The apostle Paul certainly had his detractors (2 Corinthians 10:7-18; 2 Corinthians 11:26) as well as the early church (Acts 15:1-12; Galations 1:1-12; cf. 2 Corinthians 11:1-15). In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:1-8; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 2 Timothy 4:1-4; Titus 1:7-16, the apostle Paul talks about the fact that because of detractors, sound doctrine would be totally abandoned. We can readily see this happening in the 21st Century in the form of man-made philosophies and movements.
How do we counteract detractors, i.e. false teachers, and their detraction from the saving gospel of Christ? Paul gives us some inspired guidelines in 1 Timothy 4:
1) Remind brethren of those who will depart from “the faith” (1 Timothy 4:1 KJV; cf. Acts 20:28-31).
2) Refuse any kind of man-made fables and philosophies (1 Timothy 4:7; cf. 2 Timothy 2:16-18; Titus 1:10-14).
3) Place our trust in the living God (1 Timothy 4:10; cf. Proverbs 3:5-6).
4) Be a godly example before others (1 Timothy 4:12).
5) Devote ourselves to the “public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching” (1 Timothy 4:13 NASB).
On a personal level, we are to following the instructions given in 1 Timothy 4:16, continuing our steadfast walk as a Christian (James 1:19-25; cf. Colossians 1:21-23; 1 Corinthians 15:58), preaching and teaching the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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