Fables, Deception And Itching Ears?
Considerations from the Apostles Paul and Peter concerning biblical teaching.
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. 1 Timothy 1:4
fables and endless genealogies - Legends and fanciful stories manufactured from elements of Judaism (Titus 1:14), which probably dealt with allegorical or fictitious interpretations of OT genealogical lists. In reality, they were "doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1) posing as God's truth.
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. 1 Timothy 4:1
the spirit expressly says - Paul repeats to Timothy the warning he had given many years earlier to the Ephesians elders (Acts 20:29-30). The Holy Spirit through Scriptures has repeatedly warned of the danger of apostasy (Matthew 24:4-12, Acts 20:29-30, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, Hebrews 3:12, Hebrews 5:11-6:8, Hebrews 10:26-31, 2 Peter 3:3, 1 John 2:18; Jude 18).
in latter times - The period from the first coming of Christ until His return (Acts 2:16-17, Hebrews 1:1-2, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:20, 1 John 2:18). Apostasy will exist throughout that period, reaching a climax shortly before Christ returns (Matthew 24:12).
depart from the faith - Those who fall prey to the false teachers will abandon the Christian faith. The Greek word for "depart" is the source of the English word "apostatize," and refers to someone moving away from an original position. These are professing or nominal Christians who associate with those who truly believe the gospel, but defect after believing lies and deception, thus revealing their true nature as unconverted.
deceiving spirits - Those demonic spirits, either directly or through false teachers, who have wandered away from the truth and lead other to do the same. The most defining word to describe the entire operation of Satan and demons is "deception" (John 8:44, 1 John 4:1-6).
doctrine of demons - Not teach about demons, but false teaching that originates from them. To sit under such teaching is to hear lies from the demonic realm (Ephesians 6:12, James 3:15, 2 John 7-11). Satan and demons constantly work the deceptions that corrupt and pervert God's word.
But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 1 Timothy 4:7
reject profane and old wives' fables - In addition to being committed to God's word, believers must avoid all false teaching. Paul denounced such error as "profane" (worldly, the opposite of what is holy) "fables" (muthos, from which the English word "myths" derives) fit only for "old wives" (a common epithet denoting something fit only for the uneducated and philosophically unsophisticated).
exercise yourself toward godliness - "Godliness" (a proper attitude and response toward God) is the prerequisite from which all effective ministry flows. "Exercise" is an athletic term denoting the rigorous, self-sacrificing training an athlete undergoes. Spiritual self-discipline is the path to godly living. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 2 Timothy 2:14-19
strive about words - Arguing with false teachers i.e deceivers who use human reason to subvert God's Word is not only foolish (Proverbs 14:7) and futile (Matthew 7:6), but dangerous. This is the first of three warnings to avoid useless arguments (2 Timothy 2:16;23).
ruin - The Greek word means "overturned," or "overthrown". It appears only one other time in the New Testament (2 Peter 2:6), where it describes the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Because it replaces the truth with lies, false teaching brings spiritual catastrophe to those who heed it. The ruin can be eternal.
Be diligent - This word denotes zealous persistence in accomplishing a goal. Timothy, like all who preach or teach the Word, was to give his maximum effort to impart God's Word completely, accurately, and clearly to his hearers. This is crucial to counter disastrous effects of false teaching (2 Timothy 2:14,16,17).
rightly dividing - Literally "cutting it straight" - a reference to the exactness demanded by such trades as carpentry, masonry, and Paul's trade of leather working and tent making. Precision and accuracy are required in biblical interpretation, beyond all other enterprises because the interpreter is handling God's Word. Anything less is shameful.
the word of truth - All Scripture in general (John 17:17) , and the gospel message in particular (Ephesians 1:13, Colossians 1:5).
shun profane and idle babblings - Such destructive heresy leads only to "more ungodliness". Heresy cannot save or sanctify. This is Paul's second such warning (2 Timothy 2:14,23).
cancer - The word refers to a deadly disease which spreads rapidly in a deadly manner. The metaphor emphasizes the insidious danger of false teaching. It attacks and consumes ones life.
the resurrection is already past - Like the false teacher who troubled the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15:12) Hymenaeus and Philetus denied the reality of believer's bodily resurrection. They probably taught that believer's spiritual identification with Christ's death and resurrection (Romans 6:4,5,8) was the only resurrection they would experience and that had already happened. Such heretical teaching reflects the contemporary Greek philosophical view that matter was evil and spirit was good.
overthrow the faith - This speaks of those whose faith is not genuine (Matthew 24:24). Genuine saving faith cannot be finally and completely overthrown. False, not-saving faith is common.
the solid foundation - This is likely a reference to the church (1 Timothy 3:15), which cannot be overcome by the forces of hell (Matthew 16:18) and is made up of those who belong to Him.
seal - A symbol of ownership and authenticity. Paul gives two characteristics of those with the divine seal of authenticity.
The Lord knows those who are His - This is likely a reference to Numbers 16:5. He "knows," not the sense of awareness, but as a husband knows his wife in the sense of an intimate relationship. God has known His own ever since He chose them before time began.
Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity - This statement is likely adapted from Number 16:26 and reflects a second mark of God's ownership of believers, which is their pursuit of holiness (1 Corinthians 6:19,20; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:2-5
the word - The entire written Word of God, His complete revealed truth as contained in the Bible (2 Timothy 3:15,16; Acts 20:27).
be ready - The Greek word has a broad range of meanings, including suddenness (Luke 2:9; Acts 12:17) or forcefulness (Luke 20:1; Acts 4:1; Acts 6:12; Acts 23:27). Here the form of the verb suggests the complementary ideas of urgency, preparedness, and readiness. It was used of a soldier prepared to go into battle or a guard who was continually alert for any surprise attack - attitudes which are imperative for a faithful preacher (Jeremiah 20:9; Acts 21:11-13; Ephesians 5:15-16; 1 Peter 3:15).
in season and out of season - The faithful preacher must proclaim the Word when it is popular and/or convenient, and when it is not; when it seems suitable to do so, and when it seems not. The dictates of popular culture, tradition, reputation, acceptance, or esteem in the community (or in the church) must never alter a true preacher's commitment to proclaim God's Word.
Convince, rebuke - The negative side of preaching the Word (the word "reproof" and "correction"; 2 Timothy 3:16) The Greek word for "convince" refers to correcting behavior or false doctrine by using careful biblical argument to help a person understand the error of his actions. The Greek word for "rebuke" deals more with correcting the person's motives by convincing him of his sin and leading him to repentance.
exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching - The positive side of preaching (the "doctrine" and "instruction"; 2 Timothy 3:16).
not endure - This refers to holding up under the adversity, and can be translated "tolerate". Paul here warns Timothy that, in the dangerous seasons of this age, many people would become intolerant of the confrontive, demanding preaching of God's Word (2 Timothy 1:13; 1 Timothy 4:6; Titus 2:1).
their own desires, because they have itching ears - Professing Christians, nominal believers in the church follow their own desires and flock to preachers who offer them God's blessings apart from His forgiveness, and His salvation apart from repentance. They have an itch to be entertained by teachings that will produce pleasant sensations and leave them with good feelings about themselves. Their goal is that men preach "according to their own desires". Under those conditions, people will dictate what men preach, rather than God dictating it by His Word.
fables - This refers to false ideologies, viewpoints, and philosophies in various forms that oppose sound doctrine.
an evangelist - Used only two other times in the New Testament, this word always refers to the specific office of ministry for the purpose of preaching the gospel to non-Christians. Based on Ephesians 4:11, it is very basic to assume that all churches would have pastor-teachers and evangelists. But the related verb "to preach the gospel" and the related noun "gospel" are used throughout the New Testament not only in relation to evangelists, but also to the call for every Christian, especially preachers and teachers, to proclaim the gospel. Paul did not call Timothy to the office of an evangelist, but to "do the work" of one.
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. 1 Peter 1:16
cunningly devised fables- The word for "fables" was used to refer to mythical stories about gods and miracles (1 Timothy 1:4; 1 Timothy 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:5; Titus 1:14). Realizing that false leaders and their followers would try to discredit this letter, and that he was probably already being accused of concocting fables and myths so he could amass wealth, power, and prestige as false teachers were motivated to do, Peter gave evidences in the following verses to prove that he wrote the truth of God as a genuinely inspired writer.
made known - This word is a somewhat technical term for imparting new revelation - something previously hidden, but now revealed.
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ- Since there is only one definite article with this phrase, the meaning is "the powerful coming" or "the coming in power". The false teachers who were opposing Peter had tried to debunk the doctrine of the second coming of Christ (2 Peter 3:3-4).
eyewitnesses of his majesty- The "we" that begins this verse refers to the apostles. In one sense all of the apostles had been eyewitnesses to Christ's majesty, especially His miracles, resurrection body, and ascension into heaven. Peter, however, is referring to a more specific event which he will describe in the next verse. The kingdom splendor of Christ revealed at this event was intended as a preview of His majesty to be manifested at His second coming (Matthew 16:28).
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 1:20-21
Knowing this first- A call to recognize His truth as priority, namely that Scripture is not of human origin.
prophecy of the scripture - I.e. all of Scripture. This refers primarily to all of the Old Testament, and then by implication to all of the New Testament.
private interpretation - The Greek word for "interpretation" has the idea of "loosing" as if to say no Scripture is the result of any human being privately, "untying" and "loosing" the truth. Peter's point is not so much about how to interpret Scripture, but rather how Scripture originated, and what its source was. The false prophets untied and loosed their own ideas. But no part of God's revelation was unveiled or revealed from a human source or out of the prophet's unaided understanding.
by the will of man - As Scripture is not of human origin, nether is it the result of human will. The emphasis in the phrase is that no part of Scripture was ever at any time produced because men wanted it so. The Bible is not the product of human effort. The prophets, in fact, sometimes wrote what they could not fully understand (1 Peter 1:10-11), but nonetheless they were faithful to write what God revealed to them.
moved by the Holy Spirit - Grammatically, this means that they were continually carried or borne along by the Spirit of God (Luke 1:70; Acts 27:15,17). The Holy Spirit thus is the divine author and originator, the producer of the Scriptures. In the Old Testament alone, the human writers refer to their writings as the words of God over 3800 times (Jeremiah 1:4; Jeremiah 3:2; Romans 3:2; 1 Corinthians 2:10). Though human writers of Scripture were active rather than passive in the process of writing Scripture, God the Holy Spirit superintended them so that, using their own individual personalities, thought processes, and vocabulary, they composed and recorded without error the exact words God wanted written. The original copies of scripture were therefore inspired, i.e. God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) and inerrant, i.e. without error (John 10:34,35; John 17:17; Titus 1:2). Peter defined the process of inspiration which created an inerrant original text (Proverbs 30:5; 1 Corinthians 14:36; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).
Taken From The MacArthur Study Bible, Edited By John MacArthur.
Follow Up Study For Consideration:
10:43:05 AM 
|
