Chapter # 1 Paragraph # 2 Study # 2
(Focus is upon 1:4)
Lincolnton, NC
February 22, 2004
Textual Notes:
- 1. The only difference between the Textus Receptus and the Nestle/Aland 26 is that the Nestle/Aland 26 uses "ek" in front of "dzataseis", which is mostly a spelling variation rather than a real textual difference.
- 2. The text reads as an ellipsis in the form of anacoluthon [there is an absence of the expected follow-up phrase to go with "As I...", so the translators insert one: the KJV translators add "so do" at the end of v. 4 and the ASV translator go further and add "so do I now"].
KJV Translation:
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
ASV Translation:
4 neither to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questionings, rather than a dispensation of God which is in faith; so do I now.
Notes:
- 1. On the heels of the "insistence" that "they teach not heterodox doctrines" comes this "neither"...
- a. This is either a second thing they are "into", or it is "epexegetical" (an explanation of the meaning of the former exhortation).
- b. It makes more sense to take it as "epexegetical" seeing that it appears to be a further elucidation of the "teaching of strange doctrines" in that it gives the "sources" of such teaching (myths and genealogies).
- 2. Paul's word, "give heed", is generally used in the New Testament to refer to a focus of heart and mind that governs the way a person makes choices...with the particular "focus" being upon the question of "how do I make my life better?" [The "issue" in "giving heed" is not so much the "love" (what is valuable?) question as it is the "faith" (will this work?) question.]
- a. Paul uses this term 5 times in the pastorals...
- 1) 1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
- 2) 1 Timothy 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
- 3) 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
- 4) 1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
- 5) Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
- b. In each of the cases, the "consideration" involves issues that address the question of how to improve the quality of life, not the question of how to obtain life.
- 3. There is, in this letter to Timothy, an emphasis upon "fables". Peter is the only other New Testament writer to use the term.
- a. The uses:
- 1) 1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
- 2) 1 Timothy 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
- 3) 2 Timothy 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
- 4) Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
- 5) 2 Peter 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
- b. The significance:
- 1) Apparently, there are two "sources" for 'life-information': God or demons.
- 2) Then, there are two "methods" of "delivery": Truth-in-life or cunningly devised myth.
- a) Cunningly devised "myth" is sometimes delivered by "apostles" or "prophets" who are disguised as messengers of light when in reality they are purveyors of demonic myth.
- b) Cunningly devised "myth" is also not without 'life-experience' confirmation in the short term. [There is pleasure in sin for a season.]
- 3) There is a "bottom line" that marks "myth" off from "Truth".
- a) "Myth" will, invariably, be rooted in the "me-focus" that fundamentally contradicts the essential nature of love.
- i. This "me-focus" is not difficult to identify once the fog is cleared away: the fog is the refusal to ask the question, "Who is it that I am most worried about here?"
- ii. Any time the question ultimately boils down to "How can I make my life better?", there is an open door to "myth".
- b) "Truth" will, invariably, be rooted in the "eternal-other-focus" that is fundamentally the character of God.
- i. There will always be an eye on the real issue: eternal well being, as opposed to short-term temporal well being.
- ii. There will always be the arresting command: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This is actually better than WWJD (since no one really knows what Jesus will do in any given specific situation because no one knows the details like Jesus does).
- 4. The reference to "genealogies" is, apparently, a reference to certain "doctrines" which put a great deal of weight upon a theoretical dogma in which God supposedly confers His blessings upon those who are in a given physical gene pool ("...we are the children of Abraham..."); a dogma which Paul completely blows away in his argument in Romans 9:8 that the children are "of promise", not "of physical descent".
- a. Naturally, if the blessing of God rests upon being in the "right" genealogical descent, there will be an obsessive fixation upon genealogies and attempts to discover where the "family tree" has its roots and branches.
- b. This obsession will result, in Paul's words, in an "endless" [without boundaries] pursuit of dubitable information which has, in the final sense, absolutely nothing to contribute to a person's life.
- 5. The net result of the dabbling in myth and genealogical research is "questions" as opposed to solid answers.
- a. Myths and genealogical research only create questions, not answers...
- 1) Galatians 6:17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
- 2) Colossians 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
- 3) 1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
- 4) 1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
- 5) Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
- b. Paul's antagonism to such is revealed in...
- 1) 1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
- 2) 1 Timothy 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
- 3) 2 Timothy 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
- 4) Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
- c. Unanswerable questions, rooted in ungodly curiosity, which itself is rooted in a complete misunderstanding of the objective of God in 'revelation of Truth to men', are an unworthy pursuit and a total waste of energy and time.
- 1) If God does not reveal a thing, it is not important to our lives or the lives of others.
- 2) If God does reveal a thing, it is not a waste of time to pursue His meaning.
- 3) If the information being considered is not revealed by God, it is an unworthy source of information since there is no way to validate its truthfulness.
- 6. The KJV's translation, "rather than godly edifying", is as clear an example of the uninspired translation as can be found: the Greek word that the translators appealed to is not even in the Textus Receptus, or the Nestle/Aland 26. It is an obscure reading only found in a small number of witnesses, of which the Latin translations are a small part. So, here the translators stumbled badly--proving their's is not a 'preserved text'.
- a. Paul's interest is in "giving rise to" the "stewardship of God which is by faith"...i.e. a person's ability to fulfill his stewardship before God, which he does when he functions by faith.
- b. Therefore, Paul would be absolutely opposed to anything that undercut this function and he would be inalterably opposed to anything that did not permit "faith" to develop.
What is Paul talking about?
He is talking about where a person puts his "focus of attention".
What is he saying about what he is talking about?
He is saying that it should not be on anything that does not have the capacity to foster faith.