Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Job 38-39
     New Testament Reading: 1 Timothy 1

Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. 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 (1 Timothy 1:5-7).

In our faith, we leave footprints to guide others. No Christian should be left to walk the trail alone. It’s the principle of discipleship.

Timothy didn’t walk the trail alone. He followed in the steps of Paul, his father in the faith. Paul knew he was following, and he penned a letter to Timothy, giving him practical advice on developing his ministry. Timothy faced many challenges. Step by step, Paul patiently instructs him, and in doing so, he instructs us with a manual for ministry.

Timothy was a young man who ranked high in Paul’s esteem. Converted during Paul’s first missionary journey, he had over the years gained the apostle’s complete trust. When a volcano of discontent rumbled in some distant church like Corinth or Thessalonica, Paul quickly dispatched Timothy to prevent an eruption. I have no one else like him, Paul once wrote of Timothy, he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father (Phil 2:20, 22). Through a swarm of controversies, in prison, on the road, wherever Paul went, Timothy loyally followed. Six of Paul’s letters began with the news that Timothy was at his side.

Paul begins this letter by explaining to Timothy that all ministry is to be based on sound doctrine. Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith (v5). The goal of all teaching in the church and the foundation for all ministry is love for God and people that only comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. Paul warns against those whose teaching turned aside to fruitless discussion (v6). While they teach the Bible, they don’t understand what they are saying (v7).

God had committed the truth of His Word to Paul, and Paul had committed it to Timothy. It was Timothy’s responsibility to guard the faith and pass it along to faithful people. Paul identified the false teaching as myths and endless genealogies (v4).The false teachers were using the Old Testament Law, and especially the genealogies, to manufacture all kinds of novelties, and these new doctrines were leading people astray.

Just as in Paul’s day, there are teachers of false doctrine today. We must take seriously the damage they do in leading Christian astray and capturing them for their causes. Believers need to be diligent to teach the truth of the Word of God and the meaning of the basic Christian doctrines and to be discerning to identify and flee from those who stray from teaching the truth.