How do you avoid the fables of the world (1 Timothy 4-6)

1 Timothy 4:13

Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.

The last verse of 1 Timothy is as follows:

1 Timothy 6:20

O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”—

Paul is writing to Timothy to warn him about the false teaching that was infiltrating the church.  He wanted to make sure that Timothy held strong to the things he was taught, by Paul, to keep the church pure from this false doctrine.  In the above verse 4:13, Paul gives Timothy a formula for avoiding the false teachers of the day.   But, before looking deeper into that verse, not a few verses prior and Paul's warning:

1 Timothy 4:7

But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;

It is evident that Paul was concerned about the false teaching (typically "Gnosticism") that was creeping into the church as a way to be godly in this life, but was absent a walk in the Spirit, with Christ.   That is why Paul gives Timothy the instruction in verse thirteen, above.  He tells Timothy to be sure to do three things, while leading the church.    The first is the plain and simply habit of reading the Scripture.  This would be highly in step with the Jewish believers norm, as in the Synagogue it was typical to read long portions of the Old Testament to those who were in attendance.   Reading the Scripture is the first and foundational step to assuring we are not lead astray by the silly, false, but persuasive arguments of the world.   The second step is found in the word "exhortation".   The minister of God (Timothy) is not to be beating up the sheep.  The are to be exhorting them.  The word means to come along beside and to encourage them to allow the Spirit of God to work in their lives via the Scripture.   They are not their to hammer them and beat them daily.  They are to come along side exhorting them to move forward in their faith, by the Spirit ... not by their own efforts ... that would be the fables of the world Paul is warning about.   The third step in the process is teaching doctrine.   The difference between step two and three is the both the purpose and the method.   Exhortation is practical use of the Scriptures for day-to-day living.   Teaching is doctrinal use of the Scriptures for a deeper understanding of who God is and what His plan is all about.  One is practical and one is cognitive ... both are essential.  One tells you how to do the walk and the other why to do the walk.    Perhaps, however, they both tell you how and why.   There is symmetrical work between the two.   The key here is to realize that the fight against fables is found in the proper instruction in the Scriptures.  Failure to teach them and use them properly makes the walk for Christ dangerously close to falling into the trap of the world's silly fables.