6 “Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.” (1 Timothy 1:6–7 (ESV)
Most churches have an active new church membership ministry. It is not unusual for some congregations to schedule a quarterly three-hour class to contain upwards of 12-15 couples along with single adults. These applicants are individuals who have regularly attended the worship services, benefited from its ministries, and now desire to become members.
However, church leaders may occasionally encounter people who do not agree in part with the church’s statement of faith, or doctrinal statement, particularly regarding salvation in Christ. It is on these occasions couples, or individuals, desire to become church members, but on their own terms and according to their own beliefs regarding justification, redemption, reconciliation and the substitutionary atonement of Christ on the cross.
When this occurs, the individuals in question often do not immediately submit to the church’s leadership but rather argue and push back and insist on having their own way. It is a strong and healthy church whose leaders hold firm to the truth of God’s Word, particularly concerning justification by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.
Such conflict concerning church doctrine is not unusual. Biblical truth cannot be compromised, but attempts to do so existed even in the early church. The Apostle Paul’s epistle to the Galatians thoroughly stressed the important of getting the Gospel right. Paul’s heartfelt counsel to the Ephesian church elders illustrated this important commitment to God’s truth and to be on guard concerning internal church error and false teachers (Acts 20:17-35).
Therefore, it is not shocking to read Paul’s challenge and directives to Timothy. As previously studied, Paul wrote, “As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:3–5 (ESV)
When Paul wrote, “Certain persons, by swerving from these,” he referred to individuals who were swerving (ἀστοχήσαντες; astochesantes) or abandoning, deviating, and departing from the truth. The biblical truth they were abandoning was a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. Consequently, these individuals wandered away (ἐξετράπησαν; exetrapesan) and became involved in vain discussions (ματαιολογίαν; mataiologian) referring to meaningless talk.
“Paul no doubt believed that such love should be the goal of all Christian ministry (cf. 1 Cor. 13:1–3). Yet, sadly, though they should have known better, some teachers in the Ephesian congregation had lost sight of this lofty purpose and had wandered away (lit., “missed the aim”; cf. 1 Tim. 6:21; 2 Tim. 2:18) and turned aside to meaningless talk. Their teaching was mataiologian, that is, idle, useless, futile, empty verbiage.” [1]
“These “certain individuals” are the people to whom reference was made in verse 3 (see on that passage). They are said to have wandered away or deviated (see also on 1 Tim. 6:21 and on 2 Tim. 2:18) from their proper objectives: the pure heart, the conscience good, and the faith without hypocrisy. Naturally, they also missed the true destination, the final goal, namely love. They are like marksmen who miss their target, like travelers who never reach their destination because they have taken the wrong turn and have failed to look for the familiar signs along the road. The path which these people have taken is not even a detour. It is more like a dead-end street beyond which lies a swamp, in their case the swamp of “futile talk,” useless reasoning, argumentation that gets nowhere (cf. Titus 1:10), dry as dust disputation, a wrangling about fanciful tales anent pedigrees! Yes, their vaunted learning has finally landed them in the no-man’s land of ceremonious subtleties, in the dreary marsh of ridiculous hair-splitting. And the owner of that quagmire is … Satan, who heads the welcoming-committee (1 Tim. 5:15).” [2]
Allowing such individuals into church membership where they may influence others by their false teaching and error is never wise. The meaningless talk will spread like a spiritual cancer adversely affecting all who come into its influence.
John Calvin writes, “This is a remarkable passage, in which he (Paul) condemns for “idle talking” (13) all the doctrines which do not aim at this single end, and at the same time points out that the views and thoughts of all who aim at any other object vanish away. It is, indeed, possible that useless trifles may be regarded by many persons with admiration; but the statement of Paul remains unshaken, that everything that does not edify in godliness is ματαιολογία, (14) “idle talking.” We ought; therefore to take the greatest possible care not to seek anything in the holy and sacred word of God but solid edification, lest otherwise he inflict on us severe punishment for abusing it.”
Pray for the elders and pastors of your church to hold firm to biblical truth. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] A. Duane Litfin, “1 Timothy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 732.
[2] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 63.
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