“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.” — 1 Tim. 6:3-5

There is a textual question here to deal with before considering the words of the passage itself. In v.5, the Critical Text omits the last part of the verse, “From such withdraw yourself.” This is represented in the translations of the NIV, NASB, RSV, and the ESV. The Majority Text contains the rest of the passage, represented in the KJV and NKJV. For reasons that I cannot expand upon in this space without distracting from the subject, I prefer the Majority Text in most of my studies. However, in light of the preference for the Critical Text of many with whom I will be discussing, I will not make a major case based on this passage and the Majority Text reading.

Bottom line: This passage teaches that Timothy was to withdraw from anyone who teaches otherwise (contrary to the things preceding in the letter) and does not consent to wholesome words, namely the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the doctrine which accords with godliness.