Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia,(A) stay there in Ephesus(B) so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines(C) any longer or to devote themselves to myths(D) and endless genealogies.(E) Such things promote controversial speculations(F) rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart(G) and a good conscience(H) and a sincere faith.(I) Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers(J) of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.(K)

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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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