Bible study Daily, explanation and encouragement - 1 Timothy
The two epistles to Timothy and the epistle to Titus are called pastoral epistles. This is because they differ considerably from the other writings attributed to Paul in two points:
- The recipients are people and the style presented is predominantly pastoral. Most of Paul's letters are addressed to churches. And the Pastoral letters are addressed to leaders, that is, people who are ministers.
- The central theme of the letters is what has come to be called "the healing of souls", since this was the ministry being carried out in Ephesus and Crete by respectively Timothy and Titus.
This letter is relevant to all of us, but it is especially useful for leaders and ministers because it includes instructions on how to guide God's people and how to deal with the problems of the church.
In 1 Timothy, Paul emphasizes the importance of praying for people, especially those in positions of authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Also in 1 Timothy, we find the qualifications and characteristics needed for church leaders (1 Timothy 3), instructions on proper behavior in worship, how to deal with doctrinal errors, and how to care for widows, elders, and people in positions of authority.
We are very motivated to continue our journey of studying the book of Timothy. We will learn valuable lessons for our lives. So, I want to encourage you as Paul did with Timothy: "…pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith ..." (1 Timothy 6:11-12).
1 Timothy 1:3
REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE is, according to the violent translation, Paul’s admonition to Timothy: WHEN I LEFT FOR MACEDONIA, I ASKED YOU TO REMAIN IN EPHESUS.
Paul felt urgently drawn to go to Macedonia, and Timothy was eager to accompany him. It would have been easy to take him, for Timothy was the apostle’s most capable helper on many of these trips. But other and more urgent matters had to take precedence. Timothy’s leadership and direction were needed in Ephesus, AND DUTY MUST TAKE PRECEDENCE FROM PERSONAL PREFERENCES.
There are many times in life when it is much easier to change than to remain in a difficult situation. The instinct to flee from onerous responsibility, to run away when things get tough, is a reality in all of us and must be resisted with firm determination. The easy way out, the line of least resistance, the tendency to go with the flow rather than face it with courage and determination—these alternatives sometimes become bitter temptations. To slip away from an irritating situation, to start over somewhere else where the grass is greener and the prospects more inviting, is a course of action in which the tempter (Satan) can disguise himself so completely that it seems to us that it is God's will. But when God says, REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE, it is cowardly and sinful to abandon responsibility for something that seems more attractive. Of course, sometimes God's word is GO. In any case, we must be sure that our course of action is immediate obedience.
1 Timothy 1:12-13
All disobedience is sin and is the root of unhappiness. Our sin and disobedience grieve the Holy Spirit, especially when we know that the way we behave goes against God's commands.
There are times in our lives when we disobey God, but we do so out of ignorance. The apostle Paul is an example of a person who did not know that he was disobeying God before his conversion to Christ. Paul persecuted Christians out of zeal and thought he was doing God a favor. He was a very religious man who sincerely believed that Christians were evil. The Lord confronted him and Paul immediately converted to Christ and was baptized (see Acts 9:1-22). He wrote in 1 Timothy 1:13 that he received God's mercy because he acted out of ignorance and unbelief. Notice that he says that God poured out overflowing grace on him, the chief of sinners, and that he received God's mercy so that Jesus Christ could be seen in him as an example for those who believe.
All our sin, whether conscious or unconscious, must be dealt with at the cross of Jesus Christ. Indeed, we are the objects of great compassion when we sin unintentionally, and we remain in need of God's mercy at all times. Anyone who wants to live a life filled with the peace and joy of God's grace must be obedient to God.
1 Timothy 1:15
Nowadays we see people saying: "Look at him! He used to do all sorts of bad things and now he is a believer?!" Today's text brings up exactly this theme: JESUS CAME TO SAVE SINNERS! In this chapter, the apostle Paul speaks of his life before his conversion and the way he acted, such was the sin that the apostle remembers with shame and regret. Like the apostle Paul, many brothers tell their testimonies of conversion not to boast about their sinful past, but to magnify the grace of God, which is much greater than the abundant sin of times past.
