THURSDAY February 13, 2025

The Foolish Causes of Disputes

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
1 Timothy 1:3-4

The reason Paul wrote this Epistle to Timothy was to remind him of the importance of sound doctrine. Dangerous doctrines had entered the church––heretical teachings. There were the heresies of intellectualism and agnosticism. At this time, knowledge was considered to be the greatest thing you could possess. People wanted to seek out true knowledge and tried to become part of these intellectual groups.

Intellectuals, as they like to be known, generated foolish questions that were to be avoided. Most questions were unanswerable, and if a person could not give them an answer, then clearly, they were not spiritual enough. Again, Paul wisely instructed Timothy, even in his second epistle written to him, to avoid such disputes:

But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth... (2 Timothy 2:23-25).

Those intellectuals who caused disputes in the church were proud, knowing nothing. Paul taught the Corinthians: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).

As a masterful theologian, Paul went on to say: Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (1 Corinthians 1:20). God has infinite knowledge, but He gave us the message of the Gospel in simplicity. It is so simple a child can understand it. Do you possess a childlike faith? It can lead you to salvation.

For I [Paul] determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
~1 Corinthians 2:2~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!