Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command …
Summary: The reason for Paul’s command to Timothy is that others were teaching false gospels. Why they were doing this is open to speculation, so let’s speculate!
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies.” (1 Timothy 1:3-4a)
It is helpful to pause once more and reflect on Paul’s “command.”
As we have discussed in prior meditations, there was a problem with people teaching “false doctrines.” Why would anyone do this?
The answer, it turns out, is as old as humankind itself.
The Tenth Commandment gives us a clue:
“And you shall not covet … anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Deuteronomy 5:21)
People covet. They are often envious and jealous of what others have or have accomplished. When people feel this way, their expression of envy can be ugly.
In doing research for our recent meditation, “Glory” (1 Timothy 1:17f), I was shocked to read that when the statue “David” was moved from Opera del Duomo, where Michelangelo did his work, to the Piazza della Signoria, where it was displayed, it was attacked by envious artists.
Apparently, a guard had to accompany the giant statue during its four-day journey “to protect it from violence by other artists … who had hoped for the commission.”*
They actually threw stones at it! To this day, there are marks on the statue’s back where stones flung at the statue chipped the marble.
Even as recently as 1991, a deranged artist snuck a hammer into the museum and started banging on David’s left foot. Before guards could stop him, he had broken off several chunks of marble (some of which were later recovered from tourists trying to sneak them out of the museum!).
Envy is an ugly thing, and jealousy is an evil master.
We don’t know exactly why people pushed false doctrines, but it is not hard to imagine that they were envious and wanted to “throw stones” at the work Paul had done.
What they failed to see was the man behind Paul — Jesus. They weren’t fighting against Paul; they were fighting against God.
Application: Guard your heart against coveting.
Food for Thought: What message does tearing down what others have built send to the world?
*Wikipedia. “David (Michelangelo)” Wikipedia, 18 February 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_(Michelangelo)
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That we want the glory instead of the Lord. The message is that we want to be exalted and will tear others down in a foolish attempt to exalt ourselves by comparison. The word of the Lord says to do just the opposite.
Psalm 62: 3 – 4: How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.
Philippians 2: 1 – 4: Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Matthew 23: 5 – 12 (Jesus regarding the hypocrisy of the Pharisees): “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries a wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.
8“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11The greatest among you will be your servant. 12For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Thank you, Rich!
Very well said!!
Seems like we are seeing a lot of tearing down on the world stage right now. One message it sends is “I’m in charge!” Kind of like when God tore down the Tower of Babel.
Thank you CV.
That’s an interesting take.
What message does tearing down what others have built send to the world?
What a question. I started to answer it and then felt like I was tap-dancing in my answer. So here is what I believe the Lord is laying on my heart.
In 2 Chronicles 34 we read about King Josiah who, at the age of 8, became King, did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, lived the way King David had lived, and didn’t turn away from it to the right or the left. At the age of 12 He then removed the Asherah poles, the statues of other false gods, and the altars of the gods that were named Baal. He didn’t just remove them, he dismantled, smashed, and burned all the remnants of these things. He made all of it into ash and powder. When he was 26, he decided to make the land and temple pure and “clean.” He then set about to restore the Temple of the Lord. It was then that the Book of the Law was found and given to King Josiah, who read it and repented for Israel as their King. Because of King Josiah actions, Israel as a nation repented and reaffirmed their covenant with God.
I think there are two very important points to remember about this narrative:
Our hearts need to be right with the Lord first. King Josiah’s “tearing down” was a result of the humility and obedience to God he exhibited in his own life.
The “tearing down” of the idols was to increase the presence of God. Ultimately, this narrative is about God bringing Israel to repentance and restoration.
I think without these two things tearing down what others have built can send a message of hostility and coercion. When initiated by someone who lives a life pleasing to God, and done with the intent of bringing heartfelt and true repentance in others, so that God can bring restoration, it can send a message of hope.
Chris, thank you!
I really like your take on this. In light of God’s will it is a form of cleansing.