Tag: False Teachers

Heap to Themselves Teachers

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2Timothy 4:3-5 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 

‘For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears …’ This is the 5th New Testament prophecy in 2 Timothy (4:3-4) and it is being fulfilled. All people have someone ready that will support their sins that is either a teacher or a preacher of God’s Word – heap to themselves teachers.

From 1Peter 4:4-5 we see that those who live in sin will always find it strange that others don’t follow in their evildoings (stated in 1Pet. 4:2-3): “Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.  is also the first thing on which Christians are attacked because of other’s guilt, they will try to prove from Scriptures that all are sinners making the whole salvation plan of God without effect or necessary.”

Six last-day characteristics: They will not endure sound doctrine (4:3). They will increase in lust and sin. They will add one teacher to another, or wander about from church to church to find those who will not insist on their getting rid of sins and sinful pleasures. They will have itching ears, and desire speakers who will tickle their ears and excuse their passions in the name of religion. They will turn away their ears from the truth which strips them of sin and demands their wholehearted consecration to Christ (4:4). They will turn to fables and false religions that pamper the flesh and condone sin.

‘Fables’ [Greek: muthos] anything delivered by word of mouth; legendary tales, as opposed to historical account; a fable; foolish or improbable story (1Tim. 1:4; 4:7; 2Tim. 4:4; Tit. 1:14; 2Pet. 1:16). Most so-called sermons are made-up tales or motivational stories of other’s lives, instead of the Biblical examples of those who either served God or not.

False Teachers

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1Timothy 6:3-5 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; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 

‘Teach otherwise’ – Anyone teaching anything contrary to the Words of Christ – that is the Gospel as given in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as well as the implementing of the Words of Christ as instructed in the 21 epistles as given to us from Romans through to Jude. We are commanded that we are not to greet or receive in our homes (interact socially – Psalm 1:1; 1Corinthians 5:9-13; 2Corintians 6:14 – 7:1, 1John 2:15-17; etc.) those who sin and do not obey the doctrine of Christ otherwise you are a partaker of their evil deeds (2John 1:9-11).

Twelve traits of false teachers: Rebellion against truth (6:3). Pride – inflated and puffed up (6:4). Ignorance of truth. Doting [Greek: noseo, to be sick; metaphorically, to be obsessed] over questions of the law. Debating – splitting hairs and pitting factions against others. Envying – sour tempers. Strives over doctrines. Railings – evil speaking. Evil surmising – suspicions. Perverse and vain arguments, rejecting the truth because of corrupt minds (6:5). Being destitute of truth but rich in fallacies and doctrines of demons (6:5; 4:1). Seeking personal gain – financial and recognition from others (6:5).

‘Wholesome’ [Greek: hugiaino] Translated as “wholesome” (6:3); “whole” (Luke 5:31; 7:10); “sound” (1:10; 2Tim. 1:13; 4:3; Tit. 1:9, 13; 2:1-2); and “health” (3Jn. 1:2). Here it means doctrines of healing and health, not only for the soul, but for the body, as in the passages above. These words of health are listed along with the doctrines of godliness, proving they refer primarily to physical healing. The doctrines of godliness refer primarily to the soul.

‘From such withdraw thyself.’ Christians must turn away from: False teachers – anyone that has their own opinions contrary to what God’s Word teaches (6:3-5). Disorderly brethren (2Thess. 3:6). Men who have forms of godliness, but deny its power (2Tim. 3:5).

‘Withdraw’ [Greek: aphistemi] Don’t stay with men who are false to convert them but get away from them and associate with those of true faith.

Beware of…

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Philippians 3:1-3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 

‘Rejoice in the Lord’ – Let your happiness be in the Lord (4:4; 1Thess. 5:16; 1Pet. 1:8) for the joy of the LORD is our strength (Neh. 8:10). When we live in thanksgiving and joy because of who the Lord is and what He has done for us, all complaining will cease. Through complaining we lose what we received, the enemy knows this and focus all his attacks on stealing our joy. We have a choice between allowing this or resisting him (Jas. 4:7; 1Pet. 5:7-8; 1Jn. 5:18).

