Day 6 - I Timothy 1:6-7

Daily Devotional Study of I Timothy

Confronting Syncretism

1 Timothy 1:6-7

⁶From which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, ⁷desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things they affirm.

A recent headline in the religious section of the Dallas Morning News read: "One Part Jesus, Two Parts Buddha." The writer went on to explain that a popular religious trend in America today is for people to concoct their own personal religion by borrowing what they like from various religions. This combining of various, and even conflicting beliefs, is known as "syncretism." This is not new! The false teaching that Timothy is confronting in Ephesus is a form of syncretism, consisting of a mix of the Christian gospel with paganism and legalistic Judaism.

Meaningless Talk

Paul’s mention of fables (myths) and endless genealogies in verse 4 would be a reference to the pagan influence. The mention in verse 6 of some wanting to be teachers of the law would be the influence of the Judaizers. For some reason, these leaders in Ephesus are enamored by traditional Judaism and its emphasis on "Law" and desire to be, in Paul’s words, “Law-teachers.” Paul says that these have strayed or wandered away from what is important and have turned aside to idle talk. The word “idle” means “vain” or “empty.” In other words, they talk a lot but their words contain no truth or substance.

They Talk About Things They Don’t Understand

Paul says that these teachers of false doctrine do not understand the things they say nor the things they so confidently affirm (NIV). I was once listening to a well-known TV preacher boldly exhort his audience that if any of them were in a Bible school that taught "exegesis" to get out of there as quickly as possible. "Exegesis," however, is a good word and simply means to squeeze all you can from the text of Scripture. He was so obviously wrong and yet he spoke with such bluster and boldness! I said to Sue, “It is amazing that someone can talk so confidently about something he knows so little about.” I believe that is how Paul feels about the teachers of false doctrine in Ephesus. They speak with great bluster and boldness but actually do not understand what they are talking about. There is much of that in the church and the world today!

The  Cultural Challenges of Syncretism

The popular culture in North America today is very syncretistic. This is because the politically correct mind-set that holds sway in the media and educational institutions insist that there is no such thing as absolute, objective truth and all religions and cultures are, therefore, equal. According to this way of thinking it is wrong and bigoted to present one religion as right and another as wrong, or one culture as better than another culture. But the problem with this way of thinking is that it requires a denial, not only of objective truth, but also a denial of real, objective evil in the world; and this is creating horrific problems. In one situation, for example, a man who was arrested for physically abusing and raping his wife was released by an American judge because the lawyer for the man argued that what the man did was compatible with his Muslim faith.

We Must Avoid Syncretism

As Christians, we must understand what it means to hold a Christian world-view, and avoid the syncretism that is happening all around us. Syncretism is, in fact, plaguing the modern church including the Pentecostal-Charismatic churches. I see, for example, New Age spirituality seeping into the modern revival and prophetic movements with all their visions, open portals, thin veils, esoteric prophecies and dream interpretations. We must be committed to Biblical truth for only a love for truth will save us from the Great Deception of the last days predicted by Paul in I Thessalonians 2:9-10

Prayer & Reflection

Oh Lord our God, we commit ourselves this day to walk and live according to the standard of truth that is revealed in Scripture and in the person of Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus Christ, empower us to be Your witnesses in this world that is so confused about where to find truth. We thank you for the promise of John 8:31-32, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.