Now Listen to Me!
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 1 Timothy 1:3-4 NIV
Command – Sometimes Paul is more like a general than a chaplain. This letter might be called one of the “Pastoral Epistles” but it is anything but passive. Essentially, Paul tells Timothy to straighten out these people in no uncertain terms.
The Greek verb is parangéllō. No Greek speaking man could miss the overtones. It’s a verb that essentially means “to intimidate.” Not surprisingly, the LXX uses the verb for military commands. Of the apostolic writers, Paul uses this verb the most. In fact, outside Paul’s letters the verb typically expresses the authority of the Messiah, and Paul uses it that way, implying that his directives are really the commands of Yeshua HaMashiach. No matter how you see it, this word is about chain of authority. It’s harsh. Pay attention! Get it straight! Listen to me!
What is Paul so worked up about? You know, of course. False teachers. Heretics. Everyone who doesn’t agree with me! At least that’s probably what we would think. We have the true doctrine. Anyone who doesn’t believe what we believe has false doctrine, and if they’re teaching that sort of nonsense, well, that makes them an enemy of God, right? The result is 50,000 denominations in the Protestant world, dozens of orders in the Catholic world, and multiple ways of practicing in the Jewish world. After all, only one way can be the true way, so there are plenty of enemies to castigate.
Is that what Paul’s doing—telling Timothy to order these people to desist? The NIV adds a small phrase to this verse which has some interesting implications. The phrase is “any longer.” Does that mean that up to this point false doctrines were being taught, right under Timothy’s nose? Perhaps before Paul’s order there was a bit of tolerance, but now no longer. The general has spoken. Since this phrase isn’t in the Greek text, why would the translators of the NIV add it? Is it because they wanted to communicate the idea that the assembly in Ephesus was a mixed bag until Paul decided to put his foot down? Or are they suggesting that doctrines developed over time? At any rate, what we do know is that some people were involved with heterodidáskalos. “This word [the verb form, heterodidaskaléō] . . . (cf. Gal. 1:9), occurs only in 1 Tim. 1:3; 6:3 with reference to those who disseminate a different teaching, making peripheral matters the main issue (1:4ff.) and with a Judaizing stress on the law (v. 7).”[1]
Ah, so it isn’t heresy. It’s different teaching. Different from what? You’ll notice that Rengstorf calls it “Judaizing,” as if what Paul objects to is Jewish in opposition to Christian. Rengstorf mistakenly thinks the issue is about the “Law.” But if Paul isn’t a Christian, then this remark is certainly out of place. It’s not Jewish Law that bothers Paul. It’s distractions from the main issue. It’s myths and genealogies. It’s speculations that derail the real purpose. I’m sure Ephesus was the center of a lot of religious speculation. After all, there was a synagoge (that is, religious—not Jewish) assembly on every corner. The first century Mediterranean world was filled with religions—and lots of conjectures about the impact or lack thereof of the gods on the world. What Paul is concerned about—supremely concerned—is the end—the coming of the Messiah and the end of the world as we know it—the end of the age. His apocalyptic vision dominates his thinking. There’s not much time left. Forget all the speculating diversions. Concentrate on what’s coming—soon! It’s not the Law that bothers Paul. It’s the time! Heterodidáskalos are not false doctrines. They’re temporal interference.
Once we clear that up, maybe Paul’s military orders should be implemented today.
Topical Index: heterodidáskalos, false doctrine, heretic, parangéllō, command, 1 Timothy 1:3-4
[1] Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume (p. 166). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.
