"If any
man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even
the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine
which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing,
but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh
envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of
men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that
gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." 1st
Timothy 6:3-5
Anyone who does not consent to
wholesome words ... should be avoided!
That's what Paul said!
The adjective "wholesome" is a
Greek word that is spelled "hugiaino" and is similar to our
English word hygienic. It means that which is healthy or sound
or well.
If a man preaches spiritually
"healthy" sermons, follow him!
If he preaches spiritually
"diseased" ones, avoid him!
But, how one be sure if such
words are "wholesome?"
Paul further explained ...
"even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Jesus never spoke an
unwholesome word in all His Life ... and never will either!
In other words, if a preacher
faithfully proclaims the Word of God, listen to him carefully!
If not, "withdraw thyself" from
him!
This Greek verb, "aphistemi,"
means to stand ("histemi") away ("apo") from somebody!
Separate yourself from him!
Depart from him!
And what kind of behavior is
this, withdrawing from somebody?
The kind needed at the House of
God!
Oh, how we should earnestly
contend for the Faith!
Be sure you're in a Church
where you are hearing the pure Word of God!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 2:
What is "sound" doctrine?
What is the danger of "false"
doctrine?
Paul the Apostle answers such
questions in 1st Timothy 6:3-5.
He defines proper Bible
Doctrine with several "key" words.
First of all, "doctrine" means
"teaching," teaching as a noun. It signifies "that which is
taught," a body of truth. The "articles" of faith to which one
subscribes.
We see this aspect of
"doctrine" discussed as Paul warns us about some who
"teach otherwise." Listen:
"If any man teach otherwise ... he is
proud, knowing nothing ...." (1st Timothy 6:3-4a) This
expression incorporates the verb "teach" ("didaskaleo") with the
pronoun "other" ("heteros"). But "herteros" seems to mean
"something totally different" ... not just something similar but
different. If a man preaches that Jesus is NOT the Son of God,
he is wrong, fundamentally wrong, drastically in error ... "heterodox"
the theologians say! To proclaim that Jesus IS God the Son
constitutes an act of "orthodoxy," straight doctrine!
But Paul goes even further in
describing right doctrine. He says it will be "wholesome" in
character! Again, look: "If any man
teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words ...."
The adjective "wholesome" is "hugiaino"
and means that which is clean, healthy, sound or whole! It
suggests wellness, good health!
Jesus first used this word in
the New Testament. "And
Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need
not a physician; but they that are sick." Luke 5:31
Furthermore our
word appears in Luke 7:10 and 15:27 as well as 1st Timothy 1:10
and 6:3 (obviously). Then it's found in 2nd Timothy 1:13 and
4:3 plus Titus 1:9 and 13 and Titus 2:1-2. Lastly John uses it
in 3rd John verse 2. It is found only 12 times in all the
Bible.
I am so glad that
good true-to-the-Bible preaching produces spiritually healthy
Believers in Christ!
The Paul adds two
more thoughts to his definition of "sound" doctrine. It will be
consistent with "the words of our Lord Jesus Christ" and will be
"according to godliness!"
Good preaching
will never contradict Jesus' Teaching as recorded in the
Scriptures. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John most comprehensively
report what Jesus said, but other Bible writers do contribute
some information. For example, Paul only tells us:
"Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how
he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Acts 20:35
If any sermon you
ever hear "disputes" the words of Jesus, stay away from both
that preaching and the preacher who delivered it!
Lastly Paul
equates "sound" doctrine or "wholesome" preaching to that which
is "according to godliness."
It will never
encourage sin or compromise or carnal living ... in any way!
Putting it all
together: "If any man teach otherwise,
and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to
godliness ..." 1st Timothy 6:3
This Text so far
has provided us with a pretty good "test" pattern to apply to
every Sermon we ever hear! It's a good way of Biblically
evaluating the Ministry of any Church we know as well!
