When you know trouble is coming, you can take the time to prepare yourself and be ready to face the difficulty. In the opening words of Colossians two, we find the apostle’s instructions on how to prepare to face clever but deceptive false teachers.

When Paul wrote this to Timothy, Elders had already been set apart at Ephesus. In Acts 20:29-30, Paul warned them that grievous wolves would cause trouble. We see that this had happened. The Elders seem to have been part of the problem. Were they tickling ears and allowing certain women to teach or exercise authority over men? With all that they needed a clear list of qualifications. This applies to all churches, even us today.