"[20] O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: [21] Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. - 1 Timothy 6:20-21
I. "Science" [Greek /gnosis/ meaning "knowledge", "doctrine", or "wisdom"]
I.A. We can equate "knowledge" these days to "certificates", "degrees", "PhD"s, "ThD"s, "DMin"s, "MDiv"s, and the like. They 'appear' to have knowledge. But we are told to "study" everything in the light of Scripture (2 Timothy 2:15).
I.A.1. People earn degrees, people have them, but what do they know?
I.A.2. Is God at the center of their knowledge? Is there no good thing in 'my' flesh? Is Christ my sufficiency? Is Christ the need of mankind? Of sinners? Is Christ the ONLY path to salvation, forgiveness, eternal life? Did God create the heaven and the earth? How those who possess "knowledge" answer these questions will tell us what kind of "knowledge" they possess. And, it is this knowledge ("science") that Paul addresses to his "son" (in the faith) Timothy as Paul prepares his exit from this world..
I.A.2.a. Paul says, "Timothy, what I told and taught you ("committed") you; keep it!
I.A.2.a.i. And, avoid (turn aside from, remove yourself from) the profane (unspiritual, godless, worldly), vain babblings (empty, worthless gibberish), and oppositions (antithesis, contradictions, arguments) of false (bad, poor, erroneous, deceptive) science (knowledge, doctrine, wisdom).
I.A.1.b. Paul continues to say, "Avoid this false knowledge because some who subscribe to it, who believe it, who trust it, have 'missed (the mark of)' the faith of God in Christ.
