5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
Verse 5 shows the nature of how false teachers produce what they believe.
5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt [depraved] minds
False teachers’ depraved thinking is the cause of their distorted doctrine. Sound teaching produces godliness (1 Tim 6:3), such as humility, love for others, and unity. Men with the negative attitudes of the previous verse have “corrupt minds.” These wranglings denote mutual irritation and persistent strife.
and destitute of the truth,
These same people are bereft of truth (Tit 1:14). They do not study enough of the Bible to find its true meaning.
who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
Financial gain is the primary motivation of false teachers. Their orientation is to greed (1 Tim 3:3), which is their blind spot.
From such withdraw yourself.
Older manuscripts omit this sentence. If the sentence is authentic, the idea would challenge Christians from persistent fellowship with false teachers who cause division among believers. The wrong crowd will gravitate to people like them; birds of a feather flock together, and water seeks its own level.
PRINCIPLE:
Doctrinal error does not exist without attitudinal sins.
APPLICATION:
Doctrinal distortion seldom stands alone. It carries attendant attitudinal problems such as slander and hostility toward fellow believers. They carry culpable responsibility to God.
