1 Timothy 1:3

The Charge

1 Timothy 1:3 “As. urged you upon my departure for Macedonia”: The congregations in Macedonia would have included Philippi and Thessalonica; these congregations had been in existence for over 15 years when Paul makes this trip. “Timothy either had been traveling with Paul up until their stop at Ephesus, or else Timothy was the evangelist with the church in Ephesus before Paul arrived” (Reese p. 7). The term “urged” means to “exhort” and “admonish”.

1 Timothy 1:3 “Remain on at Ephesus, in order that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines”: “Paul had to urge Timothy to remain behind at Ephesus suggests that Timothy had wanted instead to continue to travel together with Paul. The needs of the church there, however, made it imperative that Timothy stay there” (Reese p. 7).

1 Timothy 1:3 “Instruct”: The term here means to “command, order, direct” (Arndt p. 613).

1 Timothy 1:3 “Certain men”: He does not name the specific individuals here, but he will name individuals in 1 Timothy 1:20 and 2 Timothy 2:17.

1 Timothy 1:3 “Not to teach strange doctrines”: These doctrines are termed “strange doctrines”, that is teaching that was different than sound doctrine, it was. doctrine other than the truth (Galatians 1:6). The Greek term here is heterodidaskaleo, that is different, to be distinguished from another the same kind. Not another doctrine of the same quality, but. doctrine, teaching of another quality, that is, false doctrine (2 Corinthians 11:4). Could this be the beginning of what Paul had predicted in Acts 20:29. Apparently Timothy has the right to address these strange doctrines both in private and in public. Evangelists still have. responsibility similar to Timothy when it comes to false doctrine. Any doctrine that deviates from the teachings of the apostles (Acts 2:42) is “strange”.