But the good news is that, despite the magnitude of our human sin, God's grace is more than sufficient, and everyone who turns to Christ obtains mercy.
CHRIST CAME TO SAVE THE WORLD. This is the purpose of Jesus' coming to earth. The apostle makes it clear that this statement about our Lord's exclusive place in the history of salvation is completely trustworthy.
Christ's concern is for the salvation of sinners. We are reminded of Jesus' own statement: "I came to call sinners to repentance" (Matthew 9:13). Along with another statement made on the eve of His suffering: "For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10).
We do not learn to pray by talking about prayer, but by praying.
Prayer is heavy warfare! God has promised us unlimited blessings in His Word if we pray!
Because our daily action only has eternal content as we pray - Win Malgo
God bless you! Let us move forward PRAYING! God is Faithful!
1 Timothy 2:1
When the apostle Paul exhorts us in 1 Timothy 2:1 to make "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings" on behalf of all people, he meant that we should pray for all people everywhere. To intercede for someone is to pray for them and plead their case before the throne of God.
Jesus and the Holy Spirit are our examples; they intercede for us. Hebrews 7:25 speaks of Christ when it says, "… he always lives to intercede for them". In Romans 8:27, Paul teaches that "… the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God".
Intercession is one of the most important ways in which we carry out the ministry of Jesus Christ. Obey the instruction in 1 Timothy 2:1 and pray for others often. God will guide you as you intercede, and blessing will be the fruit of your prayers.
1 Timothy 2:2
PRAYING FOR KINGS AND IN HIGH POSITIONS - We must understand that the allusion is to the civil rulers of the ancient world at all levels of authority. When we remember that at the time Paul wrote, the rulers were for the most part enemies of the Christian faith, and that within a decade the apostle would lose his life under their orders, this exhortation to prayer becomes a splendid example of Christian magnanimity.
The first reason for such prayer is that kings and all those in authority are also men — men for whom Christ died — and who are within the purview of the gospel. But the second reason for such prayer is vaguely indicated by the words: THAT WE MAY LEAD A QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE, GODLY AND RESPECTFUL IN EVERY WAY. Praying earnestly for those in authority placed in God's hands the means to ward off evil and misguided purposes from those who had positional authority to harm the church of Christ.
It is indeed difficult to overestimate the power of the united prayer of the church. There is no Bible-taught Christian who disputes the efficacy of credulous prayer concerning public events and their overseers. More things are accomplished by this means than this world supposes. The supplication of faithful intercessors for the public welfare puts invisible restraints on the powers of darkness and their tools, and will give strength to honest rulers from the Ruler among the nations (Psa. 22:28).
And the reason for such prayers is found in the very next verse (vs. 3-4). THIS IS GOOD, AND IT IS ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOR, WHO DESIRES ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH. This is God's universal desire for mankind.
1 Timothy 2:5-6
The form of Christ as one mediator between God and men is not stated in this way in any other passage of Paul's writings.
We identify a parallel idea in 1 John 2:1, which associates Christ as our ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER. Here, in the passage under study, this exclusive ministry of our Lord is announced bluntly and clearly.
To be an arbitrator is to be a judge, someone who assesses or judges something, an intermediary, someone who makes intercession on our behalf; in a word: MEDIATOR. What joy to know that in the relationship that is most important to us in life - the relationship between God and us - we have such a sublime Mediator!
Sin had caused discord between us and God; Jesus Christ is a Mediator whose purpose is to make peace, to unite God and men, in the form of an arbitrator, who lays his hand on both of us (Job 9:33).
We can see that the unity of God is claimed and united to the unity of the Mediator; and the church of Rome may also maintain a plurality of gods as well as a plurality of mediators. He who is a mediator in the New Testament sense gave himself a ransom. Then the claim of the Roman Catholic church that there is only one mediator of penance, but many of intercession, is vain; for, according to Paul, when Christ gave himself a ransom, that was a necessary part of the office of Mediator; and, indeed, it lays the foundation for his intercession.
