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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Ti_6:3-10
3If 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, 4he 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, 5and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 6But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1Ti_6:3 "If" This is a first class conditional sentence (which is assumed to be true) continuing the literary context from 1Ti_6:3 through 1Ti_6:5. There were false teachers who rejected Paul's teachings (cf. 1Ti_1:3-7; 1Ti_4:1-3).
▣ "advocates a different doctrine" This is the Greek term heteros, which means "another of a different kind." The false teaching was a combination of Jewish legalism and Greek philosophy similar to that found in Colossians and Ephesians.
▣ "and does not agree with sound words" See note at 1Ti_1:10.
▣ "those of our Lord Jesus Christ" Paul asserts that the origin of the "sound words" is Christ's teachings which were given to Paul. These false teachers rejected both Christ and His Apostles' teachings.
▣ "and with doctrine conforming to godliness" See note at 1Ti_2:2. Christ's teachings always had godliness as their goal (cf. 1Ti_3:16). These false teachers tried to separate truth from life, justification from sanctification, the indicative (gospel truth) from the imperative (gospel godliness, see Special Topic at 1Ti_4:7). See hyperlink at 2Ti_2:21.
1Ti_6:4
NASB, NRSV "he is conceited"
NKJV, NJB "he is proud"
TEV "is swollen with pride"
This is a perfect passive indicative. The term is literally "smoke-blinded" by means of pride (cf. 1Ti_3:6; 1Ti_6:4; 2Ti_3:4). See hyperlink in the NT at 1Ti_1:9.
▣ "but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words" There has been an ongoing emphasis on Timothy not being involved in these futile discussions of the false teachers (cf. 1Ti_1:3-4; 1Ti_4:7; 2Ti_2:14; 2Ti_4:4; Tit_1:14). I wonder how this would apply today?
The term "morbid" is literally "to be sick." It came to be used metaphorically of an intense craving for something. These false teachers were not seeking godliness, but wanting esoteric knowledge about unrevealed areas or peripheral areas of truth. They wanted to argue over oblique doctrinal issues which only caused arguments and prideful divisions.
The older I get the more I know I do not know and the happier I am with less understanding! The main truths of Christianity are clear and repeated! Yet, somehow we strive to know "all" the details and implications and weave theological webs containing all the inferences of difficult, oblique, apocalyptic and prophetic passages. We glory in our detailed systems instead of our relationship with Christ. It may be harder for a dogmatic, systematic theologian to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person!!
Preach the clear truths! Discuss the peripherals in love! Be gracious to all! Maturity will make us less judgmental and more Christlike.
1Ti_6:5 "men of depraved mind" Either (1) the entire context refers to the false teachers or (2) the first few verses refer to them and the rest refers to the consequences caused in the local house churches by their teachings (cf. Arichea and Hatton's A Handbook on Paul's Letters to Timothy and Titus, UBS). I think the young widows, and also possibly some slaves (cf. 1Ti_6:1-2), were surrogate speakers for the false teachers (cf. Gordon Fee's First and Second Timothy and Titus in the New International Biblical Commentary Vol. 13).
▣ "deprived of the truth" Both of these last phrases are Perfect passive participles, implying a settled state of mind and heart brought about by an outside agent, probably the evil one (see Special Topic at 1Ti_3:6). He is the father not only of lies, but also of religious speculation and theological elitism. See Special Topic: Truth at 1Ti_2:4.
NASB "who suppose that godliness is a means of gain"
NKJV "who suppose that godliness is a means of gain"
NRSV "imagining that godliness is a means of gain"
TEV "They think that religion is a way to become rich"
NJB "imagine that religion is a way of making a profit"
This seems to involve one of two things: (1) the false teachers taught a theology of success and possessions or (2) they charged for their teaching (cf. Tit_1:11; 2Pe_2:3). Number 2 is probably more likely.
The King James Version adds a phrase at the end of 1Ti_6:5, "from such withdraw thyself," but this only occurs in the Corrector of the fifth century Greek uncial manuscript D. It does not occur in the more ancient manuscripts à , A, D*, F, or G. The UBS4 gives the shorter text an "A" rating (certain).
For "godliness" see Special Topic at 1Ti_4:7.
