In classical Greek, mythos simply meant 'word' or 'story,' but by the time of the Pastoral Epistles it had acquired a distinctly pejorative edge. Paul warns Timothy against 'myths and endless genealogies' (1 Tim 1:4), contrasts godly training with 'profane old wives' myths' (1 Tim 4:7), and predicts people will 'turn aside to myths' rather than endure sound teaching (2 Tim 4:4). Titus must rebuke those devoted to 'Jewish myths' (Titus 1:14). Peter insists the apostles did not follow 'cleverly devised myths' (2 Pet 1:16). The German 'Fabel' and Spanish 'mitos' both capture this sense of fabricated, misleading narrative.