Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Timothy 1:7
Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
7. understanding ] More exactly, though they understand; the negative particle used shews that the clause is subordinate to, not parallel with ‘setting themselves up,’ or ‘desiring,’ and expresses their thoughts. ‘We choose to teach, without understanding.’ Winer, 55. 5 b, p. 607.
neither what they say, nor whereof ] They neither understand the statements they make nor even what the questions are about which they make such confident assertions. Confidently affirm gives the force of the preposition in the compound verb; it occurs in Tit 3:8; but not elsewhere in N. T. The middle voice expresses the secondary kind of making firm, by speech, instead of act, as commonly in Class. Gr. Compare to draw up a narrative, Luk 1:1; ‘I laid before them the Gospel,’ Gal 2:2; Winer, Pt. iii. 38, 2 6, p. 317.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Desiring to be teachers of the law – That is, to have the credit and reputation of being well versed in the law of Moses, and qualified to explain it to others. This was a high honor among the Jews, and these teachers laid claim to the same distinction.
Understanding neither what they say – That is, they do not understand the true nature and design of that law which they attempt to explain to others. This was true of the Jewish teachers, and equally so of those in the church at Ephesus, who attempted to explain it. They appear to have explained the law on the principles which commonly prevailed among the Jews, and hence their instructions tended greatly to corrupt the faith of the gospel. They made affirmations of what they knew nothing of, and though they made confident observations, yet they often pertained to things about which they had no knowledge. One needs only a slight acquaintance with the manner of teaching among Jewish rabbies, or with the things found in their traditions, to see the accuracy of this statement of the apostle. A sufficient illustration of this may be found in Allens Modern Judaism.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. Teachers of the law] To be esteemed or celebrated as rabbins; to be reputed cunning in solving knotty questions and enigmas, which answered no end to true religion. Of such the rabbinical teaching was full.
Understanding neither what they say] This is evident from almost all the Jewish comments which yet remain. Things are asserted which are either false or dubious; words, the import of which they did not understand, were brought to illustrate them: so that it may be said, They understand not what they say, nor whereof they affirm. I will give one instance from the Jerusalem Targum, on Ge 1:15: And God made two great lights, and they were equal in splendour twenty-one years, the six hundred and seventy-second part of an hour excepted: and afterwards the moon brought a false accusation against the sun, and therefore she was lessened; and God made the sun the greater light to superintend the day, &c. I could produce a thousand of a similar complexion.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Desiring to be teachers of the law; Nomodidaskaloi. This term lets us know, that the apostle reflecteth upon some who were or had been Jews, who either pressed the observance of the law in order to justification, or spent their time in pressing the traditions of the elders, and constitutions of the scribes, as sepimenta legis, hedges (as they called them) to the Divine law, though not of the letter of it; upon which there arose a great many questions as insignificant as their traditions themselves, which these vain preachers spent their time in speaking to.
Understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm; neither understanding the Divine law, nor the questions themselves started and spoke unto, yet ambitious to be accounted
teachers of the law. This vain desire of reputation, as persons of excellent skill in the land, was the cause of their erroneous, idle sermons: and their ignorance is aggravated and inexcusable, in that they with presumptuous boldness assert the things of which they are ignorant.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. Sample of their “vaintalk” (1Ti 1:6).
DesiringThey arewould-be teachers, not really so.
the lawthe Jewish law(Tit 1:14; Tit 3:9).The Judaizers here meant seem to be distinct from those impugned inthe Epistles to the Galatians and Romans, who made the works of thelaw necessary to justification in opposition to Gospel grace. TheJudaizers here meant corrupted the law with “fables,” whichthey pretended to found on it, subversive of morals as well as oftruth. Their error was not in maintaining the obligation ofthe law, but in abusing it by fabulous and immoralinterpretations of, and additions to, it.
neither what they say, norwhereofneither understanding their own assertions, northe object itself about which they make them. They understandas little about the one as the other [ALFORD].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Desiring to be teachers of the law,…. They were very fond of being called Rabbi, Rabbi, and styled doctors of the law, and of being thought to have skill in interpreting the law, and good talents in expounding it, and preaching upon it; which was now most in vogue, and gained the greatest applause, when the preaching of the Gospel was treated with contempt, not only by the unbelieving Jews, but by judaizing Christians, and carnal professors.
Understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm: they did not understand the law, the nature and end, the purity and spirituality, and perfection of it, which they were so fond of teaching, and went into many foolish and unlearned questions about it; see 2Ti 2:23, and which they as foolishly answered: these are the ignorant and unlearned men, who, notwithstanding their vain show of learning, and pretence to skill in interpreting the law, wrested the Scriptures to their own destruction, and that of others; they were ignorant of the things they talked of, and knew not by what arguments to confirm them, and yet were very bold and confident in their assertions: and generally speaking so it is, that those who can prove least assert most, and that with the greatest assurance.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Teachers of the law (). Compound only in N.T. (here, Luke 5:17; Acts 5:34) and ecclesiastical writers.
Though they understand (). Concessive participle of , old verb (Eph 3:4; Eph 3:20).
Neither what ( ). Relative (which things).
Nor whereof ( ). Here the interrogative used in sense of relative . It may be regarded as the use of an indirect question for variety (Parry).
They confidently affirm (). Present middle indicative of the common Koine compound, in N.T. only here and Tit 3:8.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Desiring [] . The participle is explanatory and confirmatory of the preceding statement : since they desire.
Teachers of the law [] . o P. It occurs in Luk 5:17 and Act 5:34. Nomov is, apparently, the Mosaic law. These teachers may have been arbitrary interpreters of that law, but in what way, cannot be shown.
Understanding [] . Better, though they understand.
What they say – whereof they affirm [ – ] . The latter expression is an advance on the former, as appears not only from the verbs themselves, but from the different pronominal expressions. They know not what they say, nor what kind of things they are of which they speak so confidently. The compound diabebaiouswai to affirm, Past o. Comp. Tit 3:8. The false teachers announce their errors with assurance.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Desiring to be teachers of the law;” (thelontes einai nomodidaskaloi) “Wishing (strongly) to be law-teachers.” The term “law-teachers” refers to those seriously coveting to be official teachers of Mosaic Law.
2) “Understanding neither what they say,” (me noountes mete ha legousin) “Not understanding either what things they say.” They batted” words and rhetoric around, without comprehension of their meeting, full of “sound and fury, signifying nothing.” 1Ti 6:3-4; 1Co 8:2.
3) “Nor whereof they affirm.” (mete peri tinon diabebaiountai) “Nor concerning what things they assert emphatically.” In spite of their forceful expressions and confident manner of assertions, Paul declared that they did not grasp the nature of the great topics of Law and philosophy on which they dogmatized. 1Ti 6:20; Tit 3:8-9.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
7 Wishing to be teachers of the law He does not reprove those who openly attack the instruction of the law, but those who boast of belonging to the rank of teachers of it. He affirms that such persons have no understanding, because they harass their faculties to no purpose by curious questions. And, at the same time, he rebukes their pride by adding, —
Of what things they affirm, for none will be found more bold in pronouncing rashly on matters unknown to them than the teachers of such fables. We see in the present day with what pride and haughtiness the schools of the Sorbonne pronounce their authoritative decisions. And on what subjects? On those which are altogether hidden from the minds of men — which no word of Scripture, and no revelation has ever made known to us. With greater boldness do they affirm their purgatory (15) than the resurrection of the dead. As to their contrivances about the intercession of the saints, if we do not hold them to be an undoubted oracle, they cry out that the whole of religion is overturned. What shall I say as to their vast labyrinths about the hierarchies of heaven, relationships, and similar contrivances? It is a matter that has no end. The Apostle declares that in all these is fulfilled what is said in a well-known ancient proverb,
“
Ignorance is rash;” as he says that, “puffed up by their carnal mind, they intrude into things which they know not.” (Col 2:18.)
