3 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 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. 1 Timothy 1
Timothy was not always at Paul’s side, he was told to stay and correct harmful issues that had arisen in the Church in Ephesus. Sooner or later in any mentoring (better, Fathering or Parenting) relationship we’ll be called upon to take responsibility ourselves.
Paul tells Timothy to ‘Command certain people’ to stop teaching false doctrines, they were harming the people by what they said.
In 19th century America, it was a staple of Sunday morning sermons: “As one bad apple spoils the others, so you must show no quarter to sin or sinners.”
Benjamin Franklin had it as “the rotten apple spoils his companion,” which goes back to Shakespeare’s time. (Quotes by Geoff Nunberg on npr)
Timothy’s Job was to ‘stop the rot’ in the Church in Ephesus and he was told to Exercise His Authority to do it. A bit further on in the letter Paul emphasises this strongly, perhaps Timothy wasn’t forceful by nature, but Paul told him that’s what was necessary.
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4
Being Forceful is not something everyone finds easy, but for the sake of those we have responsibility for, it may be the right answer.
Paul knew that these people wanted to be teachers of the Law, but they ‘didn’t know what they were talking about… or so confidently affirm’. They desired positions of influence within the body, but they were causing harm.
16 By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them. Matthew 7
Paul was under no illusion and neither should we be, wrong influences will be harmful. (teaching and/or prophecy in a church but many influences in life) He told Timothy to use his authority and stop it to protect the believers in Ephesus.
Better to cut off the source of the poison, than allow it to infect the whole body. Unfortunately the longer we delay, the worse it may become.
God bless and keep you today.