Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

Mentally Diseased

There is much controversy over the New World Translation rendering of the verse in second Timothy the sixth chapter verse four, as mentally diseased.

Listed here below you will find that rendering, along with other translations of the same passages. However, of far greater concern than the wording of mentally diseased is our understanding of the letter of second Timothy in context to the whole of Paul's letter the issue he was speaking too, and how it applies to Christian's today?

2Tim.6:3 If any man teaches other doctrine and does not assent to healthful words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor to the teaching that accords with godly devotion, 4 he is puffed up [with pride], not understanding anything, but being mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words. From these things spring envy, strife, abusive speeches, wicked suspicions.
(New World Translation)

2Tim.6:3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn't consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, 6:4 he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 6:5 constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.{NU omits "Withdraw yourself from such."} (World English Bible)

2Tim.6:3 if any one be teaching otherwise, and do not consent to sound words -- those of our Lord Jesus Christ -- and to the teaching according to piety, 6:4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and word-striving, out of which doth come envy, strife, evil-speakings, evil-surmisings, 6:5 wranglings of men wholly corrupted in mind, and destitute of the truth, supposing the piety to be gain; depart from such; (Young's Literal Translation)

When thinking about mentally diseased most of us think of it, some thousands years after the facts, that is the of Paul's writing, by the defination found in modern psychology reference books for mental illness: (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR, in explaining mental illness.

However, this would not be an accurate understanding of the apostle Paul's meaning of mentally diseased found in his writing under Holy Spirit. Notice other, many other translations use the idea of corrupt of mind, destitute of the truth, what does this mean?

Corrupt of Mind

What does the word corruption mean in context to what Paul was speaking, well, it means - yeast, yeast of what? Sin! Yes, sin, sin is corruption too the body of Christ Jesus, why?

Christ Jesus is for Christian's unleavened bread, that is, without sin, without yeast, which corrupts the unleavened bread of Christ Jesus, but why?

1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.
Fulfilling the Law?

It is because Christ Jesus fulfilled the Old Law, which was given to Moses, in doing so, he removed our judgment of sin for us, how? By fulfilling the Law with his own perfect righteous life.

God than imputes Christ Jesus righteous life merit too us, as a gift of unmerited kindness. In other words, we are not judged by the Old Law any longer because Christ completed the Old Law, subsequently, it no longer exist for those in Christ Jesus, hence, we are not judged by it any longer.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the fulfillment{or, completion, or end} of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

No Mental Corruption In Christ Jesus

For those in Christ Jesus they have no corruption of sin, and because there is no sin in Christ, their minds are not corrupted by laws sin, that is, their dwelling constantly upon judgment and slavery of sins of the Old Law, which condemns them as a sinner.

Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.

Romans 8:3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh.

The Law of Freedom

What is the law of freedom, well it is the New Covenant instituted by Christ Jesus righteous blood, which is the fulfillment of the Old Law, by love.

In the law of freedom there is no sin, in other words, there are no laws of sin in Christ, hence, no corruption of sin or yeast. The law of Christ Jesus is love, not the Old Law, which is yeast too New Covenant.

Rom.13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet,"{TR adds "You shall not give false testimony,"} {Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21} and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18}

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

Rom.8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"}
Minding of The Flesh

When setting ones their mind upon judgment of others based on God's laws of commandments it corrupts the mind with self-merit, which means, the fleshly mind earning what it can never earn, that is, God's love, and what does this mean? It means we cannot earn what Christ Jesus has done for us, by God's love. We can never pay back by good works, or harsh treatment of our bodies/others, and mind enough to be worthy of God's love. God love in Christ Jesus, it is a free gift to us unearned, or deserved.

Romans 5:15 But the free gift isn't like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

When we set our minds upon things upon the earth, that is, fleshly things the things dealing with laws for our flesh we are in corruption of sin, not freedom from judgment of ours sins in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:22 But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life.

Galatians 4:26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.

Corruption of The Early Church

The apostle Paul was dealing with this corruption of the body of Christ Jesus by those setting their mind upon earthly things, like power, leadership, position, authority. But how were these fleshly minded Christian's going to gain such power? It would be by laws of their flesh abolished in Christ Jesus righteous life.

Here then is the context of the letter to Timothy, not apostasy from a corrupt legal corporate religion ladened with laws of flesh enslaving its members to central power authority of men. But rather, corruption of sin laws being brought into the body of Christ Jesus, which was free of yeast of sin, and the law judging sin!

Ephesians 2:15 having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace;

Those judging with fleshly laws that the body of Christ Jesus had been set free from, in which Christ had completed for them by God's own love. This then, was the corruption of the mind that cause diseased to the body of Christ, what disease? Death, from sin, which did not exist in Christ Jesus, but why?

