Verse 9
‘Holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.’
But above all he must hold to the faithful and true word which is in accordance with true Christian teaching, so that when he exhorts it is with sound doctrine, and in a way that convicts those who speak against him. He must be ‘apt to teach’ (1 Timothy 3:2). Note that Paul dose not just dismiss the false teachers. The hope is to win them back to the truth. It is only when they prove to be completely obstinate that he ‘commits them to Satan’ (1 Timothy 1:20).
‘According to the teaching.’ This may indicate the standard oral teaching passed on from one church to another from the main churches, but more likely it cover written records of that teaching which were being circulated.
Be the first to react on this!
