Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
fables—legends about the origin and propagation of angels, such as the false teachers taught at Colosse (Colossians 2:18-23). "Jewish fables" (Titus 1:14). "Profane, and old wives' fables" (I Timothy 4:7; II Timothy 4:4).
genealogies—not merely such civil genealogies as were common among the Jews, whereby they traced their descent from the patriarchs, to which Paul would not object, and which he would not as here class with "fables," but Gnostic genealogies of spirits and aeons, as they called them, "Lists of Gnostic emanations" [ALFORD]. So TERTULLIAN [Against Valentinian, c. 3], and IRENÆUS [Preface]. The Judaizers here alluded to, while maintaining the perpetual obligation of the Mosaic law, joined with it a theosophic ascetic tendency, pretending to see in it mysteries deeper than others could see. The seeds, not the full-grown Gnosticism of the post-apostolic age, then existed. This formed the transition stage between Judaism and Gnosticism. "Endless" refers to the tedious unprofitableness of their lengthy genealogies (compare Titus 3:9). Paul opposes to their "aeons," the "King of the aeons (so the Greek, I Timothy 1:17), whom be glory throughout the aeons of aeons." The word "aeons" was probably not used in the technical sense of the latter Gnostics as yet; but "the only wise God" (I Timothy 1:17), by anticipation, confutes the subsequently adopted notions in the Gnostics' own phraseology.
questions—of mere speculation (Acts 25:20), not practical; generating merely curious discussions. "Questions and strifes of words" (I Timothy 6:4): "to no profit" (II Timothy 2:14); "gendering strifes" (II Timothy 2:23). "Vain jangling" (I Timothy 1:6-7) of would-be "teachers of the law."
godly edifying—The oldest manuscripts read, "the dispensation of God," the Gospel dispensation of God towards man (I Corinthians 9:17), "which is (has its element) in faith." CONYBEARE translates, "The exercising of the stewardship of God" (I Corinthians 9:17). He infers that the false teachers in Ephesus were presbyters, which accords with the prophecy, Acts 20:30. However, the oldest Latin versions, and IRENÆUS and HILARY, support English Version reading. Compare I Timothy 1:5, "faith unfeigned."
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 1 Timothy 1:4:
1 Timothy 1:5
1 Timothy 4:1
1 Timothy 4:7
1 Timothy 4:7
1 Timothy 6:4
2 Timothy 2:8
2 Timothy 4:4
Titus 1:14
Titus 3:9
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