Last week Pastor Samuel led us through the end of 1 Timothy 3, a beautiful passage extolling the virtues of the church as the “pillar and buttress of the truth.” Today we will look at the opening of chapter 4, where Paul contrasts the beauty of truth with the ugliness of falsehood. The church has a responsibility to protect and preserve truth. Having explained the mystery of godliness, he explains the mystery of ungodliness, telling Timothy and the church to expect bad theology.

The Marks of Bad Theology:

1.  It causes departures from the faith. (v. 1a)

“Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” 1 John 2:18–19 (NIV)

2.  It is rooted in evil sources. (v. 1b-2)

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 11:14–15 (ESV)

3.  It leads naive followers into legalism. (v. 3)

“…who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.” 1 Timothy 4:3 (ESV)

4.  It is overcome by recognizing creation's inherent goodness. (v. 4-5)

“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:4–5 (ESV)