1Ti 1:4-7 | TNotes | STEP | 1:4 in endless discussion ... meaningless speculations: Paul might be dismissing their teaching as trivial, or he might be rejecting the fanciful nature of their interpretations (1:7 ; see also 2 Tim 4:3-4 ; Titus 1:14 ; 3:9 ; 2 Pet 1:16 ) and their justification of immoral behavior (1 Tim 1:8-11 ; 4:1-2 , 7 ; see also Titus 1:15-16 ). • spiritual pedigrees (literally endless genealogies ): In Judaism, one’s genealogy established one’s spiritual pedigree; the false teachers might have been preoccupied with this. They were probably also exploiting Old Testament genealogies (Gen 2–4 ; 5:1-32 ) in fanciful interpretations of the law. • which don’t help people live a life of faith in God (literally rather than a stewardship of God in faith ): The Greek uses an important word (“stewardship,” “household management”) that has to do with the household (see 1 Tim 3:15 ); this phrase can be translated in a number of ways, such as faithfulness to God’s household management or faithfulness in managing God’s household.

1:4 ^a in endless discussion ... meaningless speculations: Paul might be dismissing their teaching as trivial, or he might be rejecting the fanciful nature of their interpretations (1:7 ^b; see also 2 Tim 4:3-4 ^c; Titus 1:14 ^d; 3:9 ^e; 2 Pet 1:16 ^f) and their justification of immoral behavior (1 Tim 1:8-11 ^g; 4:1-2 ^h, 7 ⁱ; see also Titus 1:15-16 ^j).

• spiritual pedigrees (literally endless genealogies): In Judaism, one’s genealogy established one’s spiritual pedigree; the false teachers might have been preoccupied with this. They were probably also exploiting Old Testament genealogies (Gen 2–4 ^k; 5:1-32 ^l) in fanciful interpretations of the law.

• which don’t help people live a life of faith in God (literally rather than a stewardship of God in faith): The Greek uses an important word (“stewardship,” “household management”) that has to do with the household (see 1 Tim 3:15 ^m); this phrase can be translated in a number of ways, such as faithfulness to God’s household management or faithfulness in managing God’s household.
1:5 ⁿ The purpose of my instruction: Paul seeks godliness that flows out of sound faith and renewal (see Titus 3:5 ^o; see also 1 Cor 13:1-13 ^p; Col 3:14 ^q).

• In 1 Timothy and Titus, all allusions to a clear conscience are in contrast to the false teachers’ dead consciences (e.g., 1 Tim 1:19 ^r; 4:2 ^s; Titus 1:15 ^t).
Summary for 1Tim 1:6-11: 1:6-11 ^u Paul now elaborates on the false teachers and turns their subject matter against them. 1:6 ^v Some people is probably a put-down, demoting the false teachers to a general class of opponents of the Good News (cp. Rom 3:8 ^w; 1 Cor 4:18 ^x; 2 Cor 3:1 ^y; Gal 1:7 ^z).

• They were professing believers who had missed the whole point of the Good News and had turned away.
1:7 ^aa Their aspirations to be teachers of the law of Moses were ironic; their handling of the law was deficient in the light of the Good News, and they neither understood nor fulfilled the law (see 1:8-11 ^ab).