Big Cloud, Big Thunder, No Rain!

Scripture Read: 1 Timothy 6:3-4 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, ⁴ he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, ⁵ and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

Application: Paul now returns to a discussion he has throughout this epistle with Timothy; False Doctrine. First, we should pause and consider if Paul brings this theme up continually in his letter to Timothy, should not we also consider it quite important? Yet, to this day many shepherds do not understand that one of the key elements to their call is the protection and defense of Biblical Orthodoxy. The other issues that a shepherd must deal with are important, but none are spoken on more than this issue in these Pastoral Epistles of Paul. We must hold the line on what the Word of God teaches to ensure the future generations that they have God’s Truth alone, not a mixture of scripture, tradition and “extra” truth. This is what Judaism had become by the time Christ walked the earth. Second, we should examine the description of the false teacher. He is Conceited - τυφόω tuphóō; which in the literal sense is to puff up with smoke or mist! The picture is clear, a person becomes puffed up, but like smoke and mist there is no substance.

Wuest describes it well: “Proud” is tuphoō (τυφοω), “to raise a smoke, to wrap in a mist.” It speaks metaphorically of a beclouded and stupid state of mind as the result of pride. The verb is in the perfect tense which speaks of an action completed in past time having finished results in present time. The person concerning whom Paul is speaking has come to the place where pride has finished its work, and he is in a permanent or settled state of pride. ^[1]

Paul also states that this person “understands nothing” this connects two Greek words and in light of what they mean it is comical and tragic at the same time. 

Understand - ἐπίσταμαι epístamai; from epí, over, and hístēmi, to stand. To fix one’s mind upon, to understand, know how. AND, Nothing μηδείς mēdeís; from mēdé, and not, also not, and heís, one. Not even one, no one^[2]

Brought together – this person Fixes his mind on NOTHING! He does not understand one thing! Paul diagnosis this individual as having a “morbid interest” in things that leads to carnality. The original is; νοσέω noséō; sickness. To be sick, delirious. Used metaphorically meaning to have a sickly longing for something, to pine after, dote on ^[3]

The TDNT states: the figurative use of νοσέω in 1 Tm. 6:4 is Hellenistic in context. This is supported by the construction, the popular philosophical character of the list of vices which follows in v. 4f., and the strong emphasis on ignorance as the source of aberration. Here, as in Plato and Philo, being sick is a metaphor to indicate the abnormal state of the inward man. In keeping is the fact that in 2 Tm. 2:17 the growth of error is compared with that of a cancer. Though the guilt of error is not disputed, neither this nor the penal consequences are emphasized. The accent in the comparison is on the abnormality and common threat.^[4]

The false teacher thinks he knows so much, but in reality knows nothing, and ends up leading people into discussions that split churches, families and causes arguments over things that are not important or true at all. Perhaps the saddest part of all of this is the motive. This is not some sincere, but wrong person; this teacher does it for personal gain. Their drive is for themselves, whether it be money, notoriety, prestige or any other selfish goal. The shepherd must protect his flock from such people.

Wuest in his commentary has a literal translation of this section that I believe would be healthy to read:

If, as is the case, anyone is teaching things of a different nature and opposed to the things just mentioned, and does not give his assent to wholesome words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the teaching which is according to a godly piety, he is in a beclouded and stupid state of mind, which condition is caused by pride, not doing any concentrated or reflective thinking in even one instance, but exercising a morbid curiosity about inquiries and quarrels about words, from which come envy, strife, speech injurious to another’s good name, malicious suspicions, protracted and wearing discussions of men corrupted in mind, who have disinherited themselves of the truth, thinking that godly piety is a way of gain.^[5]

Meditation Questions: What is the difference between a healthy debate or discussion and an argument? Are there teachings to “die for” and teachings not to “die for”? What would be the determination for that? When a teacher denounces another teacher based on the fact that the Word of God is being perverted. What do you think of him? Why? Is it loving to allow false teachers to deceive people and not say anything? What’s the difference between being “sincere but wrong” and a false teacher?

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^[1] Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest's word studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English reader (1 Ti 6:3). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

^[2] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

^[3] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

^[4] Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964- (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

^[5] Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest's word studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English reader (1 Ti 6:3). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.