1 Timothy 1:4
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.
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