Among the 13 New Testament letters that bear Paul’s name, we have several written to churches (Romans, Ephesians, Colossians, etc.) and 4 letters to individuals. The letters to Timothy and Titus are sometimes known as the “Pastoral Epistles.”

In I Timothy, Paul advises this young pastor regarding issues in church administration, and also compels him to be on the lookout for false teaching. The advice is timeless, as we lead Christ’s church today.

I Timothy 1:1-11

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

² To Timothy, my true child in the faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Warning against False Teachers

³ I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach different teachings ⁴ and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training that is known by faith. ⁵ But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. ⁶ Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, ⁷ desiring to be teachers of the law without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.

⁸ Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately; ⁹ this means understanding that the law is laid down not for the righteous but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers, ¹⁰ the sexually immoral, men who engage in illicit sex, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching ¹¹ that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I was entrusted.

Prayer

As those growing in faith, help us to seek truth and avoid false teachings and immoral ways. Make us followers of the glorious gospel, in which we have been blessed through our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen.