1 Timothy 1:7 kjv
Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
1 Timothy 1:7 nkjv
desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
1 Timothy 1:7 niv
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
1 Timothy 1:7 esv
desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
1 Timothy 1:7 nlt
They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don't know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.
1 Timothy 1 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Tim 1:3-4 | As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia... devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies... | Direct context, identifies the "different doctrine." |
| 1 Tim 1:5-6 | The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart... certain persons have swerved from these... | Shows contrast between true purpose and their "empty talk." |
| 1 Tim 1:8-10 | Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding that the law is not laid down for... | Paul's clarification on the true purpose of the Law. |
| Rom 10:4 | For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. | True purpose of the Law fulfilled in Christ. |
| Gal 3:24-25 | So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith... | Law's preparatory role, fulfilled by Christ. |
| Matt 23:2-7 | "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you... | Similar desire for prominence/titles without true heart. |
| Jer 23:30-32 | "Behold, I am against the prophets who steal my words from one another, declares the Lord." | Prophetic warning against those who teach falsely. |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you... | Warning against destructive heresies motivated by greed. |
| Titus 1:10-11 | For there are many rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party... | Similar description of rebellious empty talkers. |
| 2 Tim 2:16-18 | But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will... | Profane babbling linked to false teaching. |
| Eph 4:14 | So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine.. | Importance of mature understanding to counter false doctrine. |
| Col 2:8 | See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition... | Warning against human philosophy and tradition. |
| 2 Cor 11:13-15 | For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. | False teachers appearing as ministers of righteousness. |
| Acts 20:30 | and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. | Internal threat from within the church itself. |
| Prov 4:7 | The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. | Emphasis on the value of true understanding. |
| 2 Tim 2:15 | Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. | Contrast with those who do not handle truth rightly. |
| John 8:31-32 | So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth..." | Truth and understanding from abiding in Christ's word. |
| John 16:13 | When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own... | The Holy Spirit as the guide to true understanding. |
| Heb 5:12-14 | For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of... | Critiques lack of maturity, implies superficial knowledge. |
| Rom 7:7 | What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin... | Law reveals sin; misinterpreting its purpose is key. |
| Matt 15:1-9 | You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! | Placing human traditions over divine command. |
1 Timothy 1 verses
1 Timothy 1 7 Meaning
1 Timothy 1:7 exposes the true character of false teachers: they possess a strong desire to be seen as authorities in the Mosaic Law, but fundamentally lack understanding concerning both the content of their own teachings and the subjects about which they confidently assert. Their teaching stems from intellectual arrogance and misguided ambition, not from genuine spiritual insight or divine truth. This verse highlights the profound disconnect between their outward display of knowledge and their inward emptiness regarding God's will and purpose.
1 Timothy 1 7 Context
First Timothy is a letter from Paul to his spiritual son, Timothy, who is leading the church in Ephesus. The first chapter sets the immediate stage by addressing serious doctrinal errors that had crept into the Ephesian community. Paul's primary instruction to Timothy, given in 1 Timothy 1:3, is "to charge certain persons not to teach different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith."
Verse 1:7 is a direct description of these very individuals and their teaching. They are part of the problem Paul urges Timothy to confront. These "teachers of the law" represent a specific group that distorted the purpose of the Mosaic Law, potentially mixing Jewish legalism with speculative or mythical elements (as suggested by "myths and endless genealogies"). Historically, Ephesus was a vibrant hub for various philosophies, mystery religions, and Gnostic-like tendencies. These teachers might have been influenced by such currents, trying to integrate them into Christian teaching or emphasizing the Law in a way that led away from faith in Christ, creating endless debates rather than edifying love (1 Tim 1:5). Paul's critique is sharp, exposing their intellectual vanity and spiritual superficiality in a community struggling with truth.
1 Timothy 1 7 Word analysis
Desiring to be teachers: The Greek phrase is boulomenoi einai nomodidaskaloi (βουλόμενοι εἶναι νομοδιδάσκαλοι).
- Boulomenoi (βουλόμενοι), a participle of boulomai, indicates a strong, deliberate desire or a fixed intention. These individuals weren't accidentally teaching; they wanted this role and actively pursued it, suggesting a motivation rooted in ambition or status rather than a divine call or true spiritual qualification.
