1 Timothy 6:3-5
Scripture
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness
Doctrine
The word “doctrine” appears often in the pastoral epistles, in particular in 1 Timothy. The Greek word for “doctrine” is διδασκαλία (did-as-kal-ee’-ah), which means “properly applied teaching” or “teaching as it applies to lifestyle [1].” Paul is concerned with proper doctrine.
In what three ways did Paul describe doctrine in this verse?
Paul described doctrine as (a) wholesome words, (b) the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and (c) that which accords with godliness. First, doctrine should be wholesome. The Greek word for wholesome — ὑγιαίνω (hoog-ee-ah’-ee-no) — literally means healthy, free from any debilitation, or uncorrupt [2]. And how does a person guarantee that doctrine is wholesome? This is Paul’s second point: doctrine should consist of the words of Jesus Christ. In other words, doctrine should come from the Bible (both Old and New Testaments, with the New Testament used to elucidate the Old as needed [17]). Third, doctrine should produce godliness, i.e., proper reverence for and response to the things of God [3].
If what? What two problems about doctrine did Paul identify in this verse?
First, some people (and it potentially could be anyone) “teach otherwise.” The Greek word for “teach otherwise” is ἑτεροδιδασκαλέω (het-er-od-id-as-kal-eh’-o) — it’s clearly related to διδασκαλία (did-as-kal-ee’-ah) and literally means to “teach different doctrine [4].” Paul is a proponent of doctrine, but an opponent of different doctrine. This is an obvious play on words in the Greek text that is lost in some but not all translations into English.
Second, some people do not “consent” to wholesome words, i.e., some people do not draw near to and agree with doctrine (to the words of the Lord Jesus Christ).
What are the characteristics of a person who suffers from either of these problems?
he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words
Ouch.
Proud
The Greek word here — τυφόω (toof-o’-o) — literally means to envelope in smoke [5], which figuratively is indicative of “moral blindness resulting from poor judgment which brings further loss of spiritual perception” [6]. People who don’t consent to the words of Christ and/or who teach different doctrine are in a moral cloud.
Knowing Nothing
The Greek word here is ἐπίσταμαι (ep-is’-tam-ahee), which refers to knowledge gained by prolonged, sustained, personal effort and acquaintance [7]. People who don’t consent to the words of Christ know nothing, have no significant familiarity with, and apparently haven’t even made a decent effort to learn, about spiritual matters and how to apply said truth to godly living.
but is obsessed
The word translated as obsessed is νοσέω (nos-eh’-o), which literally means to be diseased of the mind or spiritually [8]. In other words, while the doctrine in (or might I say revealed in) the Bible consists of wholesome (healthy) words, different doctrine is the product of someone who is mentally and/or spiritually diseased! This disease is referred to in other translations as an unhealthy interest (NIV), unhealthy desire (NLT), unhealthy craving (ESV), or morbid interest (NASB). With what is said person diseased?
with disputes and arguments over words
Said person is diseased with “quibbl(ing) over the meaning of words (NLT).” Paul later wrote to Timothy to “remind (people) of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers (2 Timothy 2:14).”
What is the fruit of this disease of controversies and quibbling over the meaning of words?
from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings
While true doctrine results in godliness and godly edification (1 Timothy 1:4), different doctrine has the opposite effect. It creates:
• Envy. This is ill-will, spite, or even “the miserable trait of being glad when someone experiences misfortune or pain [9,10].”
• Strife. Strife indeed means strife [11]!
• Reviling. This literally means blaspheming [12]. Blasphemy was a major problem with Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Timothy 1:20), and a potential consequence of Christian slaves who failed to properly honor their masters (1 Timothy 6:1).
• Evil suspicions. These are those “hidden thoughts” [13] which malign someone’s motives or character.
• Useless wranglings. This has also been translated as “constant frictions [14].”
In other words, this disease of different doctrine has much fruit which destroys relationships and divides the body of Christ.
How else did Paul describe these diseased people?
of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth
This disease of the mind is one of corruption, i.e., in which the person is thoroughly corrupt, morally depraved, totally degenerate [15]. The Greek word for destitute indicates that “someone or something pulled (these diseased people) away from the truth [16],” or that the truth was pulled away from them by someone or something. There are basically three possibilities for said someone or something:
God. For there are those who “do not receive the love of the truth” for whom “God will send … strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).”
Satan. Some people are like a well-trodden path. “When they hear (the wholesome doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ), Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts (Mark 4:15b).”
Themselves. Yes, themselves. For “each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:14-15).” For example, these men of diseased minds are those …
who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
In other words, there are depraved men with the mental disease of different doctrine who do what they do in the church for the primary purpose of material gain. They likely “desire to be (materially) rich (1 Timothy 6:9)” and suffer from the “love of money (1 Timothy 6:10).”
How should a Christian, in particular a Christian leader, deal with such men?
From such withdraw yourself.
Withdraw. Stay away from them. And if needed, deliver them “to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme (1 Timothy 1:20).” That is, if needed, excommunicate them from the church.
Readers of translations not based on the Textus Receptus (such as the NIV, ESV and NASB) will note that this command to “withdraw yourself” from depraved men of diseased minds doesn’t appear at the end of 1 Timothy 6:5. So, is this command in dispute? No. For elsewhere where Paul writes of such people he similarly commands (2 Timothy 3:5):
“From such people turn away (NKJV)!”
“Stay away from people like that (NLT)!”
“Avoid such people (ESV).”
“Avoid such men as these (NASB).”
“Have nothing to do with such people (NIV).”
Application
There exists a “disease of different doctrine” in the world, and it affects many teachers in the church. Therefore, protect yourself and those whom you love: regularly imbibe sound doctrine; read, meditate on and apply the Bible to daily living! If you believe that you know of a teacher in your church community with said disease, humbly discuss your concerns with your local church leaders. But be open to the possibility that your understanding of the person and/or his apparently different doctrine is incorrect. However, if your understanding is correct, further action may be necessary, such as public discipline of the diseased teacher by the local church leaders (1 Timothy 5:20). If your understanding is correct, and all local church leaders are afflicted with the same disease, then I recommend that you leave your local church and find a body of Christ that is committed to the wholesome words of the Lord Jesus Christ.
End Notes
[1] http://biblesuite.com/greek/1319.htm
[2] http://biblehub.com/greek/5198.htm
[3] http://biblehub.com/greek/2150.htm
[4] http://biblehub.com/greek/2085.htm
[5] http://studybible.info/strongs/G5187
[6] http://biblehub.com/greek/5187.htm
[7] http://biblehub.com/greek/1987.htm
[8] http://biblehub.com/greek/3552.htm
[9] http://studybible.info/strongs/G5355
[10] http://biblehub.com/greek/5355.htm
[11] http://biblehub.com/greek/2054.htm
[12] http://biblehub.com/greek/988.htm
[13] http://studybible.info/strongs/G5283
[14] http://biblehub.com/interlinear/1_timothy/6-5.htm
[15] http://biblehub.com/greek/1311.htm
[16] MacArthur [ii], p.244.
[17] For example, with respect to observance of Sabbaths or Kosher dietary restrictions.
Bibliography
[i] J.R.W.Stott, “The Message of 1 Timothy & Titus,” Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester, 1996.
[ii] J.MacArthur, “The New Testament Commentary : 1 Timothy,” Moody Press, Chicago, 1995.
[iii] A.Duane Liftin in J.F.Walvoord and R.B.Zuck (Editors), “The Bible Knowledge Commentary,”Chariot Victor Publishing, Colorado Springs, 1983.
Life 
Leave a comment