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Amplified Bible

1 Timothy 1:7

wanting to be teachers of the Law [of Moses], even though they do not understand the terms they use or the subjects about which they make [such] confident declarations.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Doctor;   Doctrines;   Minister, Christian;   Strife;   Vanity;   Scofield Reference Index - Satan;   Thompson Chain Reference - False;   Leaders;   Religious;   Teacher, Divine;   The Topic Concordance - Teaching;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Vanity;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Church;   Elder;   Ephesus;   Gifts of the spirit;   Pastor;   Teacher;   Timothy, letters to;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Education in Bible Times;   Woman;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Atonement;   Ministry, Gospel;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - John the Apostle;   Timothy, the First Epistle to;   Holman Bible Dictionary - 1 Timothy;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Timothy, Epistles to;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Confidence;   Doctor (2);   Lawyer;   Timothy;   Timothy and Titus Epistles to;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Confidence;   Zenas;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for November 24;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on.
King James Version (1611)
Desiring to bee teachers of the Law, vnderstading neither what they say, nor whereof they affirme.
King James Version
Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
English Standard Version
desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
New American Standard Bible
wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
New Century Version
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand either what they are talking about or what they are sure about.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
Legacy Standard Bible
wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
Berean Standard Bible
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert.
Contemporary English Version
They want to be teachers of the Law of Moses. But they don't know what they are talking about, even though they think they do.
Complete Jewish Bible
They want to be teachers of Torah, but they understand neither their own words nor the matters about which they make such emphatic pronouncements.
Darby Translation
desiring to be law-teachers, not understanding either what they say or concerning what they [so] strenuously affirm.
Easy-to-Read Version
They want to be teachers of the law, but they don't know what they are talking about. They don't even understand the things they say they are sure of.
Geneva Bible (1587)
They would be doctours of the Law, and yet vnderstande not what they speake, neither whereof they affirme.
George Lamsa Translation
Desiring to be teachers of the law; not understanding what they speak, nor even whereof they argue.
Good News Translation
They want to be teachers of God's law, but they do not understand their own words or the matters about which they speak with so much confidence.
Lexham English Bible
wanting to be teachers of the law, although they do not understand either the things which they are saying or the things concerning which they are speaking confidently.
Literal Translation
wishing to be teachers of law, neither understanding what they say, nor about that which they confidently affirm.
American Standard Version
desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm.
Bible in Basic English
Desiring to be teachers of the law, though they have no knowledge of what they say or of the statements which they make so certainly.
Hebrew Names Version
desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor about what they strongly affirm.
International Standard Version
They want to be teachers of the law, yet they do not understand either what they are talking about or the things about which they speak so confidently.1 Timothy 6:4;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
seeking to become teachers of the law, while they understand not what they speak, nor that concerning which they contend.
Murdock Translation
because they wished to be teachers of the law, while they understood not what they speak, nor the thing about which they contend.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Couetyng to be doctours of the lawe, not vnderstandyng what they speake, neither wherof they affirme.
English Revised Version
desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm.
World English Bible
desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor about what they strongly affirm.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither the things they say, nor those concerning which they confidently affirm.
Weymouth's New Testament
They are ambitious to be teachers of the Law, although they do not understand either their own words or what the things are about which they make such confident assertions.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and willith to be techeris of the lawe, and vndurstonden not what thingis thei speken, nether of what thingis thei affermen.
Update Bible Version
desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm.
Webster's Bible Translation
Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor concerning what they affirm.
New English Translation
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently.
New King James Version
desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
New Living Translation
They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don't know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.
New Life Bible
Some of them want to be teachers of the Law. But they do not know what they are talking about even if they act as if they do.
New Revised Standard
desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Desiring to be law-teachers, - not understanding, either what they say or whereof they confidently affirm.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Desiring to be teachers of the law: understanding neither the things they say, nor whereof they affirm.
Revised Standard Version
desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
because they wolde be doctours the scripture and yet vnderstonde not what they speake nether wherof they affirme.
Young's Literal Translation
willing to be teachers of law, not understanding either the things they say, nor concerning what they asseverate,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
wyllinge to be doctours of the scripture, and vnderstonde not what they speake, nether wherof they affirme.
Mace New Testament (1729)
pretending to be doctors of the law, tho' they neither understand what they advance, nor upon what it is founded.
Simplified Cowboy Version
They say they are "teachers of the Code", but they don't know anything more'n a fencepost. They talk big, but they ain't got no salt to back it up.

Contextual Overview

5But the goal of our instruction is love [which springs] from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6Some individuals have wandered away from these things into empty arguments and useless discussions, 7wanting to be teachers of the Law [of Moses], even though they do not understand the terms they use or the subjects about which they make [such] confident declarations.8Now we know [without any doubt] that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully and appropriately, 9understanding the fact that law is not enacted for the righteous person [the one in right standing with God], but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinful, for the irreverent and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10for sexually immoral persons, for homosexuals, for kidnappers and slave traders, for liars, for perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

to: Acts 15:1, Romans 2:19-21, Galatians 3:2, Galatians 3:5, Galatians 4:21, Galatians 5:3, Galatians 5:4, Titus 1:10, Titus 1:11

understanding: 1 Timothy 6:4, Isaiah 29:13, Isaiah 29:14, Jeremiah 8:8, Jeremiah 8:9, Matthew 15:14, Matthew 21:27, Matthew 23:16-24, John 3:9, John 3:10, John 9:40, John 9:41, Romans 1:22, 2 Timothy 3:7, 2 Peter 2:12

Reciprocal: Job 32:12 - behold Job 38:2 - General Colossians 2:18 - intruding 2 Timothy 1:11 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 1:8
God called the expanse [of sky] heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.
Genesis 1:9
Then God said, "Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place [of standing, pooling together], and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.
Genesis 1:11
So God said, "Let the earth sprout [tender] vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit according to (limited to, consistent with) their kind, whose seed is in them upon the earth"; and it was so.
Genesis 1:15
and let them be useful as lights in the expanse of the heavens to provide light on the earth"; and it was so, [just as He commanded].
Genesis 1:24
Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to (limited to, consistent with) their kind: livestock, crawling things, and wild animals of the earth according to their kinds"; and it was so [because He had spoken them into creation].
Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth."
Genesis 1:29
So God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of the entire earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;
Job 26:8
"He wraps the waters in His clouds [which otherwise would spill on earth all at once], And the cloud does not burst under them.
Psalms 104:10
You send springs into the valleys; Their waters flow among the mountains.
Psalms 148:4
Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters above the heavens!

Gill's Notes on the 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 2 Timothy 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 Allen’s “Modern Judaism.”

Clarke's 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 Genesis 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.


 
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