- Nomodidaskaloi (νομοδιδάσκαλοι) translates to "teachers of the law." This term specifically refers to instructors concerning the Mosaic Law. In the New Testament, this often describes Jewish leaders or legal experts (like the Pharisees or scribes). In the context of the early church, it points to Jewish Christians who perhaps overemphasized the Law's ceremonial aspects, leading to legalism or ritualism that undermined the grace of Christ.
of the law: Refers to the Mosaic Law. Their teaching was centered on legal stipulations, often missing the spiritual intent or its fulfillment in Christ. This contrasts with Paul's understanding of the Law's purpose, as expressed later in the chapter (1 Tim 1:8).
understanding neither what they say: The Greek is mē noountes mēte ha legousin (μὴ νοοῦντες μήτε ἃ λέγουσιν).
- Noountes (νοοῦντες), from noeo, signifies understanding, perceiving with the mind, grasping intellectually. The negative particle mē (μὴ) emphasizes a complete lack of such understanding. They do not comprehend the mental and spiritual content of their own pronouncements.
- Ha legousin (ἃ λέγουσιν) literally means "what they say" or "the things which they speak." It refers to the specific words, doctrines, or arguments they articulate. They are uttering statements and advocating positions without truly grasping their meaning, implications, or foundation.
nor whereof they affirm: The Greek is mēte peri tinōn diabebaiountai (μήτε περὶ τίνων διαβεβαιοῦνται).
- Peri tinōn (περὶ τίνων) means "concerning what things" or "about what subjects." It indicates the underlying topics or issues on which they are expounding. Not only do they not understand their own words, but they also do not grasp the very substance of the subjects they discuss.
- Diabebaiountai (διαβεβαιοῦνται) means to assert strongly, to affirm confidently, to make dogmatic declarations. This word implies a bold, resolute, and unwavering conviction in their pronouncements. The irony is profound: they speak with great assurance and certainty on matters about which they are fundamentally ignorant. This points to intellectual pride paired with spiritual blindness.
1 Timothy 1 7 Bonus section
- The critique in 1 Timothy 1:7 is not against the Mosaic Law itself, which Paul clarifies as "good, if one uses it lawfully" (1 Tim 1:8). The issue lies with how these specific teachers understood and applied it, missing its preparatory role for Christ and turning it into a legalistic system for self-righteousness or endless speculation.
- This passage highlights a key characteristic of ungodly leadership in the church: a preference for empty rhetoric and controversial subjects over sound doctrine and godly living. Their "understanding neither" what they speak means their words lack life, power, or spiritual benefit, unlike the living Word of God.
- The tension described in this verse—the conflict between intellectual pride and spiritual discernment—is a recurring theme in the New Testament concerning false teachers. They are often marked by what they say they know versus what they truly know, particularly their failure to grasp the humility of Christ's grace versus the arrogance of legalism.
1 Timothy 1 7 Commentary
1 Timothy 1:7 paints a vivid picture of the destructive nature of false teaching by dissecting the character and method of false teachers. Their core flaw lies in a striking disconnect: a fervent desire for influence and authority (to be "teachers of the law") contrasted with an utter lack of understanding. This desire often stems from a misplaced ambition for prominence or recognition, rather than a genuine burden to impart truth from God.
These individuals claim expertise in the Mosaic Law, yet they misinterpret its purpose and content. While they speak confidently and make strong assertions (diabebaiountai), their declarations are built on a foundation of ignorance. They simply do not grasp the profound implications of what they are saying, nor do they comprehend the fundamental essence of the spiritual matters they are so dogmatically expounding. This makes their teaching not only erroneous but also spiritually dangerous, as it leads to "empty talk" and "speculations" rather than "the stewardship from God that is by faith" (1 Tim 1:4-6). Paul implies that genuine spiritual authority flows from true understanding, which in turn comes from the Spirit of God and a proper understanding of Christ as the fulfillment of the Law (Rom 10:4).
This verse serves as a timeless warning against:
- Ambition without Qualification: Desiring a spiritual leadership role without possessing the requisite knowledge and true spiritual discernment.
- Dogmatism without Depth: Confidently asserting doctrines without a deep, genuine comprehension of their truth or biblical foundation.
- Intellectual Arrogance: A self-assured demeanor that masks underlying ignorance and an unwillingness to truly understand God's Word.These principles remain crucial for discerning genuine teachers from those who mislead.