the Roman Civilization. While this was written specifically to Pastor Timothy, Paul also intended for this letter to read in public.

Let Us Pray!

Warning Against False Teachers!

1 Timothy 1:1–4 – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so 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.

I. THE PERSONNEL—vv. 1–2 – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

1. Person—v. 1 – Paul the Apostle of Christ. Paul was as chosen by Jesus Christ as was Peter, James, John etc. He met Christ in a personal way—Acts 9:3–6.

This statement is not to remind Timothy who Paul is or under what authority he is working under but is twofold –

Pass that authority to Timothy who was leading, pastoring

Remind those in the church under whose authority both Paul and Timothy were under (1 Timothy 6:21 – Grace Be With You All).

The Christian character and church order Paul was going to address was bestowed by Jesus when He called Paul as an apostle and then Paul calling, training Timothy and placing Timothy as Shepherd, Pastor over the Church at Ephesus

This is not Paul wanting to write – the Greek word epitage – refers to divine command

It is by command of Our God and Savior – its is God’s Purpose – God’s Authority – God’s Command that these be done

2. Purpose—v. 2. The Epistle was written to Timothy, a young man travelling with Paul.

Paul writes this letter to his spiritual son, Timothy whom he left in charge of the church at Ephesus during his third missionary journey. Timothy joined Paul on his secondary missionary journey probably in his late teens early 20’s. When he is put in charge of the church of Ephesus, he was probably in his early 30’s.

This was a genuine spiritual father-son relationship – this was more than mentor – mentee or apostle-disciple relationship – my true child in the faith is a term of endearment not an indication as to the depth of Timothy’s faith or relationship with Christ

Grace – mercy – peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord

II. THE PROBLEM—vv. 3–4 – As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so 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.

1. Silence—v. 3 – As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,

Paul uses the Greek word parakaleō – command 12 times in his letters – of the 12, 5 are used in 1 Timothy. This is not a letter to read lightly

Timothy is not to waver in his opposition to false teachers and their false teachings – neither are we –

Parangellō – military order to give strict orders

Not –

Heterodidaskaleō – het-er-od-id-as-kal-eh'-o – deviating from the truth. Teach other or different doctrine

Paul had faith that Timothy would teach true doctrine unto the people.

a. False teaching is controlled by silencing –

a. Some false teaching of the day – had to be a Jew first – had to follow Mosaic Law

b. Gnosticism – Jesus was not fully God – still around today

c. Other forms today – God wants you happy, healthy, wealthy, God is binary, God is a her, all roads lead to heaven – there is no hell, satan is a metaphor for evil not real

As believers we cannot allow false teachers to bring in doctrine that is contrary to Scripture

How do we stop false teachers and their false doctrines –

STOP and SILENCE – that was the charge to Timothy – that is the charge to us

Only the BIBLE should be taught in Church

Only the Bible should be taught in Sunday School

Only the Bible should be taught in Bible Studies

Timothy had to deal with the disputes

2. Disputes—v. 4 – nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

Pastors should not just be telling stories, but God’s never changing Word.

a. False teaching is characterized by Controversy – must keep the law of Moses for salvation

Myths – Extra-biblical writings like Book of Enoch, writings explaining what Moses did for 40 days on the mountain

Apocryphal

Pseudepigraphal – like book of Enoch, Gospel of Thomas,

Endless Genealogies – literary histories – their own personal histories and who they were related to as way to show their importance and should be followed and listened to. The Gnostic Sect called Ophites loved to indulge in endless genealogies – if they can distract with a bunch of babble you can't see what they are really doing.

It is God that should be listened to – God’s Word is what should be preached – not 1 or 2 verses and then

There is no longer special revelation – Systematic Theology defines special revelation as Special revelation is the teaching about God and his works that he has given to us through the prophets and apostles and which is now contained exclusively in the Bible.

Those that say they have special revelation – God told only me this – is a false teacher – many cults from the LDS church to modern day Branch Davidians in Waco TX to many today like Scientology, The Family and Christian Identity Movement.

Pastors going outside of the Bible teaching – God wants you happy healthy wealthy

If doesn’t matter who you love – God is a God of Love

OT isn’t relevant today – sins in bible are outdated

Dr Reid states it this way – However, fruitless discussion of whether Jesus could have gotten sick, or whether He could have hit His thumb when He hammered a nail, will only result in disputes - because it goes beyond sound biblical teaching. Such speculative discussions can even destroy happy fellowship among believers. Going beyond what God has given to us in

His Word can easily lead to false teaching, and even to heresy. False teaching is characterized by squabbles and disputes.

The disputes and arguments did more to divide the church than it did to edify the church or draw people into deeper relationship with the Lord.

Verse 4 ends with –

rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith

These myths and genealogies distracted God’s steward (oikonomian theou) from helping believers “live a life of faith in God

oikonomian - managing household affairs

theou – Godhead, Trinity, Father, Son, Holy Spirit

pistis - conviction of truth

These preventing the managing the God’s house and living a life of faith in God

Sola Scriptura – Only Scripture – Scripture is the sole, the only infallible Word of God – Only Scripture should be taught!

Are there any non-Scriptutal beliefs you need to get rid of?

Are there false teachers or doctrines that you are aware of that we need to prevent from coming into our church – bible studies, Sunday school, Boy/Girls Ministries?

Let Us Pray!