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Paul bookends this letter by circling back to his thoughts from 1 Timothy 1. In that chapter, he introduced the problem Timothy was facing at Ephesus which was the deceptive doctrine of false teachers. Here in 1 Timothy 6, he expands on that teaching by exposing their methods.
Look around the Body today and you will find the same problem. The church today functions much like a business, with the most talented and charismatic preachers and teachers getting paid accordingly. This sets a precedent for all young preachers and teachers. If you want to be the best, you must have the most followers, the latest technology, and the boldest message.
The megachurch culture has contributed to a mega pastor overload. Christians are using their checkbooks to tell the world what they prefer. This, in turn, leads to young preachers and teachers who view the church as an opportunity to cash in on fame and fortune. The goal is less about leading others to an understanding of the foundational doctrines of Scripture and more about achieving personal success. Therefore, the true message of Christ is watered down and compromises are made.
Paul writes concisely that these false teachers believed that “godliness is a way to material gain.” What are the signs that indicate false teachers and false doctrine?
A Different Doctrine – I already outlined this in 1 Timothy 4, but the breaking point for Paul was always predicated upon a distorted gospel message. Before false teachers can draw others to themselves, they must first change the message of Jesus Christ to be about something other than faith leading to godliness. This subtle change allows for message to appear “new and updated” as opposed to the “same old thing.”
Subtle is the key word here. Obvious and blatant false doctrine is easily recognized, but a good false teacher masks their message to look like the real thing. We may not initially recognize false doctrine, but as the familiar phrase goes, “where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” The next two points are the smoke that will lead us to the fire.
An Argumentative Spirit – In order to propagate their new revelations, false teachers must take on the task of opposing the status quo. This means they will bully others into submission. Paul writes here in 1 Timothy 6, “From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth.” True believers are filled with joy and peace. A person who consistently displays defensive, hostile behavior demonstrates the internal unrest of their heart.
Pride – Paul was a genius. He was the best of the best, intellectually superior to most everyone around him. But he writes in 1 Corinthians that when he taught, he set aside all of his intellectual power in order to preach the simple message of Jesus! He killed his pride so that Jesus would be lifted high.
When I came to you, my friends, to preach God’s secret truth, I did not use big words and great learning. 2 For while I was with you, I made up my mind to forget everything except Jesus Christ and especially his death on the cross. 3 So when I came to you, I was weak and trembled all over with fear, 4 and my teaching and message were not delivered with skillful words of human wisdom, but with convincing proof of the power of God’s Spirit. 5 Your faith, then, does not rest on human wisdom but on God’s power.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 GNB
In their pride, false teachers transpose verse 5. They want to convince you that your faith rests on their human wisdom and not on God’s power. If they are the key to unlocking God’s power, you will come back to them time and time again. This is actually what Paul feared. He didn’t want people to be impressed with him, but to realize for themselves the profound depth of Jesus Christ!
It is amazing that these old letters from Paul still hold such significant truth and practical wisdom. Though our culture is drastically different, the old tactics of the enemy remain the same. For Timothy, he was charged with the duty of protecting the flock from these ferocious wolves. We must do the same today.