What does the concept of “entropy” have to do with Paul’s letter to Timothy?
Entropy can be defined basically as a thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system’s thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system. Basically it describes a lack of order or predictability, gradually declining from order to disorder.
Basically: stuff stops working.
This is a concept that is constantly discussed in the Bible, at least in terms of spiritual health. God’s people as a whole seem to constantly battle entropy, gradually sliding away from God and into idolatry, worldliness, indifference, and as Paul warns Timothy, false teaching.
Paul’s warning is laced throughout the book of 1 Timothy, from his first warnings in the first chapter: “instruct not to teach strange doctrines … which give rise to mere speculations rather than a furthering of the administration of God.” God’s people have a history of not being content with what God has revealed to them, determined to fill in the gaps, or even expound on or modify scriptural teaching based on their own speculations, ideas, or preferences.
Paul warns Timothy that as an evangelist, his role is to guard the truth of God’s word zealously, not to allow it to be distorted, constantly ready to correct when teachers attempt to inject their own thoughts and theories into the gospel message. The Bible extends that responsibility not just to the leaders in the Lord’s church, but into each individual Christian.
Our goal as Christians should be glorifying God in everything we do. That includes preserving as best we can the church, which is the body of Jesus Christ, established through the “manifold wisdom of God.”