“Christian doctrine serves as the constitution of godly living. Just as the skeleton is to the body or oxygen is to breathing, doctrine proves indispensable to Christianity. Without Christian doctrine, believers would be stripped of truth in living out the faith.” ~ John MacArthur
Have you ever had a verse come to mind and with excitement in that moment felt like it must apply to what you are pondering, speaking, writing or in some way to that moment? Have you ever assumed that if that verse came to mind in that moment then it must be God giving you that verse and so, with confidence, you apply it to your speech, your writing or your situation? Is it possible that, while that verse is wonderful, in its context, it may not mean at all what you feel in that moment that it means? Did you test it first?
I do believe it would be fair to say that we have all, at least at some point, thought a verse meant one thing, shared it that way and then later found out that it did not mean what we thought it meant and changed our beliefs accordingly.
However, false teachers are not the same. They are skilled in giving an appearance of truth while teaching what is false, having an appearance of a godly character but it is merely external in keeping up the charade and they feign love while they exploit those who they effectively cut off from the truth and lead after them into error. Not all who err in teaching are false teachers, but all false teachers appear sincere while they pervert the text and lead many astray.
Paul, in what is commonly known as the Pastoral Epistles, writes much concerning sound doctrine to both Timothy and Titus while making distinctions between their doctrine and life from those of false teachers. Many look at a teachers life and see their “good works” and fail to test their doctrine. False teachers do “good works” as a cover for their false doctrine and ungodly lives. We are responsible to test our own life and doctrine, as well as, those of whom we sit under their teaching.
We will look at one example of a verse misused today of not only false teachers, but professing Christians. We will also explore some unique problems that may be a subtle and dangerous implication of the mishandling of this verse.
In 2 Timothy 3, we are reminded that even in times of escalating deception and moral decay, the sacred Scriptures stand firm as our grounding anchor. These writings, breathed out by God Himself, equip us to discern truth from falsehood, guide our lives, and prepare us for all good works. ~ Bible Hub Chapter and Summaries and Bible Study Questions
“Hold to the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:13 LSB
“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you, continue in the things you learned and became convinced of, knowing from whom you learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:12-17 LSB
What is said here to be the grounding anchor in our lives? The sacred Scriptures which stand firm. With this in mind, let us consider the importance of that anchor and the harm when we mishandle the text and how false teachers use the Scriptures to teach what is contrary to the original author’s intended meaning, bringing new meaning to the text that removes the anchor.
In an effort to silence those who go to Scripture and expose error and false teaching, false teachers will often use Scripture, out of context, and with an already loyal, faithful and Biblically illiterate following they will accuse those who think Biblically and are discerning as setting themselves against the power of God, the work of God, the work of the Holy Spirit and they will misuse Scripture to support these accusations. They will give an appearance that the true Apostles support them and their teachings and as opposed to those who “think too much”. They are crafty in their wording that gives them an appearance of love for God’s Word while they lead their following away from sound doctrine.
We must test all things according to sound doctrine!
The intention in this writing is to look at a verse that some have misused (intentionally or otherwise) to help us consider how easy it is for us to be misled if we do not learn to first consider what the original author meant when they wrote it. We don’t like when someone takes our words and gives them meaning that we never meant. While we may be offended when someone does this, especially intentionally, we are dealing with an incomparably greater issue where when God’s Word, in the hands of false teachers, is used to lead many after the false teacher and away from the truth.
Here is truth that Paul wrote Timothy that brings comfort to which we may cling: “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to depart from wickedness.” 2 Timothy 2:19 LSB
Those words follow Paul instructing Timothy to present himself as one approved and to accurately handle God’s Word, immediately followed by a contrast of false teachers who had brought in heretical doctrines. Then Paul writes that the Lord knows those who are His! What encouragement! God knows all who are His. Paul did not lead Timothy to come up with cleverly devised schemes or what people may want to hear to attract the lost. He said that God knows who are His and he charged him to teach sound doctrine and to live righteously, therefore demonstrating the power of the Gospel in his life.
So then, what may motivate a pastor or teacher to mishandle a verse such as 2 Timothy 3:5?
Have you ever had something in mind that you believed and could not defend but looked for someone else to agree with you even though they knew you were wrong? That is what false teachers do. Maybe they believe their false teaching, maybe they don’t, either way, they know people trust God’s Word and so they use God’s Word to agree with them (though it does not!) rather than to submit themselves to the text and be corrected by it. They lead many astray with their deceptive teachings.
