ACC ~ 1 Timothy 6 v20b

FALSE GNOSIS. CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: Pride and opinionated views have corrupted philosophy. In the same way, false knowledge, though it bears the same name, has corrupted true knowledge. The apostle writes of it, saying, “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the godless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge, for by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith.” Because this verse exposes them, the heretics regard the letters to Timothy as inauthentic. Well, if the Lord is “truth” and “the wisdom and power of God,”as in fact he is, it would be demonstrated that the true knower is the one who has come to know Son and his Father through him. STROMATA 2.11.52.5-7.

GOING INTO THE WAY OF THE GENTILES. ORIGEN: To go into the way of the Gentiles is to adopt some Gentile teaching which is foreign to the “Israel of God” and to walk according to it. And to enter a city of the Samaritansis to be engaged in some knowledge falsely so-called of those who claim to devote themselves to the words of the law or the prophets or the Gospels or the apostles. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 13.343.

VARIETIES OF INTERPRETATION FROM THE BEGINNING. ORIGEN: Celsus also says that “they were of one mind,” not seeing even here that from the outset there were disagreements among the believers about the interpretation of the books regarded as divine. … In the epistles of Paul, who was contemporary with those who had seen Jesus, there are some statements to be found which concern certain disputes about the resurrection, and about the view that it had already occurred, and about the question whether the day of the Lord was already present or not. Moreover, the words “Turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge falsely so-called, which some have professed and made shipwreck concerning the faith” show that from the beginning there were certain varieties of interpretation. AGAINST CELSUS 3.11.

THE FIRST RISE OF HERESY. EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA: Besides this, the same man [Hegesippus], when relating the events of these times, adds that until then the church had remained a pure and undefiled virgin, since those who attempted to corrupt the sound rule of the Savior’s preaching, if any did exist, until then lurked somewhere in obscure darkness. But when the sacred band of the apostles had received an end of life in various ways, and the generation of those who were deemed worthy to hear the divine wisdom with their own ears had passed away, then the league of godless error took its beginnings because of the deceit of heretical teachers who, since none of the apostles still remained, attempted henceforth barefacedly to proclaim in opposition to the preaching of truth “the knowledge falsely so-called.” ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 3.32.

COMBATING THE DENIAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’S DEITY. BASIL THE GREAT: But we must proceed to attack our opponents, in the endeavor to confute those “oppositions” advanced against us which are derived from “knowledge falsely so-called.” It is not permissible, they assert, for the Holy Spirit to be ranked with the Father and the Son, on account of the difference of his nature and the inferiority of his dignity. Against them it is right to reply in the words of the apostles, “We ought to obey God rather than men. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 9.23-10.24.

FALSE SPIRITUALITY. JOHN CASSIAN: The psalmist also declares that this is the sequence we must follow. He says, “Blessed are those who are unsullied upon their journey, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who pay heed to his witness.”… In this way he shows clearly that no one can manage to engage in the correct scrutiny of God’s Word unless in his daily life he proceeds unstained along the road of Christ. Therefore those whom you have mentioned cannot possess this knowledge if they are unclean. What they have is a false so-called lore, the kind about which the apostle has this to say, “O Timothy, guard what has been given to you. In all that you say avoid profane novelties and the claims of a falsely named knowledge.” CONFERENCES 14.16.

THE CATHOLIC FAITH IS ANCIENT TRUTH. VINCENT OF LÉRINS: “Avoiding,” he says, “profane novelties of words.” Are there really people who can listen to such adjurations and then remain in such hardened and shameless stubbornness, such stony impudence, such adamant consistency, as not to yield to the mighty weight of these divine words and to weaken under such a load, as not to be shattered by these hammer strokes, as not to be crushed by such powerful thunderbolts? “Avoiding,” he says, “profane novelties of words.” He did not say “antiquities” or “the old traditions.” No, he clearly shows the positive implications of this negative statement: Novelty is to be avoided, hence, antiquity has to be respected; novelty is profane, hence, the old tradition is sacred. COMMONITORIES 21.

CATHOLIC TRUTH DOES NOT CHANGE. VINCENT OF LÉRINS: What does “avoiding” mean? “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine.”Of course, this means the catholic and universal doctrine, which remains one and the same through all successive ages in the uncorrupted tradition of truth and which will remain so without end for ever and ever. COMMONITORIES 24.

THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY

ARGUMENT: Paul writes in order to offer consolation in the midst of the practical cares of Timothy’s ministry and as a consolation for their separation from one another. Timothy is in need also of continuing support in the struggle with heresy. Paul knows that his own death is approaching (CHRYSOSTOM). There is a lengthy period of time between the first and second letters to Timothy, since Paul is no longer at Ephesus and is on the verge of martyrdom. He now writes from Rome at a point between his first and second imprisonments, as 2 Timothy 4:12 suggests. While it is clear from 1 Timothy 3:14 that Paul still expects to join Timothy, in 2 Timothy 4:6, 9, it is also clear that by now this expectation no longer exists (THEODORE). In 1 Timothy Paul had laid out the order of good teaching and good administration for Timothy. Now he focuses on the promise of the gospel and the blessings to come in eternity (SEVERIAN). Paul is particularly concerned here to encourage Timothy and others as they face difficult contests with heresy and to guard them against certain dangers (THEODORET). Paul’s purpose is to refresh Timothy for faithful witness to the hope contained in the gospel (AMBROSIASTER).