A Warning Against the Speculations of False Teachers
False teaching has long plagued the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. When the Apostle Paul wrote to both Timothy and Titus, he immediately entered his polemic. There was no “pleasant” introduction to add any warmth to his epistle. This highlights the serious nature of Paul’s address to Timothy and through him…the church at Ephesus.
False teachers abound, today, as heresies have had time to fester and multiply over the past two thousand years. The timeless truth of God’s Holy Word assures us that these problems will be with us to the end. The charge to the called man of God remains, “instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines” (1 Tim 1:3).
Positively, the task of the elder/pastor is to further the administration of God (Gk. oikonomia). The formation of Christ’s church and the execution of His plan of salvation includes the office of a steward. A steward is a household manager serving the owner. Every called elder/pastor is a steward of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the wisdom and power of God unto salvation for those who believe (Rom 1:16–17; 1 Cor 1:24).
Elders in the local church must be believers in Jesus Christ, born again of the Spirit of God (Jn 3:1–8; 1 Pet 1:3). They must not be new converts; and they must be qualified by the Word of God (1 Tim 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9). They also must be called by God to preach and teach God’s Word (Phil 1:16; 1 Tim 2:7; 2 Tim 1:11).
The Ephesian heresy was likely a variety of Jewish myths derived from the Old Testament. It was combined with some version of the Greek philosophy of Gnosticism. Not knowing the exact teaching of these men, who came into the Ephesian church and who rose up to the position of elder, we do know the result of their false teaching. It leads to speculations that eventually led to behavioral deviations. Bad doctrine does lead to bad behavior.
The Apostle Paul anticipated the intrusion of “savage wolves” as he summoned the Ephesian elders to Miletus, when he passed by en route to Jerusalem (Acts 20:29–30). Wolves feast on their prey in order to survive but they are also known to “thrill kill.” This where they kill just for the fun of it. Again, we see the importance of confronting false teaching by false teachers who infiltrate Christ’s church to lead people away in order to shipwreck their faith. Wolves are dangerous animals and so are false teachers.
Satan inspires false teaching (1 Tim 4:1). He is the father of lies (Jn 8:44), who prowls in order to devour (1 Pet 5:8). He blinds people’s minds (2 Cor 4:4) and then leads them into the pit (Mt 15:14). One additional problem is that he poses as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14). Thus, he would even lead God’s elect astray if that were possible (Mt 24:24; Mk 13:22). Christians must grow in their knowledge of truth (2 Pet 3:18), and hold fast to sound doctrine even as the Bereans did in searching the Scriptures for themselves (Acts 17:11).
Christians are to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15). Elders must shepherd the flock of God with loving care (1 Pet 5:1–5). This must always be the goal of instruction, too (1 Tim 1:5). We preach the truth of the Gospel, leading people to walk in love for God, His Word, and His people (Eph 5:2). The light of this love shines to even reach the enemies of the cross of Christ (Mt 5:44; Lk 6:27, 35). Not everyone receives the love nor the truth of God (2 Thess 2:10), which is why conflict remains for the church in the world…and when the world infiltrates the church.
A life of love and faith is the Christian ideal (Gal 5:6, 22). Christian love is to be agape love and true faith must be in the truth, as it is in Jesus (Eph 4:21). All people must know the kindness and the severity of God (Rom 11:22). Love must never grow cold; and we must not grow weary in doing good (Gal 6:9; 2 Thess 3:13; Rev 2:3). We must admonish every man, teach every man, in the hope of presenting every man complete in Christ (Col 1:27–28).
Love has a relationship with a Christian’s heart, mind, and faith. Love lives in the heart that has been purified of sin (Heb 1:3). It dwells in the conscience that has been freed from the guilt of sin. Love is the motive behind every action of faith (1 Cor 13). Those who are greedy for financial gain from the ministry do not love the people of God (Is 56:11; Jer 6:13; 8:10). They preach a different gospel in order to gain a popular following of those who gladly give charlatans their money (2 Cor 11:4; Gal 1:6). Being themselves deceived; they deceive.
Elders who deviate from the path of righteousness have left their first love (Rev 2:4). They get distracted by fruitless discussions, senseless babble (1 Tim 1:6). Like vain idols who dictate the lives of the superstitious, the silly myths and stories of false teachers starve the sheep of God’s pasture (Amos 8:11; Mt 9:36; Mk 6:34).
“Ignorant teachers” sounds oxymoronic; but those who think they are Christians and who pretend to know and understand the Bible are mere menaces (1 Tim 1:7). Too often, undisciplined, untaught church goers do not know the difference between false gospels and the one true Gospel of God. Therefore, the shallow pursuit of fame, fortune, and rank — at the expense of deceived church members — must be exposed by the skilled teacher of God’s Word, who can rightly divide the Word of truth (1 Tim 2:15; 3:2).
Christians are warned about these dogmatic deceivers who threaten every local church. Dogmatism without sound doctrine is diabolical. The false teachers always depart from the pure Word for: comedy; philosophy; social justice; psychology; sensuality; or simple storytelling about themselves. No one grows up to spiritual maturity in Christ on a diet of foolish speculations (2 Pet 3:18).
Love must forever be the pastoral motive. The moral choice to depart from sound doctrine and godly living requires a call for repentance for imposters. Church members must turn away from the unloving, unqualified teachers of non-sense. Like Timothy sent to Ephesus at the command and administration of God, so churches must employ qualified, loving elder/pastors who handle the Word of truth in the manner worthy of their calling from God…to preach Christ and Him crucified.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
October 5, 2023
