What is a Fable?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a fable is:

“A short story that tells a general truth or is only partly based on fact.”

In other words, fables are not the pure Word of God—they mix truth with fiction, leading people away from sound doctrine.

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Paul’s Warning to Timothy

“As I urged you… that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.”
1 Timothy 1:3–4 (NKJV)

Lesson: God’s Word edifies. Fables cause confusion and division.

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The Charge to Preach the Word

Paul continues with a solemn command:

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine… and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
2 Timothy 4:1–5 (NKJV)

📌 Notice the contrast:

• Fables = lies that distract.
• The Word = truth that transforms.

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Conclusion

• ✅ The Word of God brings godly edification.
• ❌ Fables bring confusion and disputes.
• 🙌 The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”
Romans 1:16–17 (NKJV)