(15) “And in Popery what are the articles that shall be held as most certain? What angel, or what devil, revealed to them that there is a purgatory? They have fabricated it out of their own brain, and, after having attempted to produce some passages of the Holy Scriptures, they have at length become bewildered, so that they have no defense of their purgatory, but its antiquity. ‘There it is! It has been always held.’ Such is the foundation of faith, according to the learned Papists. And then we must not call in question that we ought to apply to the departed saints as our advocates and intercessors. To go to God without baying as our guide St. Michael, or the Virgin Mary, or some other saint whom the Pope shall have inserted in his calendar for the occasion, would be of no avail. And why? On what ground? Will they find in all the Holy Scriptures a single word, a single syllable, to shew that creatures, that is, deceased persons, intercede for us? For in this world we ought to pray for one another, and that is a mutual obligation; but as to deceased persons, not a word is said about them.” — Fr. Ser.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) Desiring to be teachers of the law.Desiring, though they really were not. They coveted the respect and influence which was ever paid to the acknowledged teachers of the Law of Moses; but these men utterly failed to understand the real spiritual meaning of that Law which they pretended to teach. Similar pretenders in a neighbouring Church, some years later, received from another ApostleSt. Johna stern rebuke for such pretensions. I know, wrote St. John to the Christians of Smyrna, the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan (Rev. 2:9).
Understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.A wise teacher must understand what he teaches, and must, at the same time, be clear in his own mind that what he teaches is true.
The false teachers are here charged (1) with not understanding the wild fables and traditions upon which their teaching was based, and (2) with not comprehending the things whereof they make their assertions: that is, they had no real belief in those great truths which really underlie that Law with which they were meddling.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Teachers of the law The Mosaic law; the Old Testament. These teachers wanted to transform the Churches into rabbinical schools, in which themselves should be the rabbies, and the teachings should be the new fangled fantasies of which Grotius gives us specimens above.
What they say Their words and phrases really often express no meaning, because they have no understanding of the subject whereof they affirm. That is, they explained an unintelligible subject by unmeaning words.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ti 1:7. Desiring to be teachers of the law; The gospel alone was too simple a thing for the Judaizing Christians; and their partiality for the law of Moses was so great, that they not only considered the whole of it, even the ceremonial part, as obligatory upon themselves, but they would have imposed it upon the Gentile converts; though they understood not the grand design of the law with respect to the Jews, much less the freedom of the Gentile converts from any subjection to it. The law was given because of transgressions, or to restrain the Jews from idolatry and other vices, and to prepare them for the reception of the Messiah and his gospel; when therefore the gospel was come, there was no longer any occasion for that severe tutor. The word means a doctor of the law, a rabbi, or father. See Luk 5:17. Act 5:34.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
Ver. 7. Understanding neither what ] Non curo illos, saith Augustine, qui vel non intelligendo reprehendunt, vel reprehendendo non intelligunt. I pass not for the censures of such as dare to reprehend what they do not comprehend.
Nor whereof they affirm ] And are therefore to be slighted. Galatinus (saith Mr Sarson), as he affirmeth without reason, so he may be dismissed without refutation.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ti 1:7 . : The Mosaic or Jewish law is meant. See Tit 3:9 . The term is used seriously, of official teachers of the law, in reff.
, . . .: Though they understand neither, etc . The participle is concessive, and is here subjective, as usual, expressing St. Paul’s opinion about them. For the sentiment cf. 1Ti 6:4 , 1Co 8:2 . refers to the substance of their assertions, while ( affirmant , see Tit 3:8 ) is expressive of the confident manner (R.V.) in which they made them. They did not grasp the force either of their own propositions (hence resulted ), or the nature of the great topics Law, Philosophy, etc. an which they dogmatised, hence their inconsistencies, (1Ti 6:20 ). On the combination of the relative and interrogative pronouns in one sentence, see Winer-Moulton, Grammar , p. 211.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Desiring. App-102.
