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.
supposing that gain is godliness: These false teachers viewed godliness as a means of self-gain. They believed they were so worthy they should gain from it. After just declaring that slaves are not to use their Christianity in seeking social advancement, "he proceeds to give a warning against heretical teachers who, by their example, would encourage the idea that godliness is a way of gain" (Bernard 93). No age has a monopoly on such men. Fairbairn explains that "there have never been wanting those who suppose godliness to be gain, considered it as a lucrative concern, and profess it only in so far as they find it serviceable to their worldly interests" (234). These men were teaching so that they could draw money from their followers and use the gain on their own lusts. Paul, in Philippians 3:19, says that the god of such men is their own belly.