Brethren and
Sisters, be sure you are hearing godly and healthy teaching and
preaching several times every week!
Not to do so is
spiritually disastrous!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 3:
They are
increasing in number!
And today being Sunday, I feel
led to mention them once again.
Who?
Those men who no longer preach
the Bible as the pure Word of God.
Men who doubt its miracles and
question its accuracy and would destroy its influence if
possible!
Paul, in 1st Timothy 6:3-5,
describes them quite accurately. He says that they teach
"otherwise" or differently than the men of God in bygone days.
They have departed from the old fashioned Faith! They are the
promoters of strange doctrine!
Their preaching is not
"healthy" either, says the Apostle. It promotes spiritual
disease. They have become so educated or refined that even
"approaching" or "consenting" to (in Greek = "proserchomai" = to
come near) the fundamentals of the Faith is embarrassing to
them!
They deny Jesus' Words too!
Either by saying Jesus did NOT utter what is attributed to Him,
hence questioning the Text of God's Word ... or by explaining
the obvious meaning into oblivion! Watering down the Word of
God!
And they do not promote
"godliness" either! This word, "eusebeia," fuses the Greek word
for "good" ("eu") with the word for "reverence" ("sebomai") and
means something like devout, holy or extremely respectful. It
is defined by one teacher as: "that piety which, characterized
by a proper Godward attitude, does that which is well pleasing
to the Lord!" Surprisingly the word is only used by three
writers in Scripture: Luke, Paul and Peter. Paul employs it 10
of its 15 times in the New Testament, always in the Pastoral
Epistles! Preachers, this is an essential trait in the pursuit
of our ministry!
Now let me quickly share this
following bit of advice, based upon the dear Word of God.
Today, this Lord's Day, let
your Preacher know how much you appreciate him! How much you
admire His stand on the precious Word of God!
Reversing the qualities of
these false prophets, notice and complement your Pastor's
preaching and teaching of the great truths or doctrines of
Scripture! Let him know you're growing under his ministry,
developing along a healthy spiritual path. Admire his love for
the Lord Jesus and his acceptance of the Death, Burial and
Resurrection of our Saviour as the very basis for our
salvation! Then ... express admiration for his godly and
reverent lifestyle, his separation from sin!
In other words praise his
not being like those who ...
"teach otherwise, and consent not to
wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and to the doctrine which is according to godliness ...."
1st Timothy 6:3
Then Paul quickly in 1st
Timothy adds a cascade of other traits about these false
teachers of his day. Describing one of them Paul declares:
"He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting
about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy,
strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of
corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain
is godliness ...." 1st Timothy 6:4-5
Thank God such men do not yet
fill all the pulpits of our land!
Folks, I can't emphasize enough
the importance of having a godly Preacher faithfully declaring
to you and your loved ones the precious Word of God!
Be an encouragement today, a
real exhorter to your Preacher!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 4:
In the Bible
one's "belief" and one's "behavior" are often compared.
Simply put, if a man behaves
wrongly he probably believes wrongly also!
Paul the Apostle, in 1st
Timothy 6:3-5, describes some men who hold wrong beliefs. And,
as one would surely expect, they are also found to live ungodly
lives also!
Here is the way the Holy Spirit
put it: "If any man teach otherwise, and
consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to
godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife,
railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt
minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is
godliness ...."
Here their ungodly doctrine
(teaching and preaching) is undergirded by ungodly living.
The man in question is "proud."
In Greek that's spelled "tuphoo" and means encased with smoke!
Then it came to mean "lifted up with self-conceit." Living in a
cloud!
"Knowing nothing" is a phrase
that literally says "standing upon" ... "not one" thing! All
their theology and all their preaching is baseless! There's no
Bible to substantiate their beliefs!
The verb "doting" translates "noseo"
and means "to be sick!" To pursue something to the point of
nausea! One text says "to harp upon."
"Questions" are things one
would "seek."
