Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
Those who desire to be teachers of the law understand neither what they say nor what they confidently affirm. They may claim to teach the law and insistently assert their words, yet understand neither their words nor the subject they assert. People who turn aside from sincere faith and godly teaching can make empty arguments while claiming this teaching office, without understanding what they say or the claims they insist on.
They have turned aside from the aim of the commandment — love out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and sincere, unfeigned faith — into vain jangling and empty arguments. Some who swerved from charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned wanted to teach the law in this turned-aside condition. Their misplaced confidence is part of that departure from truth.
Confidently claiming special knowledge does not mean a person understands even the first principles of truth. People may claim knowledge and speak confidently while not understanding what they are saying or affirming. Their misplaced confidence belongs to a departure from godly teaching and truth that can end in shipwrecked faith.
The verse applies to professing to preach sanctification and to teach while having yielded up the Bible truth which has made Seventh-day Adventists what they are. It describes wrapping oneself in a spurious sanctification while criticizing brethren. It describes making false statements and senseless lies and going out into thorough apostasy.
Those who desire to be teachers of the law understand neither what they say nor what they confidently affirm. They may claim to teach the law and insistently assert their words, yet understand neither their words nor the subject they assert. People who turn aside from sincere faith and godly teaching can make empty arguments while claiming this teaching office, without understanding what they say or the claims they insist on.
They have turned aside from the aim of the commandment — love out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and sincere, unfeigned faith — into vain jangling and empty arguments. Some who swerved from charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned wanted to teach the law in this turned-aside condition. Their misplaced confidence is part of that departure from truth.
Confidently claiming special knowledge does not mean a person understands even the first principles of truth. People may claim knowledge and speak confidently while not understanding what they are saying or affirming. Their misplaced confidence belongs to a departure from godly teaching and truth that can end in shipwrecked faith.
The verse applies to professing to preach sanctification and to teach while having yielded up the Bible truth which has made Seventh-day Adventists what they are. It describes wrapping oneself in a spurious sanctification while criticizing brethren. It describes making false statements and senseless lies and going out into thorough apostasy.