“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” (1 Timothy 6:4-5 NIV).
As we close our look at 1 Timothy 6:4-5, we will feature a few final observations from a commentator who takes the characteristics from this passage and distills them into four easily-discernable qualities. A person who can recognize these negative attributes will be well-positioned to conduct an accurate assessment of his or her own life and identify such traits in others…
“Here in this passage are set out the characteristics of the false teacher.
(i) His first characteristic is conceit. His desire is not to display Christ, but to display himself, There are still preachers and teachers who are more concerned to gain a following for themselves than for Jesus Christ, more concerned to press their own views than to bring to men the word of God….
(ii) His concern is with abstruse and recondite speculations. There is a kind of Christianity which is more concerned with argument than with life. To be a member of a discussion circle or a Bible study group and spend enjoyable hours in talk about doctrines does not necessarily make a Christian…
(iii) The false teacher is a disturber of the peace. He is instinctively competitive; he is suspicious of all who differ from him; when he cannot win in an argument he hurls insults at his opponent’s theological position, and even at his character; in any argument the accent of his voice is bitterness and not love. He has never learned to speak the truth in love. The source of his bitterness is the exaltation of self; for his tendency is to regard any difference from or any criticism of his views as a personal insult.
(iv) The false teacher commercializes religion. He is out for profit. He looks on his teaching and preaching, not as a vocation, but as a career. One thing is certain–there is no place for careerists in the ministry of any Church. The Pastorals are quite clear that the labourer is worthy of his hire; but the motive of his work must be public service and not private gain. His passion is, not to get, but to spend and be spent in the service of Christ and of his fellow-men.” (1)
(1) Barclay, William. “The Characteristics Of The False Teacher (1 Timothy 6:3-5 continued)“. “William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/1-timothy-6.html. 1956-1959.