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
) ( Jude 1:8 )
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,
milk for babes, and meat for strong men; they are sweet and
savoury food to a spiritual taste; they are nourishing, and the
means of a spiritual growth; they are salutary and healthful;
they have no corruption, taint, or poison in them:
[even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ;
the doctrines which he preached when on each, who was anointed
with the Spirit of God without measure, to preach the Gospel, and
by whom all the doctrines of grace and truth came; or the
doctrines relating to Christ, to his person, offices, grace,
righteousness, sacrifice and satisfaction; to what he is, has
done, does, and will do.
And to the doctrine which is according to
godliness.
The whole Gospel is the mystery of godliness; it is the truth
that is after it, and it has a tendency to promote true godliness
in heart and life: even such is the nature of the more
distinguishing doctrines of it, which are charged with
licentiousness; as the doctrine of eternal and personal election;
for though it is not of works, but of grace, yet holiness is a
means fixed in election, and an end secured by it; it is the
source and spring of all real holiness; holiness of heart is an
evidence of it to believers themselves; and holiness of life is
an evidence of it to the world; nor can anything more powerfully
engage men to it than the consideration that they are chosen of
God to grace and glory. The covenant of grace, which is absolute
and unconditional, provides for both internal and external
holiness; and the promises of it, under the influence of grace,
powerfully operate in the minds of believers, to the cleansing of
them from all impurity of flesh and spirit, and to the perfecting
of holiness in the fear of the Lord: and so the doctrines of free
justification, by the righteousness of Christ, which does not
make void the law, nor discourage good works; and of Christ's
bearing the sins of his people, and making satisfaction for them,
that they being dead to sin might live unto righteousness; and of
redemption of them by the blood of Christ from sin, Satan, and
the law, which is done that they might be a peculiar people,
zealous of good works; and of the effectual calling of them,
which is with an holy calling; and of their final perseverance in
grace and holiness, are all of them doctrines according to
godliness, and greatly encourage and promote it: now, whoever
does not accede to these truths, and acquiesce in them, but
differs from them, and teaches the reverse of them, he is a false
teacher, and is all that the apostle says in the next words.