"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 cometh 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." (1 Tim. 6:3-5)
Paul is writing this first epistle by the express commandment of Yahweh to Timothy "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Timothy 1:1-2).
The reason for the epistle is given in the following verses, particularly verses 3 to 7, and Paul instructs Timothy to stand fast for the truth in opposition to those that were teaching false doctrine "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, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm".
...that the teachers of apostasy... who are of "corrupt minds and destitute of the truth" who for "filthy lucre" were willing to mislead their brethren and sisters, must be withdrawn fromIn the verses quoted at the top of this article Paul is continuing his instruction to Timothy. Having first instructed him to command the teachers of false doctrine to conform to the teachings of Jesus Christ with the intent that they would develop a "pure heart", "good conscience" and "faith unfeigned". And, that having done so, they no longer teach the law without first understanding it so as to not lead others astray from the truth to "vain jangling". In chapter 6 Paul now commands that the teachers of apostasy that ignore Timothy's attempts to silence them, and who are of "corrupt minds and destitute of the truth" who for "filthy lucre" were willing to mislead their brethren and sisters, must be withdrawn from. If these individuals, who were ignorant of the Word of God, continued in the spreading of false teaching throughout the ecclesia then Timothy was to take further action and to "withdraw" from them (the Greek means to 'depart' or 'shun').
The ecclesia today has many teachers of false doctrine, and many who, for one reason or another, do not "try the spirits" and therefore accept such teaching. There are others who know that the teaching is wrong but who do not stand against it, preferring to keep quite and hope that the problem will go away. Both of these attitudes are against the teaching of Scripture, so let us be true and faithful servants of our Master and stand up against false doctrine so that when we stand before the Judge we shall be found "approved".
An excellent continuation of this article can be found in The Reason for Heresy and further detailed explanations in The Need to Withdraw from those who walk Disorderly and The Time for Withdrawal.