In Paul’s final chapter of 1 Timothy, he returns to the original topic of the letter, the need for Timothy to address the false teachers that are infiltrating the Ephesian church.
You can see this week’s passage in 1 Timothy 6:3-5:
The Problems
Paul has just instructed Timothy to teach “these things,” in verse two. In contrast to that command, the next portion of his letter address the false teachings that have permeated his entire letter. This teaching is different from what Timothy is to stand firm upon, because it “does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Nor does it conform to “godly teaching.” Paul’s word “sound” literally means “healthy.” In other words, Timothy is to provide doctrine that promotes spiritual health. The false teachers are not doing so. These false teachers are not promoting a life of reverence or worship to God; in fact, what they are teaching is just the opposite, and have abandoned the truth of the gospel of Christ. This is their underlying error.
The Teachers
Paul describes these false teachers. First, they are conceited, having been blinded from the truth. They understand nothing. While they are full of themselves and think that they have received a special knowledge, they are really simply self-important and lack any real spiritual understanding of the gospel. In fact, the NEB translates this as “pompous ignoramus.”
Second, they have an “unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words.” Sound teaching is not what these false teachers are interested in. Rather, their attention is given to a morbid fascination to unhealthy controversies, a sickness, which Paul refers to as ignorant and foolish in Titus 3:9 and 2 Timothy 2:23. These quarrels are a result of what began as idle speculations in 1:4.
The Results
The actions and attitudes of these false teachers has serious consequences. First, it leads to an unhealthy spiritual community. Their heretical teachings lead to envy and jealousy, strife and discord. Malicious talk and slander are rampant, and we can assume that other sins of the tongue occur as well, such as gossip and others.
The second result applies to these men themselves. Their minds have turned to evil suspicions and conjectures, leading to constant friction and continual problems. These are obvious results of a ruined and corrupted mind.
The Reasons
Finally, Paul gives two reasons why these men behave in such a way.
First, they have been “robbed of the truth.” They have been without truth for so long that now they are reaping the consequences of living a life without the truth.
And second, they think that “godliness is a means to financial gain.” Constant preoccupation with money and materialism are not good qualities for a leader. Paul warned about this behavior in chapter 3, and again in Titus 1:7 and 11. In fact, he stated in 1 Thessalonians 2:5 that his purpose in ministry is not to profit financially, but to serve Christ. But from his statement here, it seems that many of these false teachers have been using their positions as church leaders to gain financial increase. Paul’s advice to Timothy is to strongly warn the church of these leaders and to oppose them with solid, scriptural teaching.
The problem of greed demonstrated by the false teachers that Paul will spend the next few verses expanding upon it and giving it some special attention.
His intent here has been to contrast sound teaching from false teaching, and godly leaders from false teachers. The believers in Timothy’s church have come to know the truth (2:4, 4:3), but these false teachers have abandoned that truth for their own gain.
These few short verses are a study in contrasts with the solid teaching that Paul has given throughout this letter. My prayer is that we haven’t blinded ourselves to the solid teaching of Scripture, and that we hold fast to the truth of the gospel, just as Paul encourages Timothy to do.
What other contrasts between the false teachers and sound doctrine can you see in these verses? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.