teachers of the law. Greek. nomodidaskalos. See Luk 5:17.
understanding, &c, There are double negatives in this phrase, me at the beginning, and mete, mete, neither, nor.
whereof = concerning (App-104.) what.
affirm. Greek. diabebaioomai. Only here and Tit 3:8.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Ti 1:7. , desiring) rashly.–, neither-nor) A good teacher ought to be intelligent, and at the same time well-informed. Paul says, both of these qualities are wanting to those of whom he is here speaking.-) those things, which: , concerning what things [whereof]. and differ.- , neither what they say) Thence arise the profane vanities of words [vain babblings], ch. 1Ti 6:20.- nor whereof they affirm) Thence arise the oppositions of science, falsely so called, ch. 1Ti 6:20. and , firm and position, accord with one another.[5]-, affirm) Tit 3:8.
[5] i.e. The in here, answers to the in the , ch. 1Ti 6:20.-ED.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
1Ti 1:7
desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm.-[They coveted the respect and influence which was ever paid to the acknowledged teachers of the law of Moses: but they utterly failed to understand the real meaning of that law. This same class of teachers was in the church at Smyrna, of whom it is said: I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Rev 2:9.)]
These persons aspired to be teachers of the law of Moses, but they did not see that the law of Moses ended in Christ and was taken out of the way by him.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
to: Act 15:1, Rom 2:19-21, Gal 3:2, Gal 3:5, Gal 4:21, Gal 5:3, Gal 5:4, Tit 1:10, Tit 1:11
understanding: 1Ti 6:4, Isa 29:13, Isa 29:14, Jer 8:8, Jer 8:9, Mat 15:14, Mat 21:27, Mat 23:16-24, Joh 3:9, Joh 3:10, Joh 9:40, Joh 9:41, Rom 1:22, 2Ti 3:7, 2Pe 2:12
Reciprocal: Job 32:12 – behold Job 38:2 – General Col 2:18 – intruding 2Ti 1:11 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ti 1:7. Desiring to be teachers of the law could not of itself be wrong. However, these teachers were not motivated by the right principle, or they would not have swerved from the faith in search of an opportunity to do their teaching. Besides, they were not qualified to teach the law, because they did not understand it themselves. Affirm is a stronger word than say. The latter merely means to speak without any special emphasis; even that should not be done about something that one does not understand. The former denotes a strong utterance in which the speaker is positive about his declarations. It is the height of folly to behave in such a manner concerning something which the actor does not understand.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1Ti 1:7. Desiring (i.e. pretending) to be teachers of the law. The compound word used by St. Paul suggests (as in Luk 5:17; Act 5:34) a more official title than the English. They claimed to be Rabbis or doctors of the law, such as Gamaliel. The word shews clearly that it was still the Jewish element of which St. Paul was most in dread, though the context indicates that it was a Judaism of a less strict and more corrupt kind than that against which he reasons in the Epistles to the Galatians and Romans. Elymas (Act 13:8) or Sceva and his sons (Act 19:14) may stand as the type of this newer form of error. They talked much, with a braggart confidence, of the law, and yet never dreamt of applying it as a rule of life in their own practice.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 7
Desiring to be; pretending to be,–desiring to be so esteemed.
1 Timothy 1:9,10. The meaning seems to be, that the Mosaic law, with its onerous rites and threatened penalties, is not now to be pressed upon those who have abandoned their sins, and are looking for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Its hard conditions may be urged upon those who still continue in sin, and of course reject every other ground of salvation; but they must not be brought in to burden and oppress those who have turned from the law to the gospel.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
1Ti 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
This is a real slap in the face for the people that Paul is talking about!
a. They desire to teach
b. they don’t understand what they say
c. they don’t understand what they affirm to others as truth.
That is a problem to want to teach and not be able to understand and comprehend the subject at hand.
Might I illustrate this?
