The Divisive, Argumentative Teachers in Chapter 6 of First Timothy

1 Timothy 6 also warns about people who create arguments in order to exploit them for financial gain and to build their own authority. This warning is presented in the context of teaching about respect for human authority and authority in the Church.

With 2 Peter 2:1, we have reached the last use of the words hairesis and hairetikos in the New Testament.  However, there are other passages that teach about divisive persons.  One of the more important of these is found in the sixth chapter of First Timothy:

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

I Timothy 6:3-5 (NIV).

            In its immediate context, the First Timothy passage instructs Timothy to “teach and exhort” that servants are to count their masters — whether they are believers or unbelievers — as worthy of all honor. Interpreted by the immediate context, those who “teach otherwise” are those who teach disrespect for worldly authority. By so doing, they refuse to follow the words and example of Christ, who both commanded and demonstrated respect for those in authority, even while expressing disagreement with them.^1,2,3,4,5,6 They also reject teaching that is according to godliness, which begins with a respect for God’s authority (the fear of God being the beginning of wisdom⁷). Such people are ignorant, create strife, and should be avoided. On its face, this appears to be an instruction to Timothy individually to recognize these divisive people, warn them twice (as prescribed in the Titus passage), and thereafter avoid them. It does not appear to prescribe heresy trials or formal punishment of heretics.

            In the broader context of First Timothy, an even larger issue appears. The entire book has as its theme order in the world and in the Church. Therefore, the book contains instructions calling for prayer for the king and those in worldly authority⁸, for order in the home and in Church meetings,⁹ for appointment of overseers (bishops) and deacons¹⁰ and concerning respect for elders and women¹¹ in addition to the instruction to honor and obey masters previously noted. The purpose of all of these instructions is the same: to move believers to exhibit love from a pure heart and a good conscience, this being the true goal of all Christian teaching¹², with the ultimate aim that outsiders may be attracted to the truth the Church proclaims. This is to be done, in large part, by moving Christians to respect authority.

            By contrast, those who teach falsehoods do so to build their own following. To do so, they must challenge authority. They want to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand that Law.¹³ Therefore, they lead men into endless discussion of myths and genealogies. They create arguments about words to arouse strife and to clearly demarcate their own followers—which is, unfortunately, something of which the various bodies of the organized church have repeatedly been guilty throughout church history (as is discussed in other posts).  They deliberately arouse envy, strife, suspicion and friction¹⁴.

It is the building of one’s own reputation and following by deliberately creating strife in the Church that most characterizes a false teacher.  Moreover, false teachers are motivated by greed, supposing that their financial success demonstrates their godliness¹⁵. The famous, and often misquoted, half-verse “for the love of money is the root of all evil” appears in this context¹⁶, and the rest of that verse explains that some, through their greed for money, have erred from the faith.  All of these characteristics are also seen in other passages about divisive persons, false teachers and heresies discussed in other posts.

NEXT: The Traditional View of the First Timothy, Titus and Second Peter Passages