Guarding the Truth in Love
As Christians it is important that we recognize the difference between truth and error. We must be discerning. We can’t believe everything We hear. We can’t follow everyone who speaks. We can’t trust all sources.We must know God's Word, the Truth and we must be willing to stand up for it. However we must always remember that our message must be characterized and motivated by love. The truth must be presented, but it must be presented in love.
In this passage Paul urges Timothy to rebuke and restore those in the Ephesian church who were teaching false doctrine. Paul loves this church and he longs for the church to be protected from wrong teaching and to be restored, but he is also concerned about the means of restoration. He reminds Timothy that the message must be a message that is characterized and motivated by love.