* Paul's concern over men of his day teaching false doctrines in the church.

 

Paul says to Timothy

I Timothy 1   Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

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They had no Bibles in the New Testament early church.  Paul wrote exhortations and sent them from church to church on parchments.  These epistles later became much of the New Testament Bible, so they knew much of the doctrine of Christ for the NT church but some were already departing from the rules and procedures for the church, and setting up other denominations where they taught what they wanted to teach.

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The apostle John was also having trouble with antichrist in the early churches.  In this church group the antichirst people would come among them and then depart, often to form their own denominations.

I John 2:18-19 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

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In Ephesus, Paul called the elders together and said to them they would see his face no more.  He warned this church group that they teach no other doctrine.  For Paul knew men among these elders were going to rise up and teach perverse things.

Acts 20

17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which HE hath purchased with HIS own blood.

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

(These men would be setting up their own church groups and changing the doctrine of Christ.)

We have so many churches today where they departed from the doctrine established by the apostles and they speak perverse things to the congregation.  And they hold back some of the doctrines from the congregation.

We see this in the fullest sense in NT churches today.

Paul knew they would fall away from true teachings of Christ and by this departure antichirst would rise up in the churches.

Paul explained:

31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

The doctrines of Christ are the scriptures presented in the New Testament Bible which are given under the inspiration of God.

Many churches today have explained away some of the scriptures of the NT Bible.  And many churches today just omit these scriptures entirely as they gather in their church groups.

We are coming into the fulness of the perversions in the church groups which had to happen before Jesus could return.

II Thessalonians 2:3-4 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Churches would fall away from small portions of scriptures and that would open the door for antichrist to move into the churches and they would follow portions of false doctrine.

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