1 Timothy 1:3

I want you to stay in Ephesus. Timothy was not a "bishop" in the modern sense, but a teaching evangelist (compare note on Ephesians 4:11). It was his mission to teach the new Christians, to appoint church leaders (elders), to train workers, and to oppose false doctrines. You must order them to stop. This must refer to the circumcision party in the church, since Timothy would have no authority over outsiders. Paul does not mention the names of these people, but Timothy knows them. He is to put a stop to their false teaching!