What did Paul mean when he said not to give heed to "fables and endless genealogies"?

Barton Slisz: I don't think I have seen Ron Paul talking about "fables and endless genealogies". I googled it with no luck.Could you link me to the youtube video?

Rubye Bonnin: I have a question: Why do all these atheists, who claim that all we do is try to push our beliefs on others, comment on these questions that are obviously meant for serious study of the bible? Can someone say hypocrites?

Oren Eskelsen: Here's the commentary on that verse: Nor to give heed to fables and endless genealogies,[3] or disputes about pedigrees from Abraham and David, which furnish questions rather than the edification of God, or godly edification.[4] In some Greek manuscripts is read, dispensation, or economy; and so the sense may be, which contribute nothing to the explaining the dispensation of grace in the mystery of Christ's incarnation. The construction of this and the former verse is imperfect, when it is said, as I desired thee, nothing being expressed corresponding to! the word as. Some understand it, As I desired before, so now in this epistle I desire it of thee again. The same difficulty occurs in the Greek as in the Latin text. (Witham) --- The Jews were accustomed to dispute and make endless questions concerning their origin from Abraham, Isaac, and other patriarchs, and concerning their different tribes, which their captivity had confounded together. Hence there was no end of their questions, how, when, why? which gave rise to many fables, to the great disturbance of the faithful. Whereas, they ought to have taken the shortest way to edification, which was to confine themselves to what was of faith. (St. Ambrose)...Show more

Inge Mclaurine: White people think they are the direct descendants of God, therefore they insist that every image in the Bible be of a "white" person. This is evil and an abomination to God!--------Romans 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and ! to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.---Deuter! onomy 4:16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,...Show more

Tosha Tawney: He meant don't be a Mormon.

Jeannine Vassie: @ RavagePlunder - You made me laugh out loud

Elvin Mannheimer: Apparently Paul's family didn't have a remarkable history and their bloodline sucked. :))) Betcha by golly gee wiz!

Claire Billegas: Paul’s Counsel Regarding Genealogies. The apostle Paul, writing about 61-64 C.E., told Timothy not to pay attention to “false stories and to genealogies, which end up in nothing, but which furnish questions for research rather than a dispensing of anything by God in connection with faith.” (1Ti 1:4) The force of this warning is more appreciated when we know of the extremes to which the Jews later went in researching genealogies and how minutely they investigated any possible discrepancy. The Babylonian Talmud (Pesahim 62b) makes the statement that “be! tween ‘Azel’ and ‘Azel’ [1 Chronicles 8:38â€"9:44, a genealogical portion of the Bible] they were laden with four hundred camels of exegetical interpretations!”â€"Hebrew-English Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, translated by H. Freedman, London, 1967.To engage in studying and discussing such matters was pointless, and it was even more so at the time Paul wrote to Timothy. It was no longer vital to have the genealogical records maintained to prove one’s ancestry, since God did not now recognize any distinction between Jew and Gentile in the Christian congregation. (Ga 3:28) And the genealogical records had already established the descent of Christ through the line of David. Also, it would not be long after Paul wrote this admonition that Jerusalem would be destroyed, and along with it the Jewish records. God did not preserve them. Accordingly, Paul was anxious that Timothy and the congregations should not be sidetracked into spending time in research and in co! ntroversy over matters of personal pedigree, which contributed nothing ! to Christian faith. The genealogy furnished by the Bible is sufficient to prove Christ’s Messiahship, the genealogical matter of prime importance to Christians. The other Biblical genealogies stand as a testimony to the authenticity of the Scriptural record, manifesting clearly that it is a genuinely historical account....Show more

Melissa Lavallie: that statement is the most ironic thing in the history of ironic statements. "Don't give heed to fables"- The Bible....................................................

Brice Greczkowski: Read 1 Timothy 1:3-11 in context, than you will understand why Paul said what he said regarding to false teachings, myths, endless genealogies.The reason why Paul (through the wisdom of God) says that people should not devote themselves to myths, endless genealogies, and false teachings is because such things only promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work which is by faith according to verse 1 Timothy ! 1:4.The goal that God has us to obey is the commands (Romans 13:9-10 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.) which is love that comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk (which doesn't produce good fruit a.k.a. righteousness/good deeds). They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm according to verse 1 Timothy 1:5-7.According to verse 1 Timothy 1:8-11, Paul says, "We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinfu! l, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or moth! ers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurersâ€"and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me."There are other verses that can be cross referenced to verse 1 Timothy 1:3-11 such as verse Titus 3:1-11 which is about "Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers" and 2 Timothy 2:14-26 which is about "Saved in Order to Do Good."IF PEOPLE/YOU READ THE WHOLE ENTIRE VERSES IN CONTEXT, THEN THEY/YOU WOULDN'T BE CONFUSED AND WON'T HAVE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT IT....Show more

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