Neither give
heed to fables - That is, that they
should not bestow their attention on fables, or
regard such trifles as of importance. The “fables”
here referred to were probably the idle and puerile
[pyr' er-al]
superstitions [immature;
childish] and conceits of the Jewish
rabbies. The word rendered “fable” (μῦθος
muthos) means properly “speech” or
“discourse,” and then fable or fiction, or a mystic
discourse. Such things abounded among the Greeks as
well as the Jews, but it is probable that the latter
here are particularly intended. These were composed
of frivolous and unfounded stories, which they
regarded as of great importance, and which they seem
to have desired to incorporate with the teachings of
Christianity. Paul, who had been brought up amidst
these superstitions, saw at once how they would tend
to draw off the mind from the truth, and would
corrupt the true religion. One of the most
successful arts of the adversary of souls has been
to mingle fable with truth; and when he cannot
overthrow the truth by direct opposition, to
neutralize it by mingling with it much that is false
and frivolous. ~Barnes
Notes
This all harkens back to my sermon, "Affinity"
about kinship and James 1:27. Quoting from
that sermon:
James 1:27---this
verse in our doctrine Fellowship with
the Brethren
Pure religion and undefiled before God
and the Father is this, To visit the
fatherless and widows in their
affliction, and to keep himself
unspotted from the world.
Most skip
right over the first part of this to
focus on what comes after the comma, but
notice what the commentaries say…
[Pure
religion] The phrase "pure
religion" means that which is genuine
and sincere, or which is free from any
improper mixture.
[And
undefiled before God and the Father]
That which God sees to be pure and
undefiled.
Note:
God wants our love, devotion, and
reverence to Him to be pure and free
from any improper mixture.
---end quote
from the sermon--- |
The Adam Clarke commentary says...
Neither give heed to fables
- Idle fancies; things of no moment; doctrines and
opinions unauthenticated; silly legends, of which no
people ever possessed a greater stock than the Jews.
Their Talmud abounds with them; and the English
reader may find them in abundance in Stehlin’s
Jewish Traditions, 2 vols. 8vo.
~Adam Clarke commentary
And endless genealogies
- This also refers to Jewish teaching. The Hebrews
kept careful genealogical records, for this was
necessary in order that the distinction of their
tribes might be kept up. Of course, in the lapse of
centuries these tables would become very numerous,
complicated, and extended - so that they might
without much exaggeration be called “endless.” The
Jews attached great importance to them, and insisted
on their being carefully preserved. As the Messiah,
however, had now come - as the Jewish polity [organized
society] was to cease - as the separation
between them and the pagan was no longer necessary,
and the distinction of tribes was now useless, there
was no propriety that these distinctions should be
regarded by Christians. The whole system was,
moreover, contrary to the genius [distinctive
character] of Christianity, for it served
to keep up the pride of blood and of birth.
~Barnes Notes
Which minister questions
- Which afford matter for troublesome and angry
debates. It was often difficult to settle or
understand them. They became complicated and
perplexing. Nothing is more difficult than to
unravel an extensive genealogical table. To do this,
therefore, would often give rise to contentions, and
when settled, would give rise still further to
questions about rank and precedence.
~Barnes Notes
Rather than godly edifying
which is in faith - These inquiries do
nothing to promote true religion in the soul. They
settle no permanent principle of truth; they
determine nothing that is really concerned in the
salvation of people. They might be pursued through
life, and not one soul be converted by them; they
might be settled with the greatest accuracy, and yet
not one heart be made better. Is not this still true
of many controversies and logomachies [la
gom e kes--disputes about words] in the
church? No point of controversy is worth much
trouble, which, if it were settled one way or the
other, would not tend to convert the soul from sin,
or to establish some important principle in
promoting true religion. “So do.” These words are
supplied by our translators, but they are necessary
to the sense. The meaning is, that Timothy was to
remain at Ephesus, and faithfully perform the duty
which he had been left there to discharge.
~Barnes Notes
Now from the Adam Clarke commentary...
Rather than godly edifying
- Such discussions as these had no tendency to
promote piety [religious
devotion and reverence to God]. Many, no
doubt, employed much of that time in inquiring who
were their ancestors, which they should have spent
in obtaining that grace by which, being born from
above, they might have become the sons and daughters
of God Almighty.
What had Jewish genealogies to do with the Gospel?
Men were not to be saved by virtue of the privileges
or piety of their ancestors. The Jews depended much
on this. We have Abraham to our father imposed
silence on every check of conscience, and every
godly reproof which they received for their
profligacy [prof la ga cy -
abandoned in moral principle] - unbelief.
In the dispensation of God, Faith in Christ Jesus
was the only means and way of salvation. These
endless and uncertain genealogies produced no faith;
indeed they were intended as a substitute for it;
for those who were intent on making out their
genealogical descent paid little attention to faith
in Christ. They ministered questions rather than
that economy of God which is by faith. This
dispensation, says the apostle, is by faith,
οικονομιαν Θεου την εν πιστει· It was not by natural
descent, nor by works, but by faith in Christ;
therefore it was necessary that the people who were
seeking salvation in any other way should be
strictly informed that all their toil and labor
would be vain. ~Adam Clarke
commentary
And finally, the John Gill on this same
phrase...
Rather than godly edifying,
which is in faith - and which is the
principal end of preaching, hearing, and
conversation; and that may be called "godly
edifying, or the edification of God", as it may be
rendered, which he is the author of, and which he
approves of, and is by, and according to his word;
or that in which souls are built up an habitation
for God, and are built up in faith and holiness, and
by an increase of every grace: and this is "in
faith", not only in the grace of faith, but by the
doctrine of faith, on which the saints may build one
another, and by which they are edified through the
faithful ministration of it by the ministers of the
word; when fabulous stories and disputes, about
genealogies, are useless and unedifying: not that
the apostle condemns all genealogies, such as we
have in the writings of the Old Testament, and in
the evangelists, nor all inquiries into them, and
study of them, which, rightly to settle, is in some
cases of great importance and use, but the private
and unprofitable ones before mentioned. Some copies
read, "the dispensation of God, which is in faith";
meaning the dispensation of the mysteries of grace,
which are in the doctrine of faith, which becomes a
faithful steward of them, and not fables and
genealogies, which issue in questions, quarrels, and
contentions. ~John Gill
commentary
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