1 Timothy 1:4
What does 1 Timothy 1:4 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Timothy 1:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Timothy 1:4 means
Timothy must steer the church away from myths and endless genealogies—speculative teachings that fuel debates more than devotion. Such themes breed questions that distract from God’s redemptive plan, which is received by faith, not by clever speculation. The alternative Paul commends is God’s stewardship—His saving arrangement administered through the gospel. Paul’s phrase “so do I now” reinforces that this is not a new directive but a consistent emphasis. True ministry builds up believers in trusting obedience; false curiosities fragment the church and obscure the simplicity of faith in Christ and the practical outworking of God’s purposes.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000neither to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questionings, rather than a dispensation of God which is in faith; so do I now.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901neither to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questionings, rather than a dispensation of God which is in faith; so do I now.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Or to give attention to stories and long lists of generations, from which come questionings and doubts, in place of God's ordered way of life which is in faith;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862nor to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, that cause questions rather than the building up of God that is in faith: --
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Not to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which furnish questions rather than the edification of God which is in faith.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890nor to turn their minds to fables and interminable genealogies, which bring questionings rather than [further]God's dispensation, which [is] in faith.
Context
This verse unpacks the content of the “different doctrine” noted in verse 3. By naming fables and genealogies, Paul exposes teaching that appears learned but produces only controversy. He contrasts that with God’s economy of salvation accepted by faith. The next verse will pivot from what to avoid to the positive goal of instruction—love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith—so the reader knows how to evaluate teachers and teaching by their fruit, not merely by their claims or complexities.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Timothy 2:16
But shun profane babblings: for they will proceed further in ungodliness,
- Ephesians 4:12
for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:
- 1 Timothy 4:7
but refuse profane and old wives’ fables. And exercise thyself unto godliness:
- 1 Timothy 6:3
If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
- 2 Corinthians 7:9
I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing.
- 2 Peter 1:16
For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
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