False Doctrine and Misuse of the Law

As I urged you when I went to Macedonia,(A) remain in Ephesus(B) so that you may instruct certain people(C) not to teach false doctrine or to pay attention to myths(D) and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan,(E) which operates by faith. Now the goal of our instruction is love(F) that comes from a pure heart,(G) a good conscience,(H) and a sincere faith.(I) Some have departed from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion. They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on.

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Timothy’s purpose in Ephesus

When I left for Macedonia, I asked you to stay behind in Ephesus so that you could instruct certain individuals not to spread wrong teaching. They shouldn’t pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. Their teaching only causes useless guessing games instead of faithfulness to God’s way of doing things. The goal of instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Because they missed this goal, some people have been distracted by talk that doesn’t mean anything. They want to be teachers of Law without understanding either what they are saying or what they are talking about with such confidence.

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