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The word `fable' occurs only five times in the whole of the N.T., four of them being in
the Pastoral Epistles. Three of these are warnings to `refuse' or not to `heed' these fables,
which are described as `ministering questions' (I Tim. 1: 4), "profane and old wives'
(perhaps `silly' or `trifling') fables" (I Tim. 4: 7), and classified as `Jewish' coupled with
`commandments of men' are said to `turn from the truth' (Titus 1: 14). `Silly' they may
be, but they are not to be treated lightly: the consequences of trifling with them are far
too serious! It is easy to pour scorn upon the views held by some, but the fact that they
are held, and in consequence the truth is being rejected, should remind us of the serious
character of even the `silliest' fable. To some it may seem of small import that there are
those who believe in `the immortality of the soul', the important thing being that they
trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Yet here is a fable which `ministers
questions, rather than godly edifying', a fable which `turns from the truth' in that it is part
of Satan's original lie: "Ye shall not surely die" (Gen. 3: 4), in direct contradiction of
God's clear statement "Ye shall surely die" (Gen. 2: 17).
Against such background of the Lie, aspects of which may from time to time
appear rather trifling, Timothy is exhorted `Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine'
(I Tim. 4: 16), "Hold fast the form of sound words" (II Tim. 1: 13), rightly to divide the
word of truth (II Tim. 2: 15), "continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and
hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them" (II Tim. 3: 14), and in
II Tim. 4: 2:
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine."
The emphasis is clear: `doctrine', `the form of sound words', `the word of truth', `the
things which thou hast learned', `the word'. Similarly Titus is told to `speak thou the
things which become sound doctrine'. In terms of our subject all these injunctions could
be summed up `love the truth'.
Timothy is bidden `preach the word; be instant in season, out of season'. Proclaim
the word: be a herald of the word, give public notice of it. Timothy was not to hide his
light under a bushel! He was to make it known publicly. He was to be instant, the Greek
word is ephistemi: stand upon, stand by. This in contrast to those who depart (aphistemi)
from the faith (I Tim. 4: 1). The New English Bible (N.E.B.) translates:
"proclaim the message, press it home on all occasions, convenient or inconvenient."
Moffatt renders it:
"preach the word; keep at it in season and out of season."
There were those who did, and those who would `stand apart from' the faith and the
Word; but these were of those who `received not the love of the truth'. Those who
receive the love of the truth will take their stand upon the Word, and stand by it at all
times regardless of personal convenience.
The faithful proclamation of the Word is with purpose: