Paul the
apostle gave Timothy some final instructions concerning those who
“teach otherwise, and consent not to
wholesome words, even
the words of our Lord Jesus Christ”, and in
chapter six and verse four of his letter to Timothy, Paul shared the
characteristics of those who taught in such a manner. We read:
He is
proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of
words,
whereof
comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
The verse begins, “He
is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of
words,...” Paul began with,
“He is proud”
which literally means “to raise a smoke or to wrap in a
mist” and refers to when a person is “insolent, haughty, blind
with conceit, rendered foolish or stupid, beclouded and besotted”.
Paul continued, “knowing nothing” or “acquainted with
and understanding nobody, no one or no thing”. Paul added, “but”
which means what is about to be stated takes precedence over what was
just stated, “doting about” or “sick and with an ailment
of the mind or to be taken with such an interest in a thing as
amounts to a disease and having a morbid fondness” “about
questions” or “debate, controversy, disputes and inquiries”
“and strifes of words” which means “contending about
words and wrangling about empty and trifling matters”. In other
words, those who are in opposition to the “wholesome words...of
our Lord Jesus Christ” are prideful, without understanding, and
consistently sick in their minds about empty matters.
The verse goes on to
say, “whereof comes envy, strife,
railings, evil surmisings,...” Paul
continued his evaluation of these heretics with, “whereof”
or “out of, from or by which” “comes
envy” or
“results in bitterness, gall and rancor” “strife”
or “contention and wrangling” “railings”
which is the Greek word “blasphēmia”
from
which we get our English word “blaspheme” and means
“slander, detraction, speech injurious
to another's good name; impious and reproachful speech injurious to
divine majesty” and finally “evil
surmisings” which means “bad natured
guessing, conjecture, speculation and concluding”. These who do not
teach “wholesome words...of our Lord Jesus
Christ” produce “bitterness, contention,
slander and evil speculation” within those who follow their words.
While we think
on these words of Paul, let us allow ourselves to see the importance
of following the “words of our Lord Jesus Christ” rather
than the teachings of false ideas. Too often the entrance of
“worldly” and “fleshly” minded words have influenced people
to trust in their own thoughts or the thoughts of a heretic rather
than the words of our Lord Jesus. One of the best litmus tests for
the words and ideas that are presented to us is to examine the fruit
they produce. Do they cause “envy, strife, railings or evil
surmisings” or do they produce the fruit of the Spirit, “love,
joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, kindness, faith and
temperance”? May the Lord Jesus help us to be good stewards of
His words, and may we know the difference between His words and those
that lead people astray from a relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Next
time Paul shares more characteristics of these who teach “other
than the words of Christ”, so read ahead, and we shall join
together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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