Titus 1:11 adds a common motive to such wolves in sheep’s clothing: they teach “for shameful gain.” The ancient world abounded with traveling philosophers and religious teachers who paraded their oratorical prowess for financial riches, sometimes drawing large followings. The evangelical church of today is likewise beset with clever and charismatic charlatans who prey outrageously on the gullible and desperate, tying faith in God to the financial support of their ministries. Daniel Akin describes them as “spiritual seducers, disguising their personal ambition and theological agenda in the trappings of religious piety and prosperity.” The word prosperity has been attached to the word gospel, describing a particular menace today of gifted preachers who offer financial riches and material abundance to those who contribute to their private jets and lavish mansions. While the motives of their followers often match those of the false teachers, the reality is that great harm is done to the biblical gospel, especially in the impoverished developing world. These often-popular teachers, who pursue celebrity rather than Christian soundness, must be publicly opposed by faithful ministers and churches.

提多書 1:11 給這些披着羊皮的狼增加了一個共同的動機：他們教導“是為了可恥的利益（合和本譯作“貪不義之財”；ESV: for a shameful gain）”。古代世界到處都是旅行的哲學家和宗教導師，他們為了財富而炫耀自己的演講技巧，有時會吸引大批追隨者。今天的福音派教會同樣被聰明而有魅力的江湖騙子所困擾，他們肆無忌憚地欺騙那些容易上當受騙和絕望的人，將對上帝的信仰與他們事工的財政支持聯系起來。丹尼爾·阿金將他們描述為“精神誘惑者，以宗教虔誠和繁榮的外表來掩蓋他們的個人野心和神學計劃。”繁榮一詞與福音一詞聯系在一起，描述了當今對有天賦的傳教士的一種特殊威脅，這些傳教士對那些奉獻私人飛機和豪華宅邸提講經濟財富和物質豐富。因着他們的追隨者的動機常常與假教師的動機一致，現實也是，這對聖經福音造成了巨大的傷害，特別是在貧困的發展中國家。這些經常受歡迎的教師追求成為名人而不是基督教的健全，必須受到忠實的牧師和教會的公開反對。