1 Timothy 6:3

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;

King James Version · Read in your translation · Open the Explore console

Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
If	εἴ ei	G1487	if · conditional particle
man	τις tis	G5100	some or any person or object · indefinite pronoun — nominative singular masculine
otherwise	ἑτεροδιδασκαλεῖ heterodidaskalei	G2085	to instruct differently · verb — present active indicative, 3rd person singular
and	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
consent	προσέρχεται proserchetai	G4334	to approach · verb — present middle or passive deponent indicative, 3rd person singular
not	μὴ mē	G3361	(adverb) not · particle — negative
wholesome	ὑγιαίνουσιν hugiainousin	G5198	to have sound health · verb — present active participle, dative plural masculine
words	λόγοις logois	G3056	something said (including the thought) · noun — dative plural masculine
the	τοῖς tois	G3588	the (sometimes to be supplied · article — dative plural masculine
our	ἡμῶν hēmōn	G2257	of (or from) us
Lord	κυρίου kuriou	G2962	supreme in authority · noun — genitive singular masculine, a title
Jesus	Ἰησοῦ Iēsou	G2424	Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua) · noun — genitive singular masculine, a proper name
Christ	Χριστοῦ Christou	G5547	anointed · noun — genitive singular masculine, a title
and	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
doctrine	διδασκαλίᾳ, didaskalia	G1319	instruction (the function or the information) · noun — dative singular feminine
to	κατ᾽ kat᾽	G2596	(prepositionally) down (in place or time) · preposition
godliness	εὐσέβειαν eusebeian	G2150	piety · noun — accusative singular feminine

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

1 Timothy 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
1 Timothy 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other…
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having it…
Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Titus 2:1-2 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
1 Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Timothy 6:1-5

I. Here is the duty of servants. The apostle had spoken before of church-relations, here of our family-relations. Servants are here said to be under the yoke, which denotes both subjection and labour; they are yoked to work, not to be idle. If Christianity finds servants under the yoke, it continues them under it; for the gospel does not cancel the obligations any lie under either by the law of nature or by mutual consent. They must respect their masters, count them worthy of all honour (because they are their masters), of all the respect, observance, compliance, and obedience, that are justly expected from servants to their masters. Not that they were to think that of them which they were n…

Read the whole note in the console

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Timothy 6:3

teach otherwise--than I desire thee to "teach" (Ti1 6:2). The Greek indicative implies, he puts not a merely supposed case, but one actually existing, Ti1 1:3, "Every one who teaches otherwise," that is, who teaches heterodoxy. consent not--Greek, "accede not to." wholesome--"sound" (Ti1 1:10): opposed to the false teachers' words, unsound through profitless science and immorality. words of our Lord Jesus Christ--Paul's inspired words are not merely his own, but are also Christ's words.

Adam Clarke on 1 Timothy 6:3

If any man teach otherwise - It appears that there were teachers of a different kind in the Church, a sort of religious levellers, who preached that the converted servant had as much right to the master's service as the master had to his. Teachers of this kind have been in vogue long since the days of Paul and Timothy. And consent not to wholesome words - Ὑγιαινουσι λογοις Healing doctrines - doctrines which give nourishment and health to the soul, which is the true character of all the doctrines taught by our Lord Jesus Christ; doctrines which are according to godliness - securing as amply the honor and glory of God, as they do the peace, happiness, and final salvation of man. All this may…

Read the whole note in the console

The Church Fathers

If anyone teaches otherwise: that is, one different from what is right. and to the teaching that accords with godliness. Paule said, "They are sound words," and he says, "And with the teaching accords with godliness," evidently concerning faith.
— Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY

The apostle instructs us, saying, "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ and His doctrine, he is lifted up with foolishness: from such withdraw thyself.". Mindful of which precept, the blessed Apostle Paul himself also warns and instructs, saying, "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to His doctrine, he is proud, knowing nothing: from such withdraw thyself."
— Cyprian, Epistle XXXIX

I might be thought to have laid down this position to remedy distrust in my case, or from a desire of entering on the contest in some other way, were there not reasons on my side, especially this, that our faith owes deference to the apostle, who forbids us to enter on "questions," or to lend our ears to new-fangled statements, or to consort with a heretic "after the first and second admonition," not, (be it observed, ) after discussion.
— Tertullian, The Prescription Against Heretics

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Doctrines · FALSE — FALSE
Doctrines Of The Gospel, The · Are godly — Are godly
Doctrines, False · Teachers of, are described as: Proud and ignorant — Teachers of, are described as: Proud and ignorant
Gospel · .DOCTRINE ACCORDING TO GODLINESS — .DOCTRINE ACCORDING TO GODLINESS
Gospel, The · Is called the: Doctrine according to godliness — Is called the: Doctrine according to godliness
Pride · 4:1; — 4:1;
Strife · General scriptures concerning — General scriptures concerning

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

1 Timothy 6:3

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;

King James Version · Read in your translation · Open the Explore console

Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
If	εἴ ei	G1487	if · conditional particle
man	τις tis	G5100	some or any person or object · indefinite pronoun — nominative singular masculine
otherwise	ἑτεροδιδασκαλεῖ heterodidaskalei	G2085	to instruct differently · verb — present active indicative, 3rd person singular
and	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
consent	προσέρχεται proserchetai	G4334	to approach · verb — present middle or passive deponent indicative, 3rd person singular
not	μὴ mē	G3361	(adverb) not · particle — negative
wholesome	ὑγιαίνουσιν hugiainousin	G5198	to have sound health · verb — present active participle, dative plural masculine
words	λόγοις logois	G3056	something said (including the thought) · noun — dative plural masculine
the	τοῖς tois	G3588	the (sometimes to be supplied · article — dative plural masculine
our	ἡμῶν hēmōn	G2257	of (or from) us
Lord	κυρίου kuriou	G2962	supreme in authority · noun — genitive singular masculine, a title
Jesus	Ἰησοῦ Iēsou	G2424	Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua) · noun — genitive singular masculine, a proper name
Christ	Χριστοῦ Christou	G5547	anointed · noun — genitive singular masculine, a title
and	καὶ kai	G2532	and · conjunction
doctrine	διδασκαλίᾳ, didaskalia	G1319	instruction (the function or the information) · noun — dative singular feminine
to	κατ᾽ kat᾽	G2596	(prepositionally) down (in place or time) · preposition
godliness	εὐσέβειαν eusebeian	G2150	piety · noun — accusative singular feminine

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

1 Timothy 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
1 Timothy 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other…
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having it…
Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Titus 2:1-2 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
1 Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 1 Timothy 6:1-5

I. Here is the duty of servants. The apostle had spoken before of church-relations, here of our family-relations. Servants are here said to be under the yoke, which denotes both subjection and labour; they are yoked to work, not to be idle. If Christianity finds servants under the yoke, it continues them under it; for the gospel does not cancel the obligations any lie under either by the law of nature or by mutual consent. They must respect their masters, count them worthy of all honour (because they are their masters), of all the respect, observance, compliance, and obedience, that are justly expected from servants to their masters. Not that they were to think that of them which they were n…

Read the whole note in the console

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Timothy 6:3

teach otherwise--than I desire thee to "teach" (Ti1 6:2). The Greek indicative implies, he puts not a merely supposed case, but one actually existing, Ti1 1:3, "Every one who teaches otherwise," that is, who teaches heterodoxy. consent not--Greek, "accede not to." wholesome--"sound" (Ti1 1:10): opposed to the false teachers' words, unsound through profitless science and immorality. words of our Lord Jesus Christ--Paul's inspired words are not merely his own, but are also Christ's words.

Adam Clarke on 1 Timothy 6:3

If any man teach otherwise - It appears that there were teachers of a different kind in the Church, a sort of religious levellers, who preached that the converted servant had as much right to the master's service as the master had to his. Teachers of this kind have been in vogue long since the days of Paul and Timothy. And consent not to wholesome words - Ὑγιαινουσι λογοις Healing doctrines - doctrines which give nourishment and health to the soul, which is the true character of all the doctrines taught by our Lord Jesus Christ; doctrines which are according to godliness - securing as amply the honor and glory of God, as they do the peace, happiness, and final salvation of man. All this may…

Read the whole note in the console

The Church Fathers

If anyone teaches otherwise: that is, one different from what is right. and to the teaching that accords with godliness. Paule said, "They are sound words," and he says, "And with the teaching accords with godliness," evidently concerning faith.
— Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY

The apostle instructs us, saying, "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ and His doctrine, he is lifted up with foolishness: from such withdraw thyself.". Mindful of which precept, the blessed Apostle Paul himself also warns and instructs, saying, "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to His doctrine, he is proud, knowing nothing: from such withdraw thyself."
— Cyprian, Epistle XXXIX

I might be thought to have laid down this position to remedy distrust in my case, or from a desire of entering on the contest in some other way, were there not reasons on my side, especially this, that our faith owes deference to the apostle, who forbids us to enter on "questions," or to lend our ears to new-fangled statements, or to consort with a heretic "after the first and second admonition," not, (be it observed, ) after discussion.
— Tertullian, The Prescription Against Heretics

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Doctrines · FALSE — FALSE
Doctrines Of The Gospel, The · Are godly — Are godly
Doctrines, False · Teachers of, are described as: Proud and ignorant — Teachers of, are described as: Proud and ignorant
Gospel · .DOCTRINE ACCORDING TO GODLINESS — .DOCTRINE ACCORDING TO GODLINESS
Gospel, The · Is called the: Doctrine according to godliness — Is called the: Doctrine according to godliness
Pride · 4:1; — 4:1;
Strife · General scriptures concerning — General scriptures concerning

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

John Gill on 1 Timothy 6:3

If any man teach otherwise,.... Or another doctrine, as the Syriac version renders it; a doctrine different from what the apostle had now taught, concerning the duty of servants to their masters; as did the false teachers, who despised dominion or government; not only civil government, and so spoke evil of rulers and magistrates; and church government, and therefore reviled the apostles, elders, and pastors of churches; but family government, and encouraged disobedience to parents and masters; see 2 Peter 2:10 or teach another doctrine, from that of the Bible, of Christ and his apostles: and consent not to wholesome words: such as the doctrines of the Gospel; they are food to the saints, m…

Read the whole note in the console

John Calvin on 1 Timothy 6:3-5

3. 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; 3. Si quis aliter (vel, alia) docet, nec acquiescit sanis sermonibus Domini nostri Iesu Christi, et ei quae secundum pietatem est doctrinae, 4. He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 4. Inflatus est, nihil sciens, sed languens circa quaestiones et pugnas verborum, ex quibus oritur invidia, contentio, maledicentiae, suspiciones malae, 5. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godl…

Read the whole note in the console

Tyndale Open Study Notes on 1 Timothy 6:2-3

6:2b-21 The last major section of the letter returns to the need for Timothy to confront the false teachers. The whole section has a similar structure to 1:3-20. 6:2b-10 This paragraph exposes the false teachers’ desire to become wealthy.

Henry, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, Clarke, Gill, Calvin and Keil & Delitzsch are in the public domain; Tyndale Open Study Notes © Tyndale House Publishers, CC BY-SA 4.0 — all from the Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org). Rashi: the Rosenbaum & Silbermann Pentateuch (public domain) and the Judaica Press and Metsudah Tanakh (CC BY), via Sefaria. Spurgeon's Treasury of David: public domain (lyteword's markdown edition, CC0).