A teacher I heard once found his foot in his mouth in a big way. He mentioned that his father changed the oil in his tractor every so many miles. Now, being a city slicker myself I thought he had a good illustration, however if you know anything at all about tractors, which the teacher did not, you know that you change oil and maintain tractors according to hours the unit has run not miles traveled. The teacher didn’t understand the principles of tractor care, nor did he understand that which he was holding up as truth.
Another illustration:
I could stand before you and read Einstein’s theory of relativity but I certainly would not understand it. I might even tell you emphatically that it was true, yet I cannot teach it, because I don’t understand it.
Some of our politicians are right here aren’t they. They have all the answers and they tell you all about it, but they don’t understand the problems at all.
When working in TV repair in Denver I had a little sign over my bench. “If you think you comprehend this confusion you just don’t understand the situation.”
The term translated desiring according to Vine is “to will, to wish, implying volition and purpose, frequently a determination, is most usually rendered to will.” This person has not only left what is right, and turned to empty talking, but he desires to teach as well. He has determined that he is going to teach as opposed to God calling and gifting him to teach. There is a bit of a difference.
The term translated “teachers of the law” is one Greek word – it is the term “nomodidaskalos {nom-od-id-as’-kal-os}” It is made up of two terms, nomo which has the thought of law and didaskalos which is often translated master in reference to the Lord Jesus in the Gospels. It is also translated teacher and doctor as in a doctor of law – a law teacher.
It would seem obvious these people that have been classed as empty talkers – those that have turned from the mark are teachers of the law. I trust you have a healthy grasp of Paul’s view of these teachers.
The terms affirm is often translated affirm strongly – something felt strongly to be truth but is not – not unlike Saul himself before he was saved. He strongly affirmed his belief in the law and the way of the Jewish leaders of his day. I wonder if this is why he reacted so strongly to these men – he knew just how wrong they were and how misguided their sincerity was. He also knew how destructive their teaching could be.
Let’s take a moment to look at Paul’s earlier life. In Act 8:1 we have a context of Stephen preaching and being stoned to death. Luke records “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.” Saul was part of that persecution!
Most agree that the persecution brought the furtherance of the Gospel – Saul was spreading the Gospel before He was saved!
Again in Act 9:1 we see further how Saul was treating the Christians. “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”
Paul was part of that great persecution. He was out and about with the authority given him by the Jewish leadership to round up Christians – those heretics with all the false doctrine!
He, a teacher and believer in the law, was persecuting Christians – those that taught of Christ, the Messiah come.
In I Timothys we see this come full circle – Paul, the leadership, of the church now telling his delegates to root out those that would teach the law.
I would like to look briefly at a couple of Scriptural passages that speak to this subject of empty talking.
Nested in a long list of sins is Eph 5:6 “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”
Vain words can lead to gross sinful lifestyles. Thus, they should be shunned. Paul says “Let no man deceive you” Vain words are aimed at deception – mark that down in your memory banks! VAIN WORDS ARE AIMED AT DECEPTION.
The term translated vain here means empty or by application “devoid of truth” according to Thayer.
Phillips mentions in his commentary on Ephesians: “‘Let no man deceive you,’ says the Holy Spirit. Those whose teaching undermines God’s absolutes in the realm of personal morality are speaking vain words.”
2Ti 2:16 also speaks to the thought of vain words resulting in ungodliness.
Another form of the word translated vain jangling is used of vain talkers in Tit 1:10 “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.”
Paul is telling Titus that these must be stopped. This is just further indication of how important it is to stop the vain or empty talking and empty talkers in the church. They are misleading the sheep from what is true and nourishing.
We also see in that passage that if you don’t stop them they will subvert entire houses or families. It also mentions that their motivation may well be money!
So, what application might we find in this negative portion of Timothy?
1. It is positive in the aspect that we are to clear out this type of teacher so that we can get on with the work of the Lord!
I don’t know if you have ever had a time in your life when you are exposed to ungodly or negative influence for a long period of time. Many have told me of times like this and the usual result was that they became negative, and the bad influence was very bad for their spiritual life.
