Section 6:3–10

Paul warned that it was dangerous to want to be rich

In this section Paul warned Timothy once more about the false teachers. He also told him that it was dangerous to want a lot of money. He told him that the false teachers were sinning in many ways, but that they were especially sinning by trying to use religion to get more money. He told believers to be content with what they had.

6:3a

If anyone teaches another doctrine: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as If often introduces a conditional clause. However, in this context the clause it introduces is not really a conditional clause. Paul knew there were people among the Ephesian believers who taught another doctrine. In some languages this can be made clearer by saying “Anyone who…” or “Whoever…”

teaches another doctrine: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as teaches another doctrine literally means “teaches what is different” or “teaches what is untrue.” The same phrase is used in 1:3d. Paul was warning Timothy against people who taught something different from what Paul himself taught. For example, the Contemporary English Version says:

Anyone who teaches something different…

6:3b

disagrees: The false teachers taught things about Christ and his message that were different from what Christ and his apostles taught.

the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ: Paul told Timothy that the sound words were of our Lord Jesus Christ. Scholars have understood this in two ways:

(1) It means “from our Lord Jesus Christ” and refers to what Christ taught, both when he was alive on earth and through his apostles.

(2) It means “about our Lord Jesus Christ” and refers to the things that the apostles taught about Christ.

Most English versions say “the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ,” which is ambiguous. However, this phrase is most naturally understood as the words spoken by Christ. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

the sound words: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sound literally means “healthy.” See the note on 1:10d, where the same Greek word is used. Paul was saying that these words were correct and without error.

our: This again refers to Paul, Timothy, and the Ephesian believers.

Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord is a general word that means “master.” It was used to address any respected person. Here it refers to Christ. You could translate it as “owner” or “chief.”

Jesus Christ: Notice that in this verse Paul used the more usual order Jesus Christ to refer to Jesus. It is recommended that you do the same thing.

Christ: The word Christ is used two ways in the New Testament. In the Gospels, Christ is a title for Jesus. It means “the anointed one.” But later, by the time that Paul and others wrote letters to individuals and churches, the word Christ was used as another name for Jesus. It was no longer used as a title. So here and in other New Testament letters you should spell Christ according to the rules of your language.

6:3c

godly teaching: When he used the words godly teaching, Paul was talking about the kind of teaching that helps people to behave as God wants them to behave.

© 2003 by SIL International®

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.