1 Timothy 1:4
Parallel Verses
New International Version
or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God's work--which is by faith.


English Standard Version
nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.


New American Standard Bible
nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.


King James Bible
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.


Holman Christian Standard Bible
or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God's plan, which operates by faith.


International Standard Version
and occupying themselves with myths and endless genealogies. These things promote controversies rather than God's ongoing purpose, which involves faith.


American Standard Version
neither to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questionings, rather than a dispensation of God which is in faith;'so do I now .


Douay-Rheims Bible
Not to give heed to fables and endless genealogies: which furnish questions rather than the edification of God, which is in faith.


Darby Bible Translation
nor to turn their minds to fables and interminable genealogies, which bring questionings rather than further God's dispensation, which is in faith.


Young's Literal Translation
nor to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, that cause questions rather than the building up of God that is in faith: --


Cross References
Ephesians 3:2
If you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:


1 Timothy 4:7
But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself rather to godliness.


1 Timothy 6:4
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,


2 Timothy 2:23
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do engender strifes.


2 Timothy 4:4
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.


Titus 1:14
Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.


Titus 3:9
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.


2 Peter 1:16
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.


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Administration Attention Bestow Cause Controversies Controversy Devote Dispensation Disputes Divine Doubts Edifying Endless Exists Fables Faith Genealogies Generations Godly God's Heed Lead Mere Minds Minister Myths Occupy Ordered Pay Pedigrees Promote Questionings Questions Rather Speculations Stewardship Stories Themselves Training True. Turn Way Work
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Administration Attention Bestow Cause Controversies Controversy Devote Dispensation Disputes Divine Doubts Edifying Endless Exists Fables Faith Genealogies Generations Godly God's Heed Lead Mere Minds Minister Myths Occupy Ordered Pay Pedigrees Promote Questionings Questions Rather Speculations Stewardship Stories Themselves Training True. Turn Way Work
Commentaries
1:1-4 Jesus Christ is a Christian's hope; all our hopes of eternal life are built upon him; and Christ is in us the hope of glory. The apostle seems to have been the means of Timothy's conversion; who served with him in his ministry, as a dutiful son with a loving father. That which raises questions, is not for edifying; that which gives occasion for doubtful disputes, pulls down the church rather than builds it up. Godliness of heart and life can only be kept up and increased, by the exercise of faith in the truths and promises of God, through Jesus Christ.

4. fables—legends about the origin and propagation of angels, such as the false teachers taught at Colosse (Col 2:18-23). "Jewish fables" (Tit 1:14). "Profane, and old wives' fables" (1Ti 4:7; 2Ti 4:4).

genealogies—not merely such civil genealogies as were common among the Jews, whereby they traced their descent from the patriarchs, to which Paul would not object, and which he would not as here class with "fables," but Gnostic genealogies of spirits and aeons, as they called them, "Lists of Gnostic emanations" [Alford]. So Tertullian [Against Valentinian, c. 3], and Irenæus [Preface]. The Judaizers here alluded to, while maintaining the perpetual obligation of the Mosaic law, joined with it a theosophic ascetic tendency, pretending to see in it mysteries deeper than others could see. The seeds, not the full-grown Gnosticism of the post-apostolic age, then existed. This formed the transition stage between Judaism and Gnosticism. "Endless" refers to the tedious unprofitableness of their lengthy genealogies (compare Tit 3:9). Paul opposes to their "aeons," the "King of the aeons (so the Greek, 1Ti 1:17), whom be glory throughout the aeons of aeons." The word "aeons" was probably not used in the technical sense of the latter Gnostics as yet; but "the only wise God" (1Ti 1:17), by anticipation, confutes the subsequently adopted notions in the Gnostics' own phraseology.

questions—of mere speculation (Ac 25:20), not practical; generating merely curious discussions. "Questions and strifes of words" (1Ti 6:4): "to no profit" (2Ti 2:14); "gendering strifes" (2Ti 2:23). "Vain jangling" (1Ti 1:6, 7) of would-be "teachers of the law."

godly edifying—The oldest manuscripts read, "the dispensation of God," the Gospel dispensation of God towards man (1Co 9:17), "which is (has its element) in faith." Conybeare translates, "The exercising of the stewardship of God" (1Co 9:17). He infers that the false teachers in Ephesus were presbyters, which accords with the prophecy, Ac 20:30. However, the oldest Latin versions, and Irenæus and Hilary, support English Version reading. Compare 1Ti 1:5, "faith unfeigned."

1 Timothy 1:3
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