Avoiding Analogies That Compromise Biblical Teachings
The Apostle Paul frequently warned against engaging with "myths and endless genealogies" that lead to "useless speculations" rather than promoting God's plan by faith [1, 2]. These warnings highlight the importance of avoiding analogies or teachings that compromise biblical truth. Such "foolish questions" and "strivings about the law" are described as "unprofitable and vain" [6].
Paul's instruction to Titus emphasizes shunning "idle and foolish enquiries, tending neither to God's glory nor the edification of others" [4]. This aligns with his counsel to Timothy to "refuse profane and old wives' fables" [8], which are characterized as "anile myths" that lead away from godliness [5]. John Gill identifies these fables as potentially Jewish traditions or Gnostic doctrines concerning God and creation, which he deems "impious and ungodly" [8]. The emphasis is on rejecting teachings that are not grounded in sound doctrine and instead exercising oneself "unto godliness" [5, 8].
The danger of such analogies lies in their potential to distort the nature of God or lead to "perverse disputings" [7]. John Calvin, for instance, argues that it is "inconsistent with the nature of God to be represented by painting or by any kind of likeness" [3]. He references Isaiah's rhetorical question, "To whom then will ye liken me? for no image that is formed will have any likeness or resemblance to me," to underscore God's infinite power and uniqueness [3]. This principle extends to theological analogies, where human attempts to define or explain God must be carefully weighed against biblical revelation.
Calvin also critiques certain analogies concerning the Trinity, acknowledging that while there might be elements in humanity that "refer to the Father and the Son, and the Spirit," a definition of the image of God "ought to rest on a firmer basis than such subtleties" [10]. This suggests a caution against overly intricate or speculative analogies that may obscure rather than clarify biblical truths. The goal of theological discourse should be to further "the administration of God which is by faith" [2], rather than to engage in "mere speculation" [2].
The biblical emphasis is on avoiding anything that "leads from truth" [9]. This includes "perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds" who are "destitute of the truth of Christ" and operate under the assumption that "gain is godliness" [7]. Such individuals are described as "corrupt in their principles, and corrupters of the word of God," engaging in froward and perverse arguments [7]. Therefore, the avoidance of compromising analogies is not merely an intellectual exercise but a spiritual discipline aimed at preserving the purity of faith and promoting genuine godliness [5, 8].
Sources
- I Timothy “I Timothy 1:4 (LEB) — and not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause useless speculations rather than God’s plan that is by faith.”
- 1 Timothy “1 Timothy 1:4 (NASB) — nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 3, section 8.30: in guarding the Jews against distrust, at the same time condemns the superstitions of the Gentiles, and declares that it is inconsistent with the nature of God to be represented by painting or by any kind of likeness. This shews clearly that Paul’s doctrine fully agrees with it; for the Prophet, after having shewn that the power of God is infinite, since he holds all things in his fist, at length concludes, “To whom then will ye liken me? for no image that is formed will have any likeness or resemblance to me.” Or, what resemblance will you a”
- Titus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Titus 3:9: Here is the fifth and last thing in the matter of the epistle: what Titus should avoid in teaching; how he should deal with a heretic; with some other directions. Observe, I. That the apostle's meaning might be more clear and full, and especially fitted to the time and state of things in Crete, and the many judaizers among them, he tells Titus what, in teaching, he should shun, Tit 3:9. There are needful questions to be discussed and cleared, such as make for improvement in useful knowledge; but idle and foolish enquiries, tending neither to God's glory nor the edif”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:7: refuse--reject, avoid, have nothing to do with (Ti2 2:23; Tit 3:10). old wives' fables--anile myths (Ti1 1:4, Ti1 1:9; Tit 1:14). They are "profane," because leading away from "godliness" or "piety" (Ti1 1:4-7; Ti1 6:20; Ti2 2:16; Tit 1:1-2). exercise thyself--literally, "exercise thyself" as one undergoing training in a gymnasium. Let thy self-discipline be not in ascetical exercises as the false teachers (Ti1 4:3, Ti1 4:8; compare Ti2 2:22-23; Heb 5:14; Heb 12:11), but with a view to godliness or "piety" (Ti1 6:11-12).”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: Homily VI. Titus iii. 8–11 “These things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject. Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” Having spoken of the love of God to man, of His i”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 6:5: Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds,.... Who being corrupt in their principles, and corrupters of the word of God, dispute in a very froward and perverse way, rubbing and galling one another, and so provoke, to wrath and anger, and, every evil work: and destitute of the truth of Christ, who is the truth, knowing nothing of him spiritually and savingly; and of the Gospel, the word of truth; and also of the truth of grace, being carnal, sensual, and having not the Spirit of God. Supposing that gain is godliness; such were Simon Magus and his followers, and”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 4:7: But refuse profane and old wives' fables,.... Either Jewish ones, the traditions of the elders; or those of the Gnostics, concerning God, angels, and the creation of the world; or those doctrines of demons, and which forbad marriage, and commanded abstinence from meats before mentioned; which are called profane, because impious and ungodly, and old wives' fables, because foolish and impertinent; and which were to be rejected with abhorrence and contempt, in comparison of the words of faith and good doctrine. And exercise thyself rather unto godliness; either to th”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 19:27: Avoid whatever leads from truth.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 5.31: and fourteenth books on the Trinity, also the eleventh book of the “City of God.” I acknowledge, indeed, that there is something in man which refers to the Father and the Son, and the Spirit: and I have no difficulty in admitting the above distinction of the faculties of the soul: although the simpler division into two parts, which is more used in Scripture, is better adapted to the sound doctrine of piety; but a definition of the image of God ought to rest on a firmer basis than such subtleties. As for myself, before I define the”