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.

提多书 1:11 给这些披着羊皮的狼增加了一个共同的动机：他们教导“是为了可耻的利益（合和本译作“贪不义之财”；ESV: for a shameful gain）”。古代世界到处都是旅行的哲学家和宗教导师，他们为了财富而炫耀自己的演讲技巧，有时会吸引大批追随者。今天的福音派教会同样被聪明而有魅力的江湖骗子所困扰，他们肆无忌惮地欺骗那些容易上当受骗和绝望的人，将对上帝的信仰与他们事工的财政支持联系起来。丹尼尔·阿金将他们描述为“精神诱惑者，以宗教虔诚和繁荣的外表来掩盖他们的个人野心和神学计划。”繁荣一词与福音一词联系在一起，描述了当今对有天赋的传教士的一种特殊威胁，这些传教士对那些奉献私人飞机和豪华宅邸提讲经济财富和物质丰富。因着他们的追随者的动机常常与假教师的动机一致，现实也是，这对圣经福音造成了巨大的伤害，特别是在贫困的发展中国家。这些经常受欢迎的教师追求成为名人而不是基督教的健全，必须受到忠实的牧师和教会的公开反对。