If there are false teachers in a church it is bound to have a negative result on the membership, not only in the doctrinal area, but just in the general life of the church.
2. If we want to be sure we aren’t jangling vainly, then we must be sure that we have the following:
a. We love correctly, having a pure heart, good conscience and a sincere faith.
b. We desire to teach correct doctrine.
c. We need to understand that which we teach, BEFORE WE TEACH IT!
d. We need to affirm only that which is truth.
In one of the courses I taught at Frontier I taught a series of principles that I found in an old book. The book has been updated a couple times by modern authors, but they did a Readers Digest version of it. Any way there was a man that wrote of the Seven Laws of Teaching. I always added an additional law. I always encouraged my students to never teach a principle that they had not already incorporated into their personal lives.
I think this would take care of some of the problems we have been talking about. If we are putting something into our own lives, we will be a little more careful to be sure it is truth.
3. I really don’t want to pick on the politicians, but I think if anyone with a reasonable mind would read this passage and then listen to some of the things these people say you will know why there is so much noise coming out of Washington these days.
4. If you hear anyone talking about the Old Testament Law be careful that they are not asking you to start following that Law as part of gaining or keeping your salvation. The Law has absolutely nothing to do with your salvation or keeping your salvation. Salvation is through the shed blood of Christ alone and nothing added.
5. Now, I couldn’t leave such a prime opportunity to speak of the radio and television ministers! Well, I think I will not say any more. We covered that previously!
Well maybe just one illustration: A couple years ago I saw a woman on television that had written a book on getting rid of your husband. At one point in the discussion she mentioned that God helped her write this book and that she just prayed that God would help women to get rid of that man in their bad marriage. That is of interest to me. A God that HATES DIVORCE helping a woman write a book on how to divorce a husband. HUMMMMMMMM!
This woman had the strong desire to teach other women. She had written a book on the subject. She did not really understand the truth of marriage or of God, and she set forth her error with full affirmation – A TRUE VAIN JANGLER I would think.
6. Another positive in this passage that we have not mentioned is that there are some that have swerved from correct teaching. They are in the minority, which should encourage us. Those of us that are in the majority must however be on the lookout for those that have or are in the process of leaving correct doctrine.
7. There is another thought that we have not covered. As you read the context, you will note that those swerving seem to be turning from the items listed in verse five – a pure heart, a clear conscience and a sincere faith. (“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and [of] a good conscience, and [of] faith unfeigned: 6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;”)
Might it be a good piece of application to encourage one another when we see someone that has in the past been strong in these three areas, but seems to be slipping in one or more of the areas? Say someone has always had a strong faith that God will take care of them, but has begun to worry about how they are going to make it in coming months.
To know when someone doesn’t have a pure heart or clear conscience is not easy, but I think you will see hints from their actions and activities of life. Maybe an encouraging word to consider these areas in theyre quite time with the Lord would help them to see your concern for them.
These passages are aimed at people that are really doing some false teaching. I have mentioned that these are in a minority but there is a reality that the run of the mill Christian can easily enter into these practices in small ways.
I received an email from a man that works among the military on a base in the east. He mentioned to me that he had prayed his way around the base for seven days. I am assuming that someone had told him to do as the Israelites did around Jericho.
Now praying isn’t wrong. Praying as you walk around the area where you want God to work is not wrong. However, God gave a promise to Joshua and the Israelites about Jericho and it had nothing to do with a military base and a missionary in the United States.
Since he gave me the impression that he was looking for something special to happen because he had done this I am confident that someone told him that God would bless his effort. Well God always blesses prayer and walking is good for the heart, but it does not follow that when you walk around a spot praying that God is going to do a miracle there.
We need to be very careful how we teach the Word and how we apply His word to our lives.
WE DON’T WANT TO BE VAIN TALKERS!
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
1:7 {6} Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
(6) There are none more unlearned, and more impudent in usurping the name of holiness, than foolish babblers, who reason fallaciously.