Vain Jangling 1 Timothy 1:6

Paul the apostle instructed Timothy to serve as an overseer in the church located in Ephesus. Timothy was to “charge some that they teach no other doctrine”, “neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies”. Judaizers who were false teachers who brought in these heresies were infiltrating the church in Ephesus, and their “stories” and “lineages” only “ministered questions” rather than promoting “love out of a pure heart, a good conscience and faith unfeigned” which was the “end of the commandment” or “law”. In chapter one and verse six of his letter, Paul shares with Timothy how some people have “turned aside unto” something he calls “vain jangling” where we read:

From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

The verse begins, “From which some having swerved have turned aside...” Rather than being involved in practices which promote “love, good conscience, and unfeigned faith”, Paul wrote, “From which some” which refers to “certain ones” “having swerved” or “deviated from and missed the mark” “have turned aside” which literally means “twisted away or turned away” and is likened unto a person who twists their bone out of its socket. We can almost hear the passion in which Paul wrote this description.

The verse continues, “...unto vain jangling;” Paul added, “unto” or “into, towards, for or among” “vain jangling” which means “vain or empty talking”. Rather than having profitable words which build up the church members, these “empty talkers” only babble and speak of things of which they are ignorant.

It has been said, “The best way to say nothing is, don't say it”, and these false teachers would have been well advised to know this. Some people have thought that a “pulpit is nothing more than the extension of a man's ego”, and when it came to these heretical teachers, Paul believed it to be true. As we think about what Paul wrote, let us be sure of two things: First, that we have not “swerved and turned aside” from the faith in Jesus Christ which promotes “love, good conscience and faith unfeigned”, and secondly, that we never be as those who are involved in empty and vain babbling.

Next time Paul shares about people who “desire to be teachers of the law”, but don't know the law, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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