1 Timothy 2:8
It is important that we understand and take to heart the apostle's insistence on lifting up holy hands. Paul is not emphasizing the adoption of this physical posture as much as the condition of the mind and heart symbolized by HOLY HANDS. Hands are not inherently holy or unholy; but they are traditionally the instruments of our spirit. They are holy if they are used to accomplish holy purposes. The additional stipulation WITHOUT ANGER AND QUARRELING elucidates the idea. The intent is to "put away angry and quarreling thoughts." Matthew's version of the Lord's Prayer records this additional word of Jesus: For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15). We could cite many other passages in the Gospels that have a similar intent. Anger and quarreling concerning others are incompatible with congregational prayer to our common Father. An atmosphere of controversy is not conducive to devotion. Christ Himself has commanded us to be reconciled to our brother before we think of offering our offering at the altar. In a similar spirit, Paul directs those who conduct public worship in the sanctuary to do so free from angry feelings or mutual distrust.
1 Timothy 2:11
LET A WOMAN LEARN IN SILENCE - Paul makes a similar observation in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35: "the women should keep silence in the churches… If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home".
It is believed that this strict restriction was brought about by the fact that many in the Corinthian church were recent converts from paganism, and that the new freedom they enjoyed in Christ had led to certain extravagances that were improper and irreverent.
We cannot accept the idea that even in Corinth the above stipulations would apply in all circumstances. In another text, Paul tells the same Corinthian believers: "Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head" (1 Cor. 11:5). This passage is at least an acknowledgment that the women of Corinth prayed in public and, in some cases, exercised the gift of prophecy; and that this practice did not meet with the apostle’s disapproval.
Women have their own roles as deacons, Sunday school teacher and other duties (1 Tim 5) within the church. We need to take Paul's words to heart. 1 Cor. 14:37 "that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord."
1 Timothy 2:12
Teaching is a gift (1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11; Rom. 12:7) that the Spirit of God gives to women and men.
Priscilla, together with her husband Aquila, instructed a Christian brother, Apollos, in matters of theology (Acts 18:26). The apostle Paul recognized Priscilla’s role and, obviously, loved and respected her and her other co-workers (Rom. 16:3, 6; Phil. 4:3). Paul encouraged older women to also teach younger women, women to women (Titus 2:3-5) and admonished Timothy to respect Lois and Eunice, his mother and grandmother, for instructing him (son and grandson) in the faith (2 Tim. 1:3-5).
Although Paul was a great advocate, regarding women exercising spiritual gifts, he taught that gifts needed to be exercised in order to honor God’s Word (1 Tim. 2:12). Women in the New Testament were encouraged to exercise teaching roles, but they did so within the God-ordained standards of male-female ratio.
In 1 Timothy 4:1,2 the apostle goes on to address the false teachings that had been infesting the church in Ephesus, the difficulty of which he alludes to in chapter 1. Error always opposes the truth of the Gospel, a conflict for which God prepares His church: BUT THE SPIRIT EXPRESSLY SAYS THAT IN THE LATER TIMES SOME SHALL DEPART FROM THE FAITH. Paul is referring to the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of prophecy. The apostle was sometimes moved by the Spirit to prophesy. This development, so clearly predicted by him, has now begun. As is common in prophetic declarations, what is predicted about the future is understood to be already in operation in the present, so the words have a specific contemporary meaning.
So, not only in the future, but even today SOME have already departed from the faith, seduced by the stratagems of Satan and his allies. Paul calls these supernatural forces principalities, powers, the ruler of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12).
The word translated DECEITFUL SPIRITS actually means "witch doctors" or "wandering vagabonds", indicating the power to deceive and mislead. These evil spirits employ their victims one after the other as agents of their nefarious purposes. Continuing to describe these agents of error, the apostle says: THROUGH THE PRETENSIONS OF LIARS WHOSE CONSCIENCES ARE SEALED. The term PRETENSIONS speaks of the conscious and deliberate effort to deceive, the moral knowledge that the teachings they propagate are lies. These individuals are so blinded by unbelief and so hardened in heart that the conscience is no longer capable of performing its assigned functions.
It is sad and painful to see a Christian depart from the faith of Christ. But we have been warned that this will happen. We can only pray that people will not fall into deception and become hardened. Guard yourself against deceptive doctrines by diligently studying God’s Word.
