The False Teachers
The False Teachers
It is usually assumed that the same false teaching is opposed in all three letters. This may or may not be the case, but some of it at any rate certainly included a strong Jewish element. There are references to "teachers of the law” (1 Tim. 1:7), "the circumcision group” (Titus 1:10), "Jewish myths” (Titus 1:14), and "arguments and quarrels about the law” (Titus 3:9). There is a warning against "what is falsely called knowledge” (1 Tim. 6:20), which along with references to "myths and endless genealogies” (1 Tim. 1:4; cf. 4:7; Titus 3:9) is often taken to refer to Gnostic systems. This is supported by passages mentioning ascetic practices (e.g., 1 Tim. 4:3). But fullblown Gnosticism belongs to a time well into the second century, and these letters do not belong there. There is nothing in the way of false teaching as described in these letters that does not fit into what is known during the time of Paul’s ministry. 14Though some will continue to see the heresy as belonging to the second century, there are no real grounds for saying that it could not have arisen while Paul was actively engaged in his life’s work.