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, 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 6:3–4 (ESV)
When interpreting a portion of Scripture, it is essential, not optional, to examine the immediately preceding context. The Apostle Paul began today’s featured text with the following words, “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.”
Paul did not write this verse with a casual disregard of what he previous wrote. Rather, he made this statement in full awareness of all he previously communicated to Timothy in chapters 5:1-6:2. This point of view must also be kept in mind when examining vs. 4 of today’s text.
“Sound doctrine is one of Paul’s main concerns in 1 Timothy, for it alone cures the relational and doctrinal disease spawned by false teaching (Rom. 12:2). As we saw in 1 Timothy 1:10, the Greek words rendered as “sound doctrine” mean “health-giving doctrine.” Thus, “sound words” in 6:3 can likewise be represented in English as “health-giving words,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“This life-producing teaching is given throughout the Bible, but the contents of 1 Timothy are specifically in view here; so, the apostle refers to things like the right use of the Law (1:8–11), proper sex roles (2:8–15), church officer qualifications (3:1–13), the incarnation and exaltation of Christ (vv. 14–16), personal holiness (4:11–16), and the correct behavior of widows and slaves (5:1–6:2a). When such things are practiced and taught, the church is at peace with itself and is a powerful witness to the truth.”
The underlying reason anyone teaches a different doctrine, or does not agree with the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, and rejects biblical teaching towards godliness is because such an individual “is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing.” To be puffed up with conceit (τετύφωται; tetyphotai) means to be insanely arrogant, extremely proud, and vain. Such an attitude, and corresponding behavior, begins in the past and continues in the present and future. Such an individual personally and presently lacks understanding (ἐπιστάμενος; epistamenos), which is the ability to really comprehend truth and to possess knowledge.
The Apostle Paul stated the insanely arrogant, extremely proud, and vain individual has an unhealthy craving (νοσῶν; noson). This refers to a present, active, and singular sick and morbid desire. This unhealthy craving is for controversy and for quarrels about words,” Controversy (ζητήσεις; zeteseis) means to love debates and disputes. Quarrels about words (λογομαχίας; logomachias) means a love for arguing.
What does such an attitude and actions produce within the church? The list Paul gave was not good but all to commonly found among believers in Christ. The list includes, but is not limited to, “envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions.”
Envy (φθόνος; phthonos) means jealousy. Dissension (ἔρις; eris) refers to contention, strife, discord and quarreling. Slander (βλασφημίαι; blasphemiai) defaming the character of someone, especially the Lord. Evil suspicions (πονηραί ὑπόνοιαι; ponerai hyponoiai) are wicked imaginations.
“If health-giving doctrine is not the church’s concern, the diseases of envy, dissension, and the like result (vv. 3–5). These vices violate the Savior’s command to love one another and make it impossible for the world to recognize us as the disciples of Jesus who serve the one, true creator God (John 13:35),” states Dr. Sproul.
Matthew Henry comments, “When men are not content with the instruction of the Lord Jesus Christ, but will frame notions of their own and impose them, they sow the seeds of all harm in the church.”
“In recent years, some of the most disturbing attacks on biblical doctrine have come from supposedly Protestant writers who approach biblical scholarship as if the goal were to invent new perspectives on time-honored doctrines, find novel interpretations of core biblical passages, or even devise a whole new kind of Christianity. None of their ideas are really novel. Every essential point of the gospel truth has been continuously under attack on one front or another since apostolic times,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
I encourage you to consider the words of Paul in his epistle to the Galatians. “4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.” (Galatians 2:4–5 (ESV)
Do not yield, even for a moment, from the truth of the gospel. May gospel truth be preserved.
Soli deo Gloria!
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