Take Hold of the Truth

I Timothy 1:3-7, 12-20
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Oct. 1

After Paul’s release from his imprisonment (Acts 28:30) he revisits many of the cities in which he had previously ministered. At Ephesus he decided to leave Timothy behind to deal with problems that had risen in the church.

We would do well to realize that before he established plans of outreach and growth he was going to have to deal with some important doctrinal issues.

Paul’s emphasis on dealing with doctrinal issues in the church helps us see that evangelism cannot prosper at the expense of the purity of the church.

Paul “charges” Timothy that before he does anything else in the church he had better deal with the false doctrine and more importantly the false teachers and leaders who were behind its proliferation.

How was Timothy going to accomplish this task? This is precisely what this week’s lesson is all about. Note the following points.

Identify the false teaching and teachers (1:3-7)

Paul had already begun this task as he alludes to having dealt with Hymenaeus and Alexander. Paul had already removed both men from the church for their heretical teaching. Now Timothy was to continue this process.

The facts that are brought out in this passage about the false teaching (vv. 4-6) highlight the reality that there comes a time when not only the false teaching has to be addressed but the false teachers as well.

There comes a time in all of our churches when it is not enough to simply confront error from the pulpit. Sometimes it requires personal confrontation. This confrontation is to occur even if the false teacher is a leader! Many scholars believe that these false teachers could have been elders in the church.

We must require that those who lead our local congregations and teach in our Sunday Schools adhere to sound doctrine! It is imperative to the mission of our church and in the selection of its leaders and officers that we know what is being taught and what they believe doctrinally.

It was obvious that those in teaching positions in the church were out of line. Their church was not getting closer to “godly edifying” (vv. 4-5) but rather speculation and a pooling of their ignorance!

Paul’s language assures young Timothy that he must use spiritual discernment and act decisively in having these false teachings exposed for what they really are.

Stand on the gospel of grace (vv. 12-17)

It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit brings to Paul’s remembrance how he, too, was once a false teacher! He was just like some of those Judaizers who were trying to make the law an end for grace, rather than a means.

More than likely the false teachers in Ephesus were teaching some version of works salvation that leads to pride, arrogance, and self-righteousness. This is just the opposite of the “gospel of grace” that leads to a pure love for God and a pure conscience toward others!

Paul hits on a very important key to being able to recognize, confront, and protect congregations from false teaching. We, as leaders, must first and foremost be completely assured in our hearts that we have truly and thoroughly been converted by the gospel of grace!

The existence of these false teachers helped remind Paul that there is still hope for all sinners! He was reminded of how he blasphemed God in his rebellion. He was reminded of how he had actively persecuted the church. He was reminded of how insolent he was before God’s grace confronted him with his sin. Verse 20 reminds us that a person can be sincere and yet sincerely wrong.

This is where our confrontation with false teachers should begin. Our motive must first be redemptive! For we, too, were ignorant of the truth and blind to our personal sin. We must confront with the first motive to convert! And, we need only to look back at our conversion to find the sympathy we need for those kinds of people.

That’s why when Paul gets to verse 17 he just has to shout out his praise, because if it were not for God’s grace he would still be lost, too!

Contend for the truth (vv. 18-20)

Paul closes out this first chapter with a personal reminder of Timothy’s calling to stand firm upon the truth. He is reminded that he is in a spiritual warfare.

Timothy is to be guided by the sound doctrinal teaching of the apostles and his own personal conversion experience and call to the ministry. These convictions would enable him to stand against the enemies of Christ and the gospel. Timothy is reminded of the devastating consequences to be faced by all who go the route of false teaching.

They end up, as Paul puts it, “shipwrecked.” There ends up being catastrophic consequences for all who hear, reject, and turn away from the gospel – and this includes church leaders who act like they know the Lord, but are really not saved!

Paul then makes his point to Timothy. Look at Hymenaeus and Alexander! More than likely these were two of their elders that had been put out of the church and removed from God’s protective care!

The end result was that they would be taught that “false doctrine doesn’t pay.” It doesn’t pay as a leader in the church and it doesn’t pay in eternity when it comes to facing God.

I wonder if our churches today believe that false doctrine doesn’t pay. Just look at the “shipwrecked” lives that are all around us. We must stand with integrity and honesty to confront the false doctrine that is propagating false character, false hope, and at best shallow churches that are not going to stand the test of persecution, much less win our communities to Christ.