Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Timothy 1:3-4

"As I exhorted thee to tarry at Ephesus, when I was going into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine, neither to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questionings, rather than a dispensation of God which is in faith; [so do I now]." — 1 Timothy 1:3-4 (ASV)

(3a) When Paul went into Macedonia—at exactly what time we do not know—he urged Timothy to remain in Ephesus. As noted in the introduction, it appears that Paul was released from his first Roman imprisonment of two years (cf. Acts 28:30) and that he made another visit to Ephesus. There he discovered some conditions that needed extended attention. So he left Timothy as pastor of this important church.

(3b–4a) What was the problem that concerned Paul? We find the answer here in the purpose for which Timothy was to remain: “that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies.” The church has always had false teachers—they appeared on the scene in the very first generation, within thirty-five years of the church’s birth at Pentecost (A. D. 30–65). What was the nature of these “false doctrines,” and what is meant by “myths and endless genealogies”? There are two possible answers. (1) The reference could be to the vagaries of what became known as Gnosticism, with its endless genealogies of intermediary beings (aeons) between God and humankind. (2) But v.7 suggests that these were Jewish teachers, who were caught up in the mythological treatment of OT genealogies, and Tit 1:14 speaks of “Jewish myths.” There is abundant evidence that both these features were found in the Judaism of that day.

(4b) Paul declares that such teachings “promote controversies rather than God’s work— which is by faith.” The word translated “work” (GK 3873) means “stewardship” or “dispensation.” God’s dispensation of truth does not produce whimsical fables but true faith.