Any text that is used to support man’s teachings, ideas, or beliefs that is not coming out of that text and being read into it, is dishonest at best and intentionally deceptive with the intent to mislead for one’s own sinful purposes at worst.
Have you ever heard a pastor (teacher, author, influencer…) quote 2 Timothy 3:5 to say that there are Christians who know their Bible but they just don’t have power? Have you ever adopted that accusation and used it against those who do not operate in what is said to be manifestations of the Holy Spirit to say that they have a form of godliness but what they are really doing is denying the power of God?
If we have never heard a clear exposition of that passage or learned how to study our Bibles to understand the correct meaning of a passage, then when a pastor brings his own meaning to the text or cites it out of its context to support his doctrine, then we may be convinced that what he is saying “power” means in that verse and who those people are is true.
Many false teachers will prepare the hearer with what they should already understand that verse to mean before they even quote it. They may even string it together with other isolated verses such as it sounds spiritual and so as to keep the hearer isolated from the true meaning of that verse.
If the example the pastor has set is not to go into the text and look at the original language, original author and what that word and verse means in its context, but instead to see a word in Scripture and use it to support his own doctrines, then the hearers familiarity with that word and its use will automatically be what they assume it means. They are not taught or trained to think Biblically or to look at the context to derive the meaning, rather they are familiar with how that word is used with no regard to the original authors usage of it and intended meaning.
“Power” is a common word used in different theological camps. It is a Biblical word. The question we need to consider is what did the author mean when he used it, not what does it mean to us. There are countless misuses and abuses of that word especially within certain theological camps, like that of the charismatic movement, NAR, and others.
I will not be examining in this article the problems of these movements and their specific abuses of the use of the word power or how many in those camps misrepresent the Holy Spirit. I will be encouraging a thoughtful, careful and sincere look at that verse in its context so we can see how false teachers use words that ring familiar to our hearing and bring specific thoughts to mind to lead us to see in a passage of Scripture what is foreign to the original author’s intended meaning and foreign to how the original audience would have understood it.
Repetition is not necessarily a bad thing, however, it is a tool of false teachers. The more they say it and the more you hear it, the more you believe it must be true. It is like buying a new vehicle and while you never noticed it on the road before, now you see it everywhere. This is true as well with this strategy of false teachers. The more you hear that teaching, those words and phrases, now you see them everywhere and when you hear those words used, what comes to mind is not a correct meaning of those words, but the meaning that has been given them.
This verse has been cited many times out of context and the familiarity with hearing this verse and with hearing the misuse of the word “power” has led many to be convinced that they are using it correctly when they neither have a correct understanding of the word power in that verse or the intent of the author as to whom these people are of which this verse is describing.
So, now that we have established the importance of understanding what this verse means and how dangerous it can be when it is taken out of context, let’s look at it and see what it says, what it meant to the original author and audience, so we can see how it correctly applies to our lives today. As we begin with what it really means then we may see how it is being abused today and leading mean away from sound doctrine. Also, we learn from this example the importance of a verse in its context, as well as, why it is important that we do not assume that our familiarity with a particular word is the intended meaning of the author when they are using that word.
Paul, wrote this letter, 2 Timothy, from prison and with what seems to be no hope that he would be released. There is internal evidence within the letter that Paul had reason to think Timothy was weakening spiritually. We must consider that this was written while Christians were being persecuted for their faith, for which Paul was a prisoner. Paul encouraged Timothy and exhorted him to continue to be faithful in his duties, to continue in sound doctrine, avoid error, accept persecution for the sake of the Gospel, to put his confidence in the Scripture, and preach it relentlessly. – My summarizing of John MacArthur’s Book Summary of 2 Timothy
With this in mind, let us consider 2 Timothy 3:5.
The part of the verse most cited as we are discussing here is:
“holding to a form of godliness, but having denied its power…”
What we will often find among these who cite this verse as we are looking at will not cite the entire verse, though most know the whole verse. In the mind of each person who is familiar with that verse is the command that we are to keep away from these people.
The verse in it’s entirety states:
“holding to a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Keep away from such men as these.” 2 Timothy 3:5 LSB
Why would Paul instruct Timothy to keep away from these men? Consider that Paul didn’t tell Timothy to “eat the meat and spit out the bones of their teaching” or to “seek unity at all costs.” No! He didn’t say, “Now be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.” He gave a very clear command that Timothy was to keep away from such men as these.
Is that what we see when a pastor is a proven false teacher, is leading countless many astray and of whom his life has been exposed that he has a form of godliness but denies the power thereof? Or, is what we most commonly see among such as these is that there may be some time for healing and immediate restoration of such as these so that they may continue to devour and lead astray, while bringing reproach on the Word of God?
How important then is sound doctrine? How important then is it to our lives and that we test to make sure that what we are sitting under is sound Biblical teaching?
What happens then when false teachers read passages that are clearly warning about them? They often use it against those who teach sound doctrine.
We need to consider the implications of what would happen with this particular verse if false teachers use it against those who hold to sound doctrine. If a new meaning is given to this verse then the command that follows will drive the hearer away from those of whom they perceive to be disobeying what they have been taught that verse means.
If we say that the “power” mentioned in this verse is the power to get wealth and never to be sick and anyone who denies that, is denying the power of God, then what follows for those who read the rest of that verse? They are then to keep away from anyone who says otherwise.
The meaning of the first part of that verse really matters then, doesn’t it?
How are we to know who these people are that we are to keep away from? We look at the whole letter and then we bring out of the passage what it is saying. False teachers set in the mind of the hearer prior to hearing the verse quoted who these people are, but we must go to the text to see who the original author says that they are.
Paul is making a distinction between true servants of God who administer the Word of God, of which Timothy is to be, and those who teach false doctrines, who have a form of godliness but they deny the power thereof. In the full context of this letter we see this distinction being made and the importance of sound doctrine. It is a strange thing that many false teachers take verses that warn about them and use them to warn against sound teachers. But they do and they are very effective at it.
Pauls charge to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:15 is that he be diligent to present himself approved to God. How? He is to be a workman who does not need to be ashamed and accurately handles God’s Word. And then we see a warning of what happens when one participates in godless and empty chatter, that it leads to further ungodliness. The passage goes on to demonstrate what that looks like as Paul names names of false teachers who went astray from the truth and had upset the faith of some.
The context of the whole letter matters. It is dishonest and disingenuous to isolate a verse, ascribe meaning to it that directly contradicts that original authors intended meaning and of which sets oneself up against those who honor God in rightly handling that passage.
It is impossible to come to that text and think it is warning against those who uphold sound doctrine and define “power” there as to mean anything other than the power of God at work in the life of a Christian to live godly lives, unless one is intentionally isolating their audience from the whole of that passage and giving it new meaning. An honest examination of that verse would never lead to such error.
This verse is often used to say that those who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof are those who think too much Biblically, spend much of their time concerned with sound doctrine and refuting those who contradict. Now, they wouldn’t describe these this way, but with derogatory statements that make them sound more offensive to the hearer and opposed to them directly.
Are the people that Paul is warning Timothy of those of whom take doctrine too seriously and who refute error? Remember, he says that they have a form of godliness but they deny the power thereof.
According to the context of this passage, these are those who have an outward “form” (appearance, semblance) of godliness (godliness, piety, devotion) but deny (to disown, to reject) the “power” (strength, ability, might, miracle) thereof. Is this power meant subjectively with claims of encounters, experiences, manifestations, or is it something else?
In the context of this passage the concern is that these men were keeping up an outward appearance of godliness while they denied the power of God to form within them true godliness as a result of true regeneration.
Godliness apart from regeneration is an offense to God. It is only possible to live godly if we are truly regenerate as our will has changed, our affections are changed and being changed, our desires are changed and being changed by the grace of God and as we sit under sound teaching. God is working in us to will and to do what pleases Him. The outward demonstration of godliness apart from the inward work of Christ in us is worthless and most to be pitied by men. Yet false teachers lead countless many to the slaughter by means of their false piety, false love, false charity, false promises, and having an appearance of what only God can work in man and bring forth as a reality such as pleases Him.
This “form” of godliness was very dangerous – and still is – as these men, having an appearance of godliness were promoting false teaching, and as such were able to creep into households of those who were unsuspecting and lead them astray.
False teachers, and those who defend them and their false teachings, like to focus on the word “power”, ascribing it foreign meaning and miss that this verse is one of a long list of characteristics of leaders in every season who have an outward appearance of godliness but they lead astray those who do not see the deception.
This verse is not a warning against sound teachers of sound doctrine who warn against error and of whom their lives not only give an external appearance of godliness but they demonstrate the power of God at work in them. No! This verse is against false teachers who teach false doctrine and have an outward “form” of godliness that opens the door to those who do not see through their falsehood and they are led astray by various false teachings.
