The culture in Ephesus in the first century when Paul wrote Timothy in 62 AD had books (or, scrolls of papyrus and parchment) available, but not everyone had access to them and not everyone could read. So, it was necessary that the church leaders devoted the church service to “the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.”

Paul says that the Spirit makes it clear that the church’s future will include leaders and members who “will abandon the faith.” The word “faith” here is used to refer to the teaching of scripture or the healthy Christian doctrine that comes from the text of scripture.   Paul says that the Holy Spirit had revealed that instead of public reading of Scripture, preaching of Scripture and teaching of Scripture church leaders who had seared their souls or, calloused their hearts in order to justify their behavior,  would present alternative teaching which source was demons and spirits of deception.

Paul gives Timothy two options for the future of church’s key role, which is instruction or teaching (since the Christian religion is a religion of the book more than any other religion, other than Judaism). The church will read, preach and teach from Scripture, or the church will not. When they do not they will end up preaching doctrines of deceiving spirits and teachings of demons. Paul does not seem to give the church middle ground concerning their source of instruction.