Charge CERTAIN persons not to teach ENDLESS genealogies

[tonychanyt]

Who were those persons? What genealogies?

1 Timothy 1:

3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons

i.e., certain Judaizers

not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

What were these endless genealogies?

Paul compared endless genealogies to myths and speculations, contrasting them to faithful doctrine. He wasn't complaining about genealogies already in the Hebrew OT; scriptural genealogies were fine. In the Jewish tradition, genealogies were important for establishing identity, heritage, and authority. They could also validate claims to priesthood or leadership within the community.

1 Timothy 4:

7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness.

These endless genealogies were silly and irreverent as opposed to faith and godliness.

Certain individuals in the early church were using genealogies to promote themselves or to advocate for teachings that were not aligned with the Gospel.

What genealogies was Paul referring to?

Paul didn't specify the particular lines of genealogies except to point out their nature: They were silly, endless, mythical, speculative, irreverent, and contradictory. Spelling out the names in these endless genealogies was a waste of time.

He gave a final warning in 1 Timothy 6:

20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

Focusing on these false myths could distract you from true faith. The Judaizers wanted Timothy and the Christians to focus on mythical Jewish genealogies. Paul put a stop to that kind of vain speculations and diversions.