- Do you remember when you turned 16? And when did you turn 21? In many cultures, reaching a certain age has a special meaning, and these times often bring greater privileges and responsibilities. In the Christian life, however, your age is not as important as your conduct. No matter how young you are, you have been called to live a life that sets an example —in speech, behavior, faith, and purity— to other believers.
1 Timothy 4:12
Do you remember when you turned 16?
And when you turned 21?
In many cultures, reaching a certain age has special significance, and these milestones often bring greater privileges and responsibilities. In the Christian life, however, your age is not as important as your conduct. No matter how young you are, you are called to live a life that sets an example
- in speech, behavior, faith, love, and purity-
for other believers.
1 Timothy 4:14
In this passage the apostle recognizes that the power, which we would call charismatic preparation for ministry, is by far the most important. He states that Timothy received this gift by prophecy, a remark repeated by Paul (1:18). The call of God to serve in the work of the ministry is a prior and primary consideration. It is the Holy Spirit who must prompt the choice of man for this holy calling. And with his call, we have reason to believe that there will be the accompanying qualifications of grace, gifts, and usefulness. There may be exceptional cases in which one or other of these qualities is not in evidence, but God sees them in a latent state; nevertheless, the rule is as stated above. This means more than "being easy to speak," or "very extrovert," or "getting along well with people," or "being a natural leader." Some of these qualities may supplement the essential spiritual equipment, but none replace it.
Furthermore, it would be a mistake to assume that church ordination supplies this mystical quality when it is lacking. The significance of the ordination of the church and its relation to the preceding work of the Spirit are clearly set forth in Acts 13:2-3. Speaking of the church at Antioch in Syria, Luke records: "The Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. The mere "hands-on contact", as someone has said, the laying on of the hands of the presbytery, has no meaning without this preceding work of the Holy Spirit. Paul's language makes it perfectly clear that in referring to the ordination of Timothy, the action of the presbytery (the pastors) was an acknowledgment and confirmation of the preceding work of the Spirit.
See also the biblestudy
1 Timothy 5:22
This statement of the apostle refers to the laying on of hands in ordination to the Christian ministry. There is good reason why a candidate should be tested over a period of years until his fitness for the office of pastor becomes fully apparent. Even when the most rigorous precautions are taken by the church, there are often administrative errors at this point. Delays in these matters may be tiresome and frustrating to the candidate, but they are important. The minister who betrays trust and falls into sin brings reproach upon himself and upon the church whose trust he has betrayed. Paul goes so far as to say that, in a sense, those who laid hands on the man who proved himself unworthy of the office become partakers of his sins. Of course, this does not entail guilt, but it can cause suffering and distress. Paul makes the injunction very clear with the concise command: KEEP YOURSELF PURE (v. 22). In this regard, "the minister must be very careful not to compromise justice by approving men who are not trustworthy".
REMEMBER THAT THE SINS OF SOME ARE CONSPICUOUS, POINTING TO JUDGMENT. BUT THE SINS OF OTHERS APPEARS LATER (v 24). The meaning is that the sins of some men are so public and obvious that no one would dream of promoting them to the position of pastor in the church. Whereas with other men, the sins are so secret and subtle that it is only when we get to know them up close and personal that we discover the hidden disqualifications for office. In any case, Timothy is advised to exercise great caution when it comes to approving men for leadership positions in the church.
Sins and hidden virtues will eventually come to light. Therefore, prudence and caution are needed before appointing people to leadership positions in the church.
See also the biblestudy 1 Timothy 4:14.
1 Timothy 6:6-7
THE DANGERS OF GREED - The Christian faith is highly profitable for those who accept it humbly and fully and discover for themselves the infinite satisfaction of living for Christ. Serving God and joyfully accepting everything He sends is the happiest life we can imagine. CONTENTMENT does not come when all our desires are satisfied, but when we restrict our desires to the essentials. There is no truth that speaks more directly to the condition of our glutted generation than this. The apostle Paul himself said, "I have learned to be content with what I have" (Phil. 4:11).
