1 Timothy 1:3-7 (WEB)
3 As I urged you when I was going into Macedonia, stay at Ephesus that you might command certain men not to teach a different doctrine,
4 and not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause disputes, rather than God’s stewardship, which is in faith—
5 but the goal of this command is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith;
6 from which things some, having missed the mark, have turned away to vain talking;
7 desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor about what they strongly affirm.

In verse 3 we see that there are people who teach different doctrine. The question here is what is the different doctrine?

During this time there were many people converted from Judaism and there were disputed about following the law: circumcision, washings, sacrifices, various traditions passed on, etc.. There are also many other things that are contrary to and go against sound doctrine such as listed by Paul in verse 4 and also in 1 Timothy 1:9-10 “(WEB) as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, [10] for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;”

Therefore the council decided to clarify this and sent a letter to the gentile churches.

”Acts 15:23-29 (WEB) They wrote these things by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings. [24] Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment; [25] it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, [26] men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. [27] We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth. [28] For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: [29] that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.””

There are also other doctrines that crept in that where taught by some (wolfs in sheep clothing). There are so many examples given in the New Testament example:

• “Matthew 24:11-12 (WEB) Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray. [12] Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold.”
• “Matthew 24:4-5 (WEB) Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. [5] For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.”
• “Matthew 15:8-9 (WEB) ‘These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. [9] And in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrine rules made by men.’””
• “Acts 20:28-31 (WEB) Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. [29] For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. [30] Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. [31] Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.”
• “Revelation 2:2 (WEB) “I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can’t tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false.”
• “Revelation 2:6 (WEB) But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”
• “Revelation 2:20 (WEB) But I have this against you, that you tolerate your woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.”

In short it is anything that is contrary to the truth.

Therefore let us be encouraged to not be mislead, tricked, deceived,.. but to be watchful and know, understand and obey the gosple (in its simplicity) and sound doctrine such as listed in Hebrews 6:1-2 (WEB) “Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let’s press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, [2] of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”

If there are people in our our midst, who teach a different doctrine, lets follow Paul’s instructions to Timothy and command them (in love and not get in anger or hate) not to teach these doctrines. We will look at the other verses in later devotions.

To continue on this topic have a look at the devotion of Paying Attention To