If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome
words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine
which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil
surmisings, 5 Perverse
disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that
gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
The Scripture goes on from clearly
distinguishing the ultimate issues regarding a slave’s conduct, attitude, and
lifestyle to saying that if any man teaches otherwise (we should take heed to
this for many philosophies have gone out regarding this issue that are false
and at best, unbalanced) that his words should be discounted. For Jesus Christ
Himself taught us about loving and doing good to those who do us evil. If we
teach a gospel of eye for eye and tooth for tooth simply to appease our own
vengeance instead of upholding Scriptural justice, then we do wrong. Yes, laws
are needed in society, and they should be firm and just, but we are not to try
to use them as a tool for rebellion, coercion, hate, or violence. If a man
teaches anything other than what Christ teaches—note anything other than—then he is proud, knowing nothing, simply
raising doubts and questions and strife; all this produces envy strife, ranting
and raving, evil surmising, perverse disputes with men of corrupt—corrupt!—minds. These men of corrupt
mines are stripped of truth and suppose, yea teach and proclaim, that gaining
something (perhaps money, perhaps freedom, or something else) is godliness.
From such men withdraw thyself! Distance yourself, do not walk buddy-buddy or
arm-in-arm with him!
1 Tim 6:3-5 (KJV)
