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Isaiah 29:13
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw nearme with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Isaiah 48:1,2
Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel,but not in truth, nor in righteousness…

Isaiah 58:1-3
Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins…

from.

2 Timothy 2:16,23
But shun profaneand vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness…

Romans 16:17,18
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them…

Ephesians 4:14
That wehenceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men,and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

but denying its power
The power referred to here is the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and the gospel, which brings about true change in a believer's life. This denial can be seen in a lifestyle that contradicts the teachings of Christ, despite outward religious observance. In1 Corinthians 4:20, Paul states, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power." This highlights the importance of a faith that is not just spoken but lived out through the power of God working within.

Turn away from such as these!
Paul's instruction to "turn away" is a call for separation from those who profess faith but live in contradiction to its principles. This aligns with the biblical principle of holiness and the call to be set apart, as seen in2 Corinthians 6:17, "Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord." The early church faced challenges from false teachers and hypocritical believers, and Paul emphasizes the need for discernment and purity within the community of faith.

Paul warns Timothy about people who “have a form of godliness.” They look spiritual—attending gatherings, speaking the right language, perhaps even engaging in charitable acts. Outward appearance, however, is not the test of true faith. Jesus described similar people inMatthew 23:27–28, where the Pharisees appeared righteous but were “full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” Genuine godliness flows from a transformed heart (Ezekiel 36:26), not merely exterior rituals.

“Godliness” points to a life aligned with God’s character, revealed perfectly in Christ (1 Timothy 3:16). It embraces reverence, obedience, and love. Real godliness is more than moral respectability; it is the life of Christ reproduced in believers through the Spirit (Galatians 2:20). By limiting godliness to a facade, these individuals empty it of the holiness and humility that accompany saving faith.

The power they reject is the dynamic work of the Holy Spirit who changes hearts and enables obedience (Acts 1:8;Romans 8:11–14). Evidence of that power includes:

• A new birth that awakens someone to repentance and faith (John 3:3–8).

• Daily victory over sin’s dominion (Romans 6:11–14).

• Love that reflects God’s nature (1 John 4:7–12).

By resisting this power, the counterfeit believer settles for religion without regeneration, rules without relationship, and ceremony without conversion.

Paul’s directive is clear: “Turn away.” Fellowship with unrepentant pretenders endangers the purity and witness of Christ’s church (1 Corinthians 15:33). Separation here is not unloving; it is protective, preserving believers from doctrinal compromise (Galatians 1:6–9) and moral contagion (2 Thessalonians 3:6). While we still pray for their repentance (2 Timothy 2:25), we refuse to grant them influence over our lives or assemblies.

2 Timothy 3:5 exposes the danger of a faith that is all show and no substance. God calls His people to an authentic, Spirit-empowered godliness that transforms from the inside out. Identifying and avoiding hollow religion guards the church and keeps each believer focused on Christ, “the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

From such turn away.--These,daring to assume the sacred name, no doubt with the thought of claiming its glorious promises, without one effort to please the Master or to do honour to His name--these were to be openly shunned by such as Timothy. No half measures were to be adopted towardsthese,who tried to deceive their neighbours and possibly deceived themselves. The Pagan was to be courteously entreated, for in God's good time the glory of the Lord might shine, too, on those now sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death. The heretic, seduced by false men from the school of the Apostles, where the life as well as the doctrine of Jesus was taught, was to be gently instructed. Perhaps God would lead him once more home. Butthese,who, while pretending to belong to Jesus, lived the degraded life of the heathen, were to be shunned. No communion, no friendly intercourse was possible between the hypocrite and the Christian.

The command here is so definite--"from these turn away"--that any theory which would relegate the vices just enumerated to a distant future would require, as above stated, that a strained and unnatural meaning should be given to this positive direction to Timothy. The plain and obvious signification of the passage is: men committing the sins alluded to livedthen in the Church over which Timothy presided; they were to be avoided by the chief presbyter and his brethren.