Read & explore together
Correcting False Teachers
This passage tells a church leader to stop different doctrine and unhelpful speculations. It contrasts disputes and vain talking with teaching aimed at love, sound doctrine and the good news of God’s glory.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
The writer reminds Timothy to stay at Ephesus and command certain men not to teach differently. The passage explains why myths, endless genealogies and empty talk are a problem, then clarifies that the law is good when used lawfully and in line with the good news entrusted to the writer.
1 Timothy 1:3–11Main takeaway
Teaching should aim at love and agree with sound doctrine and the good news of the glory of the blessed God.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Stop different doctrineThe passage begins with a clear instruction: Timothy is to stay at Ephesus and command certain men not to teach a different doctrine.
Explanation
The passage begins with a clear instruction: Timothy is to stay at Ephesus and command certain men not to teach a different doctrine. They are also not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, because these produce disputes rather than God’s stewardship, which is in faith.
02The command aims at loveThe writer explains the goal of this command. It is love, and this love comes from a pure heart, a good conscience and sincere faith.
Explanation
The writer explains the goal of this command. It is love, and this love comes from a pure heart, a good conscience and sincere faith. Some have missed these things and turned aside to vain talking, showing that much speech can still miss the passage’s stated goal.
03Wanting to teach without understandingSome people want to be teachers of the law, yet the passage says they do not understand what they say or what they strongly affirm.
Explanation
Some people want to be teachers of the law, yet the passage says they do not understand what they say or what they strongly affirm. The problem is not the law itself. The writer says the law is good, if a person uses it lawfully.
04Law, sound doctrine and good newsThe passage lists kinds of people and actions for which the law is made, including the lawless, insubordinate, murderers, the sexually immoral, homosexuals, slave-traders, liars and perjurers, along with anything contrary to sound doctrine.
Explanation
The passage lists kinds of people and actions for which the law is made, including the lawless, insubordinate, murderers, the sexually immoral, homosexuals, slave-traders, liars and perjurers, along with anything contrary to sound doctrine. This sound doctrine is said to accord with the good news of the glory of the blessed God.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Timothy need to stop, and what do those things produce?
Use the phrases about different doctrine, myths and endless genealogies, and note that they cause disputes rather than God’s stewardship in faith.
02What is the goal of the command in this passage?
Answer with the word love and include the three sources named for it in verse 5.
03How does the passage connect the law with sound doctrine and the good news?
Follow the wording from lawful use of the law to the listed behaviours and then to sound doctrine according to the good news.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Timothy 1:3–11
3As I urged you when I was going into Macedonia, stay at Ephesus that you might command certain men not to teach a different doctrine,
4and not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than God’s stewardship, which is in faith.
5But the goal of this command is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith,
6from which things some, having missed the mark, have turned away to vain talking,
7desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say nor about what they strongly affirm.
8But we know that the law is good if a person uses it lawfully,
9as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine,
11according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.