1 Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?

Corruption of Mind Fighting Over Law

John 8:15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.

Why was Paul saying not too wrangle over right and wrong of the law? Because it corrupted ones mind in Christ Jesus. Instead we should have the mind of Christ Jesus, not our own mind, why? Because we are his body members, belong to the head of the body where the mind is located. We are slaves within the body of Christ Jesus not too the will of our own fleshly mind, but rather to Spirit and truth, which is also Christ Jesus.

What does Christ Jesus have in his mind, but the law of freedom, love? He does not have sin and death in his mind, but instead life, and righteousness; he is God's righteousness too us. Moreover, he is life too us, yes! God's one source of life for us that are freed from sin, that is, the last Adam, replacing the sin and corruption of Adam, as our new father too the human race.

Now we stand in life, the life of Christ Jesus as our father, replacing Adam sin; without corruption of sin into death. This is why the flesh is of no value at all too us, but it is the Spirit that gives us life.

John 6:63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

Hence, our wrangling over laws of flesh, that is, judging others by them is evil, but why? It is because the law is for the wicked, and not those made righteous by Christ Jesus righteousness. In other words, we are returning evil for the good God has done too us; by His love expressed in Christ Jesus which freed us from the laws of sin.

1 Timothy 1:9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

Titus 3:9 but shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

So corruption of our mind is too set it upon our own will of our flesh, which is our own judgments by God's righteous laws, and commandment(s); instead of our returning good for evil, we meet evil with evil. This conduct blinds us to God's love, why?

It is because we can't thinking in God's love while judging others we believe by laws of sin are deserving of condemnation for their conduct; the two are incompatible, so much so, one is darkness, and the other light.

Legally minded Christian's are blinded in this constant stated of wrangling over judgment, that is, comparing themselves against others, which is self justification, what does this mean?

Breaking God's Law By Breathing

Yes, we are born into sin, and reborn into life without sin in Christ Jesus, it is what we set our minds upon, and who's mind that determines if we corrupt our minds, or heal our minds by God's Holy Spirit. Because we are born into sin breathing air for fleshly life breaks God's law, but why? Because once we are sinners we cannot go back, and not be a sinner, it is because we are sinners, we break God's righteous law. We cannot make up for breaking God's law - we are sinner, nor by good works earning us merit; enough merit to gain eternal life without sin.

No! We have no choice, but our accepting the life of Christ Jesus as gift unearned because of God's love. Now we must set out minds upon Christ Jesus, and nothing else, if we don't want to be corrupted by the laws of sin once again in justifying ourselves by judging others as worst than ourselves, hence, so we can feel good about ourselves.

Judging by evil, that is, seeing others as law breakers sets out minds upon evil, for the law is for the wicked, and not the righteous. We become self-justified, why? Because a little leavened corrupts the whole lump. We cannot use corruption of sin laws against others, while not corruption our own mind into judgment! Thus, we are found in self-rightness and not Christ Jesus righteous life, without judgment.

Matt.7:1 "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged. 7:2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye? 7:4 Or how will you tell your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye;' and behold, the beam is in your own eye? 7:5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.

What Do We Owe Each Other?

What do we owe each other as Christian's? Well what does God owe us, nothing, but He has given us love in fulfilling the law for us. So what do we owe each other, massive law books about God, laws judging us into being a better person according to laws of flesh, or love?

Rom.13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

We as sinner cannot, not judge as humans, no! So we must have faith in God's owing us nothing but love, and not owing judgment. Now if God loves us in this way, why would we not remove the rafter from our own eye, instead of seeing the splinter of unrighteousness in our brothers and sisters eyes. by our using the laws of sin? You see, we cannot, not be partial; our being partial means having two sets of standards, one for us, and then one for those we don't like.

Being partial also means; if we are a sinner. then we are also law breaker, so how can we say we keep the law? while being as sinner is proof. we cannot keep the law! We are instaed breaker of it being a sinner, hence, needing what? Remission of our sins, but how? By blood; so if you need the blood of Christ,and I need the blood of Christ, how can we judge by laws that require the blood of animals founded under the Old Law, which Christ Jesus fullfilled with his righteous blood?

Now this is the context of Paul's writing in the letter of Timothy, this is the corruption of mind he was talking about, not mental illness found in the modern day (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR.

but rather a wrangling over laws abolished in Christ Jesus, which condemns us, and condemns others; which causes corruption of the mind in Christ Jesus, bring us into sin laws. Many Christian's find themselves under this evil influence; finding no peace, always living in fear, yet, denying it for fear of being wrong scripturally over a doctrine.

