"THE DANGER OF FALSE DOCTRINE PART II"

What are some deadly diseases that have come and gone in our world?

smallpox

bubonic plague

SARS

Yellow fever

Polio

Black Death

Rabies

Epidemic

Influenza

Cholera

Antonine Plague

Proposition - This morning we are going to conclude this two part series on the most deadly disease in all of the world and that is false prophets. Last week we looked at both their 1) message, and 2) identity. We are going to examine 3) their character this morning.

Interrogative question - What does your character portray about what you say that you believe?

Let us remind ourselves of a couple of things - This is going to be the third time that Paul’s addresses the issue of false teachers -

1 Timothy 1:3–11

1 Timothy 4:1–5

1 Timothy 6:3–5

Don’t ever forget 2 Corinthians 11 -

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 NASB95

13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

The Message of False Prophets - vs. 3

The Identity of False Prophets - vs. 4a

The Character of False Prophets - vs. 4b - 5

1 Timothy 6:4–5 NASB95

4 he 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, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

“he has a morbid interest” - (noseo) - verb, present, active,participle, singular, nominative, masculine - contemporaneous participle - be sick; be ailing

Sense: to pine - to be sick - to be languishing from an unfulfilled desire; conceived of as being physically ill for lack of fulfillment.

The preposition “in” is crucial -

“controversial questions” - (zetesis) - noun, accusative, plural, feminine - prepositional object - debate; dispute; controversy

Sense: dispute - a disagreement or argument about something important

The root word can have the following meanings - debate, dispute, and or controversy.

“debate”

Acts 15:1–2 (NASB95)

1 Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue.

Acts 15:7 (NASB95)

7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.

“Discussion”

John 3:25 (NASB95)

25 Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification.

“how to investigate such matters”

Acts 25:20 (NASB95)

20 “Being at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these matters.

“speculations”

2 Timothy 2:23 (NASB95)

23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.

“controversies”

Titus 3:9 (NASB95)

9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

“disputes about words” - (logomachia) - noun, accusative, plural, feminine - prepositional object - dispute about words

Sense: logomachy - argument about words or the meaning of words - word battling

This is the only time that this phrase is used in all of Scripture

Notice the preposition “out of”

“envy” - (phthonos) - noun, nominative, singular, masculine - subject of the dependent clause - envy; jealousy

Sense: envy - spite and resentment toward the success or possessions of another

Matthew 27:18 (NASB95)

18 For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.

Mark 15:10 (NASB95)

10 For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

Romans 1:29 (NASB95)

29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,

Galatians 5:21 (NASB95)

21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Philippians 1:15 (NASB95)

15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will;

Titus 3:3 (NASB95)

3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

1 Peter 2:1 (NASB95)

1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,

“strife” - (eris) - noun, nominative, singular, feminine - subject of the dependent clause - strife; contention

Sense: strife (conflict) - bitter conflict; heated often violent dissension

Philippians 1:15 (NASB95)

15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will;

Titus 3:9 (NASB95)

9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

“abusive language” - (blasphemia) - noun, nominative, plural, feminine - subject of the dependent clause - blasphemy; slander

Sense: slander - abusive words falsely spoken that damage a person’s reputation.

This word can have the following meanings blasphemy, slander, abusive language, or railing

Ephesians 4:31 (NASB95)

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Colossians 3:8 (NASB95)

8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

“suspicions” - (hyponoia) - noun, nominative, plural, feminine - subject of the dependent clause - suspicion

Sense: conjecture - reasoning that involves the formation of conclusions from incomplete evidence.

“evil” - (poneros) - adjective, nominative, plural, feminine - substantival adjective - evil; wicked

Sense: evil - morally bad or wrong

2 Timothy 3:13 (NASB95)

13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

2 Timothy 4:18 (NASB95)

18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Where there are speculations and word battles, one naturally finds envy and strife; envy and strife naturally develop into slander and evil suspicions, and where these are present there is constant irritation. The specifics that Paul is enumerating are an accurate depiction of the historical situation (contra Hanson, [1983] 106). Mounce, W. D. (2000). Pastoral Epistles (Vol. 46, p. 339). Word, Incorporated.

“constant friction” - (diaparatribe) - noun, nominative, plural, feminine - subject of the dependent clause - constant friction

Sense: frictional strife - constant, irritating, and often heated arguing

“of depraved” - (diaphtheiro) - verb, perfect, passive, participle, plural, genitive, masculine - attributive participle - destroy; corrupt

Sense: to be corrupt - to be or become lacking in integrity or uprightness

“deprived of” - (apostereo) - verb, perfect, passive, participle, plural, genitive, masculine - attributive participle - defraud; steal

Sense: to be deprived - to be or become without something; not obtain or have.

SO WHAT?

Believer -

What is your message?

Who is your identity?

What does your character display?

What does your character portray about what you say that you believe?