
1 Timothy 6:3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,
1 Timothy 6:4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,
1 Timothy 6:5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain,
It has been over a year since I have visited this chapter in relation to conditional security, and as we looked at that passage, we considered the influence the love of money may have on a believers faith. If of interest to review, I offer a link. Refer to Conditional Security – 1 Timothy 6:9-11
Regarding our passage today, Paul is discussing the importance of correct doctrine, or right teaching and it’s effects on both the teacher and the one taught.
This passage seems very appropriate due to my recent interactions with a close friend. As many of you may know, my daughter was baptized recently and this dear friend informed me that the ordinances of baptism (and the Lord’s supper) were never intended for the church we are a part of. Those commands, says he, were instructions for a Jewish church, a church that no longer exists. We are of a church that has instructions from Paul, and more specifically, the prison epistles. Nothing needed from John, Peter James, Luke or Mark, is needed for the church. Only Paul has authority in the church, since he received the last revelation, as my friend says, from the Lord in the Arabian desert.
Paul experienced this type of destructive teaching in his day, for he warned Timothy that there were those who would not agree with the sound words of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 6:3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,
It is simply amazing that a so called follower of Christ would reject Jesus teaching. Not only does Paul speak of the importance of the words of Christ, he adds additional teaching that is equal with the Lord’s instructions. He speaks of teaching “that accords with godliness”.
One short passage will suffice to provide a teaching that accords with godliness.
Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
One doctrine is to be taught from two sources, the words of Jesus and teaching that accords with godliness. It is self evident this “teaching that accords with godliness” is the accepted books of apostolic authority, based on the foundational Old Testament volumes. There was to be no separating, no dividing, no cutting up the Bible due to some desire to be better than those other “unwashed” ignorant average Christians. Conceit on the part of an erring teacher is the source of this error, at least humanely speaking.
Instead of seeking peace amongst the brethren, working towards a unity in the Body of Christ, a teaching that separates the words of the Lord Jesus from the teaching according to godliness has certain characteristics according to Paul
Characteristics of this teaching
Controversy
This is the Greek word ζήτησις zḗtēsis, and is commonly translated as controvery. Paul has much to say about the place of controversies in the church, especially for his men who were elders, overseeing the people of faith.
1 Timothy 1:4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.
2 Timothy 2:23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.
Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
It is interesting that in one additional verse we find this term “controverises” (translated as debate). It is the debate Peter and the men in Acts 15 were involved in.
Acts 15:7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
Peter, a take charge type of guy, brought the debate to a close, instructing those present of God’s direction, and not their thoughts! I like that. A man seeking to find unity by appealing to the words and works of God!
Regarding my recent discussions with my friend, every topic is controversial. He has the spirit of this teaching deeply embedded in this thinking about many, many topics
Quarrels about words
Logomachía λογομαχία. We can see the Greek for “word” in logos, with machia providing the root meaning of arguing, or trifling over empty or trifling matters. It makes me think of the “straining out of a gnat” image again, as we discussed in a recent post, only this time, related to teaching. These guys make a mountain out of a molehill, as my momma used to say. Major on the major items Carl!
What are the fruits of this teaching?
Envy
Teaching that accords with godliness does not produce envy, but informs the church to put it away, to reject envy as a way of thinking, as a way of life!
1 Peter 2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
Dissension
Again we see that the fruit of these conceited teachers are opposing the actual teaching of the apostles. Dissension is the same Greek word as quarreling in the following passage.
Romans 13:13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
Slander
This word surprised me, for the Greek word translated as “slander” is βλασφημία blasphēmía. I imagine Paul is referring to slandering others within the church, defaming their character, tearing down others in an effort to raise themselves up. This should not be surprising, since the fuel that keeps these teachers moving forward is conceit!
Of course, this teaching provides fuel for more and more fruit that the apostles directed the faithful from.
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Evil Suspicions
Are we not to love the brethren and care for those whom the Lord has died for? To have evil suspicions speaks of a mind that is puffed up, thinking the worst of others, prideful and suspicious.
Is this not antithetical to the command to love one another in a humble and giving nature? Relationships exist amongst trust and care, and cannot exist being fed a diet of suspicious thinking
Constant Frictions
Another result of this teaching is constant friction among the people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth! What a sad state of affairs, for due to this false teacher, this hair splitter who rejects the words of the Lord Jesus and those words that foster godly living, boasts he has greater truth, with the result bearing friction amongst his hearers.
In the end this teacher, out of the conceit in his heart and mind, seeks to stir up controversies, thrives on friction amongst his audience, and judges his success by the financial gain he acquires by destroying lives.
Now it seems obvious this type of teacher is not producing the fruits of the Spirit, and per the common teaching of the Word, may be identified by the works he does produce. As we have seen, each is not of the Spirit.
My question for my dear reader isn’t necessarily the salvation status of this teacher, for it may be safe to say he never knew the Lord, but what of the man who has known the Lord, followed after the Lord, and is now bedeviled by a fractious, divider of the word and of the church?
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