“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,”
1 Timothy 6:3 (NIV)
What a privilege to be able to read the apostle Paul’s letter to the man who would replace him as overseer over the churches planted by Paul and his fellow missionaries. In most organizations the leaders are careful to keep their correspondence at least partially private, but this correspondence between leaders became part of the New Testament churches’ regular Scripture reading, even though you can see from this chapter that Paul does not mince words.
He describes for Timothy the characteristics of any church teacher who doesn’t teach the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ - once again we see that being a Christian is about following the pattern of teaching that our Lord gave us.
Look at the way Paul describes all church teachers whose teaching doesn’t agree with the sound instruction of our Lord;
conceited
understand nothing
unhealthy interest in controversy and quarrels
Look at how Paul describes the result of this type of church teaching;
envy
strife
malicious talk
evil suspicions
constant friction between people
corrupted minds who think godliness is a means to financial gain
What Paul has just taught is that Christian slaves should serve their master better then non-Christian slaves. That would be a test for my faith – to apply verse 6 to my life as a slave.
May God keep us from being on this list, may we devote ourselves to the Lord and His apostles' teaching.
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