Darkness In Fear of Judgment

Here is the hard part for those believing freedom comes from judging others by God's word. the bible. They live in fear; denying it by self-justification, which justification is never good enough to please God. They are waiting to get caught by God so too speak; always struggling to be good enough. But If they were honest, and love truth, they would openly admit too having an impending doom from guilt of not being good enough, hence, knowing their good is not good enough. It is in this darkness that God's love, and light, does not exist.

1Joh.4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.
The harder they try living up to laws of flesh the greater their own judgment becomes, why? Because they are in a state of self-judgment because they are trying to be good enough by looking at others weakness, to justify their own short falls.

In this judgment, they are far from perfect in the love of God, which puts fear outside; rather this fear is a legal judging that is believed to put fear outside, but is a lie. It is rater darkness, and fear of judgment, denied by self-justification through doctrinal teachings.

Lacking Peace And Not Understanding Why?

Those living in judgment lack peace, but why? First, they think keeping the law brings peace, but they are wrong! It was the blood of animals under the Law that brought God's peace, but how? Blood justified their sins against God's righteous laws; the law only pointed out their need for remission of their sins.

Hence, so what bring peace to God's children today? It is God's Holy Spirit, not keeping commandments, which agains proves we need Christ Jesus blood. So for those judgmental law Christian's they have no peace with God, Instead they become corrupted with sins laws, which creating a lack of Holy Spirit, hence a lack of peace, bring greater yeast into their already body of law (rule book), it does not bring them into the body of Christ Jesus, where remissions of sin is found today for Christian's.

Peace is the overseer of those in Christ Jesus, but why? Because Christ Jesus removed our sins through his righteous blood, causing us peace with God, but how? By fulfilling the law of God for us, so we can have YHWH Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:15 having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace.

So those eagerly seeking God's peace by law brings instead a lack of peace into their lives. corrupting their minds, with judgment of sins. However, happy are the peace makers, which bring the Good News of peace to themselves, and others, by making peace through Christ Jesus, and not through their own unrighteousness by laws they cannot keep or atone for any longer in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 6:16 As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God's Israel.

Ephesians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Moreover, those seeking peace by judgment through laws of the flesh cannot get ready of their sin in Christ Jesus, because they cannot forgive through the law of freedom which is Christ Jesus, the law love fulfilling the law of sin for us. Rather, they legally demand payment from others who sin against their laws; holding debt by payment of guilt until the person earns forgiveness through self-merit, or self-rightness according to their standards of laws.

James 2:8 However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself,"{Leviticus 19:18} you do well. 2:9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 2:11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery,"{Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18} also said, "Do not commit murder."{Exodus 10:13; Deuteronomy 5:17} Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 2:12 So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom.

This process causes a greater lack of peace, seating oneself into God's judgment seat. Once this process start those doing the judgment for God, must take total control over a person life spiritually becoming their god,in policing them, making sure they are obeying the rule of law found in their group.

Romans 6:19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification.

Hence, these have an evil eye, living in distrust, and not seeing the good in anyone. So unlike love, which see only good, and hopes all things, they rather fight, distrust, judge, and cause envies; bring more works of the flesh into their dis-eased minds, why? It is because, when one sows with a view to the flesh, and not the Spirit, they reap corruption from their fleshly mind. This is why greater corruption of yeast happens in applying more of the same laws of sin, hence, permeating the whole group of persons into darkness, and not the light of Christ Jesus.

Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus

Walking In Freedom

Ephesians 2:3 among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

But how good are the eyes of those looking into the law of freedom, and not forgetting who they are by it, in relationship to the truth, yes! Christ Jesus is God's truth seeing our own imperfection in love of God, Christ, and humbly, confessing our sins of judgment, and accepting Christ removal of our judgment by the law of freedom.

How beautiful are these ones feet of peace, this is the Good News that Christ Jesus founded for us in freedom, under the law of mercy, and not judgment. These have the mind of Christ Jesus, and the wisdom of God, who is Christ Jesus.

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

They are sound in mind, without corruption of sin, making judgments that they have been freed from by God's own love. They honor God in blessing others with the same free gift, by not demanding payments of debt by judgment of sins law.

These are showing partiality by seeking self-righteousness in works of law, but rather they are blessing even their enemies with God's loving kindness, which is undeserved kindness. Yes, blessing rather, than cursing by laws that curse all human as sinners. Instead setting others free, by the law of freedom, and love, hence, measuring back too themselves God's own love.

Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who doesn't continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them."{Deuteronomy 27:26}

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,"{Deuteronomy 21:23}

1 Peter 3:9 not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing.

Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,

Luke 6:28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.

See also: www.nu-truth.com

Corrected Version Posted Now.