This verse does not condemn studying God’s Word, being Biblically discerning or caring about the truth and refuting error; it upholds that while warning of those who profess godliness and give an appearance of godliness so that they may creep into households and lead those astray who are not grounded in the truth.
These passages make a distinction between what Timothy is to preach – sound doctrine – and the dangerous doctrines of false teachers. It makes a distinction between those who are truly regenerate and those who keep up an outward appearance of godliness while they deny the power of it in their lives.
Paul’s warning is not against those who hold firmly to sound doctrine, refute error and demonstrate the power of godliness in their life and teaching, but that there will be those who have a “form” of godliness, an external appearance of the power of God to save and sanctify but they cast aside true religion. These lead astray with their false teaching and they do not have restraint over their sinful nature, though they give an appearance of godliness.
A true demonstration of the power of God is not merely external, but is the outward evidence of the inward reality of the power of God in one who has truly been born again and has the ongoing evidence of the true change in one’s whole life. Our thoughts, affections, all is changed and being changed by the grace of God at work in us. This verse does not point to signs, miracles, manifestations as evidence, but true godliness that is being formed in the life of the Christian by God’s saving grace at work in us.
The world can see through our hypocrisy and often can spot a false teacher long before those who have been led astray by them. Reproach is brought on the name of Christ, the Word of God and the church by false teachers and false converts who profess godliness but deny the power thereof. The world often points to false versions of Christianity to mock God and to excuse their own sinful lives.
But Christ has not, will not and cannot fail in His promise that He will build His church.
Those who teach by their doctrine must teach by their life, or else they pull down with one hand what they build up with the other. ~ Matthew Henry
While we have taken time to consider the authors intended meaning in this passage and we are made plainly to see what the text says and where the mishandling of this passage may lead to grievous error, what we must do also is look into the claim that there are professing Christians who have knowledge and no power.
Is it true that someone may have much Bible knowledge, spend countless hours each week in the Word, have an impressive wealth of words that captivate the hearer and draw them to stand in wonder of the God of Scripture, all while their impressive knowledge has not reached their own heart and the God they praise with their lips they deny the power of in their own lives? Yes!
The problem is not that we disagree that there are hypocrites of all kinds. There are. The problem is when this verse is used to lump all with the desire for truth who are Biblically discerning and who refute error in the church to be in this category, so as to point to false manifestations, false signs, and false wonders as the demonstration of the power this verse is speaking of, when it is not. If they may effectively convince their hearers that those who are Biblically discerning are the ones Paul is warning about and they can import foreign meaning into the text of what power there means, then they may convince the hearer that they are more spiritual than those who are Biblically discerning and cut them off from sound teachers of the Word. They are therefore seeking external manifestations for proof rather than seeking to understand the Word of God such as their lives may be conformed more to the image of Christ, their minds and hearts being changed by the truth, therefore demonstrating externally the internal power of God at work in the life of a born again child of God.
An unhealthy church is marked by unsound doctrine of which always leads to false practices and casting aside the truth in favor of what is false. This does not mean that there is not a form of godliness or of “good” works; there is. The marks of a healthy church is sound doctrine, so then it matters that we go to Scripture and test what is being said about the text by studying to see what the text says and what it means. Any teaching which diminishes sound doctrine and sets itself against those who teach and care for sound doctrine, are the marks of an unhealthy church.
Many of us, I think, fear that doctrine will simply become the dead wood of orthodoxy in our church, and so we cut it out wherever we can. In fact, doctrine is the fuel God has given us that, when lit by the fires of grace, burns in a white-hot devotion of Christian worship and discipleship.” ~ Michael Lawrence
Finally, Let us be encouraged by Pauls letter to Timothy from prison where he would be martyred for his faith of the importance that we must set our minds on the truth, learn how to think Biblically, discerning truth from error so that we may be able to recognize those who contradict and warn against error for the sake of the Gospel. Likewise, we must make sure that we are not holding a form of godliness while we deny the power of it in our own lives, but that we desire truth, and adorn the doctrine of God our Savior (Titus 2:10) as we demonstrate the power of God in us as we deny ungodliness and live godly lives in the present age (Titus 2:11-13).
Grace and Peace
Soli Deo Gloria
April J. Buchanan
Leaving Beyond - Grounded In Scripture 
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