COMMANDED TO COMMAND

Paul, an apostle by the command of God (1), urges Timothy to continue his work of restoring the church in Ephesus. When Paul commands Timothy, he uses the same word throughout the letter (1:3,5,18; 5:7; 6:13,17). Its root meaning is “to transmit a message.” Timothy is to exercise authority through public commands in Paul’s name, silencing the false teachers (3).

Why is this necessary? Passing through on his way to Macedonia, Paul has found God’s household in Ephesus in a mess. Key leaders have been teaching differently (3), that is, not in accordance with the “sound” teaching (10) that comes from the good news entrusted to Paul. Paul gives us few details of that different teaching. “Myths” (4) may be idiomatic usage for far-fetched stories about the gods of Olympus. “Endless genealogies” might refer to speculations about lineage from the Pentateuch, perhaps to justify a right to Levitical heritage and explaining the desire to be “teachers of the law” (7). The law, Paul insists, has no jurisdiction over those made righteous by faith (9–11).

This reconstruction is tentative, not least because a letter between two close friends assumes common knowledge and Paul doesn’t spell this out. What’s clear is the impact on the church: controversy, disunity, and devotion to meaningless talk, rather than a “stewardship of God in faith” (4). Restoring this stewardship is at the heart of Timothy’s commission. It might be best understood as pursuing God’s order of things. Sometimes there is no alternative: a line between truth and error has to be drawn, for to do anything else is to collude with darkness; no compromise is possible. Where might you be facing such a choice?

Read Philippians 4:8,9 in the light of Paul’s contrast between “healthy” and “diseased” teaching. What are you taking into yourself that’s healthy and what might be less positive?