虛謊教導的危險
提摩太前書一章15至20節
15“基督耶穌降世，為要拯救罪人。”這話是可信的，是十分可佩服的。在罪人中我是個罪魁。
16然而我蒙了憐憫，是因耶穌基督要在我這罪魁身上顯明他一切的忍耐，給後來信他得永生的人作榜樣。
17但願尊貴、榮耀歸與那不能朽壞、不能看見、永世的君王、獨一的神，直到永永遠遠。阿們！
18我兒提摩太啊，我照從前指著你的預言，將這命令交託你，叫你因此可以打那美好的仗，
19常存信心和無虧的良心；有人丟棄良心，就在真道上如同船破壞了一般。
20其中有許米乃和亞歷山大，我已經把他們交給撒但，使他們受責罰，就不再謗瀆了。
信息分享
保羅在第19至20節提及的人，顯然是以弗所教會的重要成員。曾幾何時，他們是熱心的基督徒，按時參加教會崇拜，與其他信徒一同敬拜。不過，當我們翻到提摩太後書二章18節，便知道他們已「偏離了真道」。他們不再為基督作見證，反而逐漸離棄真道，更開始傳播虛謊的教導，特別指出復活的事已成為過去。
虛謊的教導很容易吸引人。一些新奇的學說，總是很受歡迎。腓力思將提摩太後書二章17節意譯為：假教師「如同溶血的毒藥，又如傷口流出來的濃。」
教會一旦要處理虛謊教導的問題，便很容易在信徒中間造成分裂；這也正是許多教會分裂的原因。但保羅的立場非常堅定。他說：「我已經把他們交給撒但，使他們受責罰就不再謗瀆了。」這句話我們今天或許很難明白，卻並非過分嚴厲。它可能表示保羅要將他們逐出教會，或至少在某段期間停止他們的會友資格，直至他們悔改。虛謊教導的問題必須嚴正處理，教會必須對傳播虛謊教導的人執行紀律。
上述二人的教訓和保羅在第19節給提摩太的提醒，就是要「常存信心」，並在生活中保持無虧的良心。我們只要保守自己常在基督裡，並且倚靠聖靈，聖靈就會帶領我們避免離棄真道的危險。
THE DANGER OF FALSE TEACHING
1 Timothy 1: 15-20
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,
20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Message
The two men mentioned in verses 19 and 20 obviously were prominent in the church at Ephesus. They must have been keen Christians at one time regularly attending the services of the church and joining in worship with other believers. But when we put 2 Timothy 2:18 alongside the reference here, we see that they “wandered away from the truth.” It seems that instead of witnessing for Christ, they had gradually drifted further and further away and had begun spreading false teaching, particularly about the resurrection being past already.
The problem with false teaching is that it often attracts others. Something new, something novel will always appeal to people. J. B. Phillips paraphrases 2 Timothy 2:17 in this way; false teachers are “dangerous as blood poisoning to the blood and spread like sepsis from a wound.”
False teaching is never easy to deal with without causing division. Many churches have been split over it. But Paul was very firm. The words “I have handed (them) over to Satan that they might learn not to blaspheme” could not be stronger although they are difficult to interpret today. It could mean that Paul was excommunicating them or at least putting them out of the membership of the church for a stated period until they repented. It is clear that false teaching must be dealt with and the persons concerned disciplined.
The lesson for us from the example of these two men and Paul’s words to Timothy is found in verse 19 - we need to “hold on to the faith” and to preserve a clean conscience in daily living. The Holy Spirit will enable us to do this if we will allow Him and will keep us true to Christ.