WE BRING NOTHING AND WE CANNOT TAKE ANYTHING - The final nakedness of death reveals and sublimates the initial nakedness of birth. Between these two points in history, we can gather a lot or a little, but at the final hour we will have to leave everything. We can take into eternity only the values inherent in our spirit, and only these will appear in the credit column of the ledger on the day of our final accounting.
But if we have food and clothing, let us be content with these things (v. 8). The obvious conclusion is that whatever is more than these, which in the apostle’s sense are riches, is anything above the minimum necessities, or at most the conveniences, for the subsistence of life. He who has food to eat and clothes to wear, a place to lay his head and a roof over his head, is rich.
We must be careful not to make financial gain the supreme concern of life. We must never lose sight of the Lord’s perspective against the "deceitfulness of riches" (Matt. 13:22).
1 Timothy 6:10
A little earlier, in verse 9, the apostle deepens his exhortation: BUT THOSE WHO DESIRE TO BE RICH FALL INTO TEMPTATION, INTO A SNARE, INTO MANY SENSELESS AND HARMFUL DESIRES THAT PLUNGE MEN INTO RUIN AND DESTRUCTION.
It is true that nothing attacks man with greater impetuosity than the desire for financial gain, once it gives way in his soul to this demon of greed. Men are lured to points ever further away from the principles of honesty and honor by the prospect of easy profits. How many in public life find themselves powerless to resist the temptation to obtain illicit advantages in flagrant violation of scruples that were once honorable! Paul did not exaggerate the dangers that await those who follow this path when he said that such people will sink into a swamp of iniquity, ending in total ruin.
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils; and some have wandered away from the faith by their desire for money and pierced their hearts with amny pangs (v. 10). Of course, not every kind of evil has its origin in the love of money. Nevertheless, he is right in saying that the love of money is one of the most prolific sources of evil. Paul was not the first to condemn the love of money; this concept echoed in much first-century Jewish and Gentile ethical literature.
But the apostle’s exhortation illuminates the special threat to the Christian faith. His analysis recalls Jesus' warning: "You cannot serve God and mammon" (Luke 16:13).
1 Timothy 6:11
THIS is a remarkable list of virtues that Paul wants to instill. SHUN ALL THIS - The meaning is not only to flee from the deceitfulness of riches, but from all the evil attitudes that have been expressed throughout the letter, starting in chapter 4. There is an interesting antithesis in the command to flee FROM ALL THIS and, on the other hand, to follow the virtues particularly designated.
Paul's list of virtues begins with RIGHTEOUSNESS, the most inclusive of the virtues; it means giving God and men their due.
The next three virtues form a group directed toward God. GODLINESS or devotion which is the reverent awareness that all of life is lived in the presence and under the eyes of God. FAITH is the faithfulness that keeps us steadfast, showing loyalty to God in all situations. LOVE (Agape) is the expression of gratitude and praise of our soul for the wonder of redeeming grace. Finally, Paul instills STEADFASTNESS and GENTLENESS, which can be translated as "determination". These are the characteristics of the Christian life as it is lived in contact and fellowship with people. The contrast between these virtues and the evils that Paul denounces could not be more striking.
THE GOOD COMBAT!
It is not always easy to live in faith, the Bible says it is a fight.
James 4:7 says: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
When you resist doubt, you resist the devil.
FAITH IN THE HEART
Faith will work in your heart even with doubts in your head.
Mark 11:23 says "... and does not doubt in his heart ..."
FEAR
If you embrace fear (of anything) then the devil will put on what you fear. Job said: For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me (Job 3:25).
1 Timothy 6:12
This verse conjures up a mental image of a coach instilling courage and fighting spirit in his team just before the start of a crucial game. Some translations use the word ‘milita’ as the good fight. The figure of speech the apostle uses is derived more from first-century sports competitions than from military life. We should understand the verb "WAR" to mean the agonizing struggle required if one were to win a wrestling match. Paul used visual analogies from both the life of a soldier and an athlete. Every Christian is called to fight a personal battle against evil in all its forms. The imperative is purposefully in the present tense, indicating that the fight is an ongoing process.