‘To write the same things to you.’ – he wrote the same doctrines that he had preached and written to others.

‘Dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.’ Jews are called three things here: Dogs – the very things they called others (Mat. 15:26-27); evil workers, Judaizing teachers; the concision, mutilators [Greek: katatome], but the verb katatemno occurs in the Septuagint of heathen mutilations (Lev. 21:5; 1Kin. 18:28). Paul regards circumcision as no better than heathen practices. False teachers lie in wait to catch ignorant souls by their fallacies there are ten marks of false teachers: They cause divisions among Christians. They cause offences against truth (Rom. 16:18). They do not serve God (Rom. 16:17-18). They serve their own bellies (3:19; Rom. 16:18;). They use slick tongues to deceive (Rom. 16:18). They are enemies of the cross (3:18). They walk contrary to the gospel (3:17). They glory in their shame (3:19). They mind earthly things (3:19). They bring in heresies (2Pet. 2:1).

The founders of false religions and human philosophies pamper the flesh and give their victims elated feelings of importance to make an appeal to them for their own benefit and popularity, making followers for themselves instead of for Christ.

‘For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.’ Four points about Christians here: The true circumcision – that of the heart (Rom. 2:29). Worshipers in spirit (John 4:24). Rejoice in Christ (3:1; 4:4; 1Pet. 1:1-25). Have no confidence in the flesh (3:3-4; 2Cor. 5:16).

False Prophets and Teachers

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2Peter 2:1-3 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not. 

‘False prophets also among the people …’ this is the 3rd New Testament prophecy in 2Peter being fulfilled. [Greek: pseudoprophetes] False prophets (2:1; Matt. 7:15, note; 24:11, 24; Mark 13:22; Luke 6:26; Acts 13:6; 1Jn. 4:1; Rev. 16:13; 19:20; 20:10). ‘False teachers’ [Greek: pseudodidaskalos] false teachers. Compare with false brethren in 2Corinthians 11:26 and Galatians 2:4. ‘Privily’ cunningly and secretly. The enemy steals the Word of God from men’s minds (Matt. 13:19) through deceptions and false religions (2Cor. 11:14; 1Tim. 4:1-16; Rev. 12:9) and we cannot listen to false teachers’ teachings and think we will afterwards understand God’s Word at all (1Tim. 4:1-2; 6:3-5; 2Tim. 2: 16-17; 2Jn. 1:10).

‘Damnable heresies, even denying the Lord’ heresies of destruction that will damn the soul. All deviation from the truth is heresy (2:1; Gal. 5:20; 1Cor. 11:19). True Christians apply it to all false religions who do not accept the true Christian doctrines even though the Jews called the Christians a sect (Acts 24:5, 14; 28:22) as did Christians correctly called the Pharisees and Sadducees and other groups sects (Acts 5:17; 15:5; 26:5).

‘The Lord that bought them’ as the slave is the sole property of his master, so we, having been bought by the precious blood of Christ, are not our own (1Cor. 6:19-20; 7:23; 1Pet. 1:18-23).

‘Bring upon themselves swift destruction’ deviating from God’s Word will most definitely bring destruction to anyone as the enemy will and can destroy all who is not armoured and prepared for his devices (Eph. 6:10 – 18).

‘Pernicious ways’ heresies of destruction; some texts read “follow their lasciviousness” or “their lust of the flesh.” ‘By reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of’ – lusts and slander of the truth have destroyed multitudes. People ‘hear’ (Rom. 10:17) what false leaders or teachers say and are programmed according to their opinions and beliefs. We must study the Word ourselves (2 Tim. 2:15) to confirm what God says – on the whole subject – and not trust what others say or what their opinions are. Be careful to misquote the Word of God by adding or taking away thereof (Deut. 12:32; Rev. 22:18-19). We ourselves must live in obedience to God’s Word (Rom. 6:16; 2Cor. 10:5-6) and become doers (Jas. 1:19-24) in all He commands.

‘Covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you’ in order to get money to spend upon their own lusts, they fabricate counterfeit doctrines, false theories and fake miracles to deceive.

‘Long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not’ God predicted their punishment long ago and their damnation is sure.