1Ti_6:6 "when accompanied by contentment" This word basically involves not prideful self-sufficiency, but the Holy Spirit-encouraged sufficiency that comes not from circumstance or personal resources, but dependence on God in Christ (cf. Php_4:11-13).
1Ti_6:7 "For we have brought nothing into the world" This may be an allusion to several OT passages (cf. Job_1:21; Psa_49:17; Ecc_5:15). It gives a rationale for the statement in 1Ti_6:6. 1Ti_6:6; 1Ti_6:8 are similar to statements found in the Greek Stoic philosophers. Paul was familiar with these moralists. Many of his lists of sins and virtues are also similar to these Greek writers. See Special Topic: Paul's Use of Kosmos at 1Ti_1:15.
The KJV adds "and it is certain" for "because." This addition appears in MSS à cf8 i2 and D2, as well as some Old Latin, Vulgate, and Syrian versions. MS D and some Old Latin, Vulgate, and Syriac versions have "true" before "because." The UBS4 gives the shorter text an "A" rating (certain).
1Ti_6:8 Believers need to be content with God's provision of daily needs (cf. Pro_30:8; Mat_6:11). Paul's use of the word "gain" in 1Ti_6:5 caused him to elaborate on the false teachers' greed (cf. 1Ti_6:6-10; 1Ti_6:17-19).
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1Ti_6:9 "But those who want to get rich fall into temptation" Believers bring many things on themselves because of greed for earthly things, power, and popularity (cf. Pro_23:4; Pro_28:20; Mat_6:19-34).
"Temptation" is the Greek term peirasmos.
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▣ "and a snare" There are three variants.
1. snare – MSS à , A, D2, H
2. snares – minuscules 33, 1175, and the Peshitta and Coptic versions
3. snare of the devil – MSS D*, F, G, and the Old Latin version
The UBS4 gives option #1 an "A" rating (certain).
▣ "ruin and destruction" This concept is used several times in the NT (cf. Mat_7:13; Rom_9:22; Php_1:28; Php_3:19; 2Th_2:3; 2Pe_2:1; 2Pe_3:7; Rev_17:8-11). It is metaphorical for the violent ceasing of physical life. This term does not relate to the theological concept of annihilation (see Edward Fudge, The Fire That Consumes for a cogent argument for annihilation), which asserts that the spiritually lost do not suffer permanent separation, but at some point in time the loss of existence. Annihilationalists would interpret this literally. This is asserted to be more "humane" of God than an eternal hell. However, the same term (aiônion) that describes an eternal heaven in Mat_25:46, describes an eternal hell.
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1Ti_6:10 "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil" This may have been a well-known proverb. Money is not the problem; it is the love of money that is the problem! The Greek does not have the definite article with "root" which means it is one of many problems (cf. 2Ti_2:25-26; 2Ti_3:2-5; 2Ti_3:7-9). Money is a tool, not a goal. It can become a god (mammon, cf. Mat_6:24; Luk_16:9-13).
The NASB translation, like the NKJV and NRSV, tries to soften the Greek (lit. "for a root of all evils") hyperbole by adding "sorts" (NKJV, NRSV, "kinds of"). Money is not the only temptation (cf. Col_3:5), but it is a significant one (cf. 1Ti_3:3).
▣ "some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith" Does "faith" here speak of salvation or godly living? In this context the false teachers have left the faith and are trying to influence others (cf. Mar_13:22). Greed and financial exploitation (along with sexual exploitation, as well as claiming special knowledge or insight) is a recurrent characteristic of false teachers. If money becomes ultimate, it becomes a god. "Mammon" in Mat_6:24 is capitalized in NASB because it is assumed to reflect the title of a money god from Syria. Love of money can become idolatrous. It can cause disastrous results in this life and in the next (cf. 1Ti_4:1; 1Ti_5:8; 2Ti_2:25-26; Tit_1:16).
It is hard to discern the difference between a lost false teacher and a duped believer. Often they look, think, and act alike. Only God knows the heart. He will make the final decision. Jesus' words in Matthew 7 ("by their fruits you shall know them") and 13 (the parable of the soils) are very troubling to our cherished systematic theologies. See hyperlink at 1Ti_4:1).