"Strifes of words" is "logomachia"
and indicates "to war" or "to fight" over "words" or "ideas!"
They are confrontational with
their newly devised doctrines!
Stirring up ... literally
"bringing into existence" or "giving birth to" ... envy ("phthonos"
= to shrivel or wither or be spoiled) or jealousy. Such selfish
and bitter emotions do cause one to "wither" spiritually!
"Strife" ("eris" = a quarrel,
argument) is the classic word for "debating" or contention.
"Railings" you will recognize
also! "Blasphemia" means to speak words that injure or hurt or
inflict harm. They may be directed at men ... but more often at
God Himself!
"Evil" in "evil surmisings"
describes a wickedness ("poneros") that is quite active and
spreading, designed to destroy. While the noun "surmisings"
uses the word "nous," one's mind! This is destructive
thinking! Apparently aimed at hurting or destroying the Truth
of God!
Put all these together and we
have a picture of the heart of the man or woman who propagates
false doctrine!
Who ...
"consents not to wholesome words, even the words of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to
godliness." 1st Timothy 6:3
There is just no such thing as
"simple" doctrinal error. All of it is acutely dangerous and is
sponsored by an individual with a bad heart!
At least that's the case when
the Words of Jesus are being denied! Or when godliness is not
being promoted!
Sure sounds dangerous to me!
Folks, we need to know these
things lest we be ... "carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive."
Ephesians 4:14
Be true to the Word of God!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 5:
According to
Scripture some men actually have "corrupt minds!"
In 1st Timothy 6:5 Paul writes
about the "perverse disputings of men of
corrupt minds"
When he used this exact phrase
Paul was describing a group of Preachers who taught false
doctrine.
He also said they were guilty
of ... "perverse disputings."
This expression, a translation
of the Greek noun "paradiatribe," describes a constant or
incessant wrangling!
The last syllable, "tribo,"
means "to wear out" or "to wear down" something or someone! It
describes the tiring effect unending contention has on a person.
The two prefixes attached to the word "tribo" merely intensify
its meaning.
One of the tactics of the devil
and his protégée the anti-christ will be to "wear out" the
children of God! "And he shall speak
great words against the most High, and shall wear out the
saints of the most High." Daniel 7:25
A Believer, even one with
strong faith, needs to be careful! He or she should NOT stay
around men of such dubious character and such dangerous
teaching! They can "wear you out" with their constant
"perverse disputings."
Then Paul said that these Bible
haters have "corrupt minds!" The
adjective "corrupt" is in Greek "diaphtherio" and means "to rot"
thoroughly! To wither and decay! If often describes the
ruinous effects of a worm or moth after it has "eaten" the
fabric of a luxurious dress or blanket!
Sin has destroyed their minds!
Mentally withered and
shriveled!
The noun "mind" is "nous" and
means the intellect. It is ultimately derived from the verb "ginosko,"
to know.
They have sick minds,
spiritually sick anyway!
And yet ... for every one of
these reprobates ("adokimos" = one who has been tested and
disapproved, failed) ... God has a true Preacher who loves the
precious Word of Truth!
Who ... preach wholesome and
healthy words ... including the Words of Jesus and also live
lives of godliness! This is a godliness they seek to reproduce
in the hearts of their hearers!
Listen to me today.
When you're about to hear such
a so-called preacher as this ... in person, on the radio, by
means of a book or tape or any other way ... please refrain!
Say "no!"
Run!
Flee!
Don't be infected by these men
of corrupt minds!
They will harm your faith!
They will "wear you out!"
Remember what Paul wrote:
"Now
I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and
offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and
avoid them." Romans 16:17
Did you get those
last two words?
"Avoid them!"
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 6:
Paul, in 1st Timothy 6:5, gave two
frightening traits about those men whom He called "false
teachers."
They first of all
were "destitute of the truth!"
Then they
supposed that "gain was godliness!"
