“Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”
nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship of God that is by faith — the false teachers' preoccupation with genealogies (perhaps proto-gnostic cosmologies or Jewish mythological elaborations) diverts from pistis and oikonomia (stewardship/divine plan). Speculation (zetēsis) replaces the solid foundation of gospel truth.
Church Fathers on 1 Timothy 1:4
By “fables” he does not mean the law; far from it; but inventions and forgeries and counterfeit doctrines. For, it seems, the Jews wasted their whole discourse on these unprofitable points. They numbered up their fathers and grandfathers, that they might have the reputation of historical knowledge and research. “That you might charge some,” he says, “that they teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies.” Why does he call them “endless”? It is…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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