‘For they who are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly, and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent.'

Characteristic of such teachers was that they sought financial gain from their teaching enabling them to live richly (Titus 1:10; 1 Corinthians 6:13; Php 3:19; 1 Timothy 6:5; 2 Peter 2:3; Jude 1:12), and were smooth and glib tongued (1 Corinthians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 10:10; Colossians 2:4). They were not really serving ‘our LORD Jesus', but their own bellies (Philippians 3:2; Philippians 3:17). Others see the idea of ‘their own belly' as having in mind asceticism and abstinence, allowing themselves to be ruled by what they should eat and drink (Romans 14:17).

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising