More Attributes of False Teachers 1 Timothy 6:5

Paul the apostle knew of men who taught ideas other than “wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ”. He knew they did not teach “the doctrine which is according to godliness”, and he desired for Timothy to know that the characteristics of those who did so. They were “proud”, “knowing nothing”, “doting about questions and strife”, and filled with “railings” and “evil surmisings”. In chapter six and verse five of his letter to Timothy, Paul continued his list of wicked attributes of those who taught other than the “words of Jesus” where we read:

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth,

supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw yourself.

The verse begins, “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth,...” Paul continued with, “Perverse disputings” which means “constant contention, incessant wrangling, useless occupation and empty business” “of men” which refers to “males or females” “of corrupt” or “destroyed, ruined, consumed and changed for the worse” “minds” which refers to “the intellectual faculties of perceiving and understanding and those of feeling, judging, determining and considering”. Paul added, “and destitute” which is the Greek word “apostereō” and means “defrauded, robbed, despoiled” “of the truth” or “what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man which includes moral and religious truth”. No doubt Paul the apostle did not think much of these who taught other than the words of Jesus.

The verse goes on to say, “... supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw yourself.” Paul continued his list with, “supposing” or “holding by, owning as and following a custom or usage; to deem or think” “that gain” which means “acquisition, furnishing, procuring and money-getting” “is godliness” or “reverence, respect and piety towards God”. These heretical teachers believed that their acquisition of money and extensive gathering of material possessions demonstrated to others their level of respect toward God. Paul instructed, “from such” which means “from such as these or of this kind or sort” “withdraw yourself” or “stand off, remove, excite, revolt, stand aloof, go away, depart, shun, flee, and be absent” from the presence of these people.

While we meditate upon these words of Paul, we can see the seriousness of Paul's thoughts toward these false teachers. Paul wanted Timothy to be no where near these people. Many of them thought their affluence in the world demonstrated their level of “godliness” and their ability to bring about “disputings” showed their intellectual prowess. However, they were incessantly deceived because they had “corrupt minds” which were “ruined, destroyed and changed for the worse”. One thing is for certain, we do not want to be as these heretical teachers, and should we encounter anyone who demonstrates their characteristics, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us “shun, flee and be absent” from anything to do with them.

Next time Paul shares from where true contentment comes, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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