Reading Timothy and Titus With John StottНамуна

Misuse of the Law

Paul confirms an earlier appeal for Timothy to remain in Ephesus so that he might “command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer.” Who were these false teachers, and what were they teaching? Paul writes that they “want to be teachers of the law.” There is actually a great need for Christian teachers of the moral law (the Ten Commandments as expounded by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount), for it is through the teaching of the law that we come to a consciousness of our sin and learn the implications of loving our neighbor.

Evidently, then, there is both a right and a wrong, a legitimate and an illegitimate, use of the law. How are the false teachers misusing the law? Timothy is to command them not to “devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies.” The false teachers are not the Judaizers Paul opposed in his letter to the Galatians and who taught salvation by obedience to the law. Instead, these people treat the law as a hunting ground for their conjectures. To Paul their approach is frivolous; God had given his law to his people for a much more serious purpose.

Paul indicates two consequences of the false teaching: it obstructs both faith and love. False teachings “promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.” Speculation raises doubts, while revelation evokes faith. “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” To depart from these things is to be caught up in “meaningless talk.”

Thus Paul paints a double contrast: between speculation and faith in God’s revelation, and between controversy and love for one another. Here are two practical tests for us to apply to all teaching. The first is the test of faith: Does it come from God, being in agreement with apostolic doctrine (so that it may be received by faith), or is it the product of fertile human imagination? The second is the test of love: Does it promote unity in the body of Christ, or if not (since truth itself can divide), is it irresponsibly divisive? The ultimate criteria by which to judge any teaching are whether it promotes the glory of God and the good of the church.

From Reading Timothy and Titus with John Stott by John Stott with Dale and Sandy Larsen.