Based upon these
two facts alone, such dangerous men are everywhere!
The verb
"destitute" is spelled "apostereo" in Greek and as a passive
means "to be deprived." When considering its prefix "apo" it
means "having been deprived from" ... something.
Somewhere along
the way, due to their rebellion and ungodliness, they had
something "stolen" from their lives ... the truth! Yes, "apostereo"
often carries the idea of theft or robbery too!
And, as a
"perfect" tense verb, their deprivation started and was
completed in the past, but has an on-going lingering effect that
just won’t quit!
The noun "truth"
means "that which you can not forget!" In the spiritual sense
... Jesus is The Truth! He said so in John 14:6.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Secondly, these
preachers who deny the Lord Jesus are quite "hungry" for money
it appears!
It is their
belief that "gain is godliness."
The noun "gain"
is spelled "porismos" and is only used in Scripture twice! The
little root word "poros" indicates a "way" or a "means" of
making an acquisition. The verb "proizo" means "to procure."
Since these men,
by their very secular lifestyles, do not accumulate vast
resources of truth ... they substitute in its stead ... money!
And the noun
"godliness" means "reverence or respect or honor" for the Lord
God Almighty! They have none!
A real
Spirit-called Preacher, a true Man of God, will delight in every
new facet of Truth he learns from Scripture!
And ... he will
not be a lover of money either!
He will pursue
other forms of investment ... as Paul indicated in the very next
verse: "But godliness with contentment is
great gain." 1st Timothy 6:6
Folks, let’s be
lovers of the Truth!
Then, equally,
let’s also be content with the blessings God sends our way!
Do not fall into
the devil’s "deception" trap or into his "money" trap either!
Today we have
seen some spiritually "sick" preachers ... who are
"destitute of the truth, supposing that
gain is godliness." 1st Timothy 6:5
Beware!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 7:
Paul the Apostle absolutely
forbids his spiritual children, those "saved" under his
ministry, to associate with certain kinds of people!
Look! Here he
even condemns eating with some of them!
"But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man
that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an
idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner;
with such an one no not
to eat." 1st Corinthians 5:11
"Touch" is
another disallowed act! "Wherefore come
out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean
thing." 2nd Corinthians 6:17
Avoid these!
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them
which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine
which ye have learned;
and avoid them." Romans 16:17
Occasionally a
simple "beware" will do! "Alexander the
coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to
his works: of whom be
thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words."
2nd Timothy 4:14-15
But in 1st
Timothy 6, when warning about false teachers ... especially
those who deny the words of Christ Jesus ... Paul commanded:
"From such withdraw thyself." 1st Timothy 6:5
Here's the whole
paragraph. "If any man teach otherwise,
and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to
godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife,
railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt
minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is
godliness: from such
withdraw thyself." 1st Timothy 6:3-5
The verb, an
imperative or requirement, is spelled "aphistemi." It is a
combined form of "histemi" which means "to stand" and "apo"
which means "off" or "away" from someone or something!
Step away from
them!
Do not fellowship
with them!
Scatter when they
come!
"Aphistemi" is a
present tense verb with a sense of action that is on-going or
linear. Keep on withdrawing thyself from such wicked men!
Don't quit your "separating" from them!
And the "voice"
of the verb is "middle." This means that the subject (the godly
Christian here) must initiate the procedure ... "withdrawing"
himself or herself! Yet the Greek "middle" voice also has this
peculiarity: the action now started will impact its originator,
influencing him greatly! It will actually change him in the
process!
This is plain
preaching!
Stay away from
those false prophets, worldly modernistic preachers, who do not
stand by the precepts and principles of Scripture!
That sure is
easily comprehended, isn't it?
I just do not
understand how any real Christian can continue to attend a
liberal Church, one that "consents not to
wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and to the doctrine which is according to godliness!" Get
out, friend! Find a Church home where you can hear the Word of
God powerfully and regularly!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
