Five years before 1st Timothy was written, Paul charged the Ephesian Church to pay careful attention to the flock,and warns them that after he leaves savage wolves will come in among them, not sparing the flock. Five years later we find Timothy being reminded to hold fast to the things he was taught, and to commit to faithful men. He is given the charge to preach the word, which is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness. It is by this charge that Timothy is able to confront the heretics of his day and exhort the church to hold fast to the truth.
As followers of Christ, we have no excuse for remaining ignorant of the truth because we have the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) available to us—the Bible is complete. As we “study to show ourselves approved unto God” (2 Timothy 2:15), we are less likely to be taken in by smooth talkers and false prophets. When we know God’s Word, “we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14).
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