TAKE HOLD - This suggests that Timothy can take hold of eternal life (here conceived as the prize for the sporting event) immediately and in a single act. Thus, the Christian athlete enjoys the prize while still engaging in the competition.
So, how have you been fighting for your Christian faith? Today, there are so many distractions... the internet is a good thing if it is used in a balanced way... but unfortunately many people do not know this. We know of married men who waste a lot of time and money playing online games, people who do not know where some books or Bible verses are, but know how to count all the seasons of a series. It takes effort on our part, to fight, to persevere... to study the Bible, to have quality time with God through prayer. Going to church is part of this whole process. It takes Christian behavior and attitudes at work, at school, with your family, in traffic. In loving your neighbor... the struggle is great.
1 Timothy 6:15-16
The first phrase of verse 15 obviously refers to the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ in verse 14. "And God will show in due time that God alone is sovereign in eternal bliss". Our Lord declared that these great events that will take place in the final consummation are interspersed by the Father’s own power (Acts 1:7). And that is where it must remain.
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS - This phrase may be a subtle attack on the practice of emperor worship, a practice that was part of the growing paganism that the church was forced to resist.
HE WHO ALONE HAS IMMORTALITY - This section presents the uniqueness of divine immortality in that it is inherently possessed by God alone, who is the source of all life. This is a clear affirmation of His transcendence and eternal invisibility - "He who dwells in unapproachable light". When we stand in the presence of God, what words should we speak? Paul concludes this praise of God with the attribution of honor and power, instead of the more usual "honor and glory."
1 Timothy 6:17
In verse 10 Paul was speaking of worldly wealth and its potential dangers. He was speaking to people who covet wealth. Here he is addressing those who are already wealthy. This is an interesting insight into the economic situation of at least some members of the church in Ephesus. Not all of the early Christians were humble slaves and artisans. There were men of property and good financial standing among them - and there is a danger of increasing wealth. The sobriety, industry, and prudence that the gospel introduces into the life of the believer must inevitably lead to increasing prosperity; and prosperity can undermine the Christian faith that is the basis of these new disciplines. Thus, wealth becomes the enemy of the soul. And, as Paul sees clearly, the chief danger is that men will become arrogant and proud. There is something about wealth that fosters a false sense of security; it is difficult to have great wealth without ceasing to trust in it to some extent. Paul shows discernment when referring to riches, calling them THE UNCERTAINTY OF RICHES or the instability of riches.
Another reason to avoid pride in riches is that God … richly provides everything we need for our satisfaction. Everything belongs to God, both riches and the ability to acquire them. In fact, all that man enjoys of the satisfactions of life, in whatever form they may be presented, comes from the generosity of God.
TRUE STEWARDSHIP OF RICHES - v.18 says: Tell them to use their money for good. They should be rich in good works … This is the guidance on the proper use of riches. We are reminded of John Wesley’s threefold counsel: "Get all you can, save all you can, and give all you can". Money never buys salvation; but the proper and Christian use of money contributes to the formation of Christian character and enables us to hold on to eternal life more firmly. Verse 19 clearly says: "Thus laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life which is life indeed".
1 Timothy 6:20
Timothy is exhorted to "turn a deaf ear to the empty and worldly chatter and contradictory ideas of so-called 'knowledge.'" In our day, the term science has taken on a highly specialized meaning that makes its use in Paul's exhortatory context highly misleading. The apostle refers to the false teachings that he denounces throughout the letter.
Concerning these "contradictions" of what is falsely called knowledge, today we Christians also face many false teachings and erroneous interpretations that arise every day in our midst. And from other religious groups around the world. But the tip is: KEEP WHAT GOD HAS ENTRUSTED TO YOU. If you have the Bible and study it every day, do not deviate from what is written there. Galatians 1:8-9 "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, If any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed!"
Some have strayed from the faith by following such foolishness (verse 21). Well, brothers, we need to be vigilant. There are Christians who have tried to debate with people of other religions without having a solid Biblical knowledge and ended up going astray. Therefore, keep what God has entrusted to you. Keep what you have learned and do not rely on your own knowledge.