Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 2nd Letter Volume 25

Paul tells Timothy to Study and Know the Word of God Part 3

2 Timothy 2:16-18 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. KJV

Right after the great Apostle exhorts and encourages and then expects Brother Timothy (and all true believers of every era and generation) to study the Word of God being a diligent workman in it, he immediately warns Timothy and us to remove ourselves from those who argue or dispute the clear truths taught in the Word of God with these words first, "But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness." (2 Timothy 2:16) (KJV). The English word 'shun' is translated by the Greek word periistēmi meaning exactly what our English dictionary declares and that is to keep away from or seperate from:- avoid. The English word 'profane' is translated by the Greek word bebēlos meaning heathenish or wicked. The little English phrase 'vain babblings' is translated by the Greek word kenophōnia meaning empty sounding, that is, fruitless discussion: - vain. In other words, many people like to try and disprove the Bible by declaring that it has contradictions in it, therefore, it cannot be true and there are others who like to stand by science and disregard the Word of God. Paul instructs Timothy and us to avoid these discussions and the people (in the visible Church and outside the visible Church) who lift up these empty notions onto the same level as the Word of God.

I'm watching an old television show about the FBI called 'Fringe' which is based upon man's discovery of various phenomenon that are outside of normal science like time travel and alternate universes that other human beings occupy or live in that we here cannot see. Although this show is a work of fiction, there are many human beings past and present who believe these vain babblings of men and women propigated, purposed, and promoted by the devil to keep lost men and women from the truth of the Gospel of Christ and from the Word of God. Satan has always wanted to occupy men and women's time here on the earth chasing down rabbit holes that do not exist or are irrevelant in order to keep them seperated from God. Paul already warned Brother Timothy of this once at the end of his first letter to him with these words, "O Timothy, guard the Deposit, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of falsely-named science, which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen." (1 Timothy 6:20-21) (Modern King James Version). When Paul writes, 'for they will increase unto more ungodliness', he means that spending time arguing over that which is untrue and of no importance in time or eternity only serves one purpose and that is to lead men and women into more things that are against the will or desire of the One True God our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ.

Here is what Dr. John  Gill had to say about this verse, "The ministry of false teachers is mere babbling; a voice, and nothing else, as the man said of his nightingale; a sound of words, but no solid matter in them; great swelling words of vanity, like large bubbles of water, look big, and make a great noise, but have nothing in them; contain nothing but vain, empty, idle, and trifling stuff; what is unprofitable and unedifying, yea, what is profane, contrary to the nature and perfections of God, and not agreeable to the doctrine which is according to godliness; and being palmed upon the Holy Scriptures, is a profanation of them. And all such wicked and empty prate, and babbling, is to be shunned, avoided, and discouraged, refused, and rejected; and, as much as can be, a stop should be put to it, both by ministers and hearers of the word. For they will increase unto more ungodliness meaning either that such babblings, if used and encouraged, will grow more and more profane and wicked; or the persons that use them, the unruly and vain talkers, will grow more daring, bold; and impudent, will wax worse and worse, and from one error will proceed to another, for such seldom stop; and having abused one passage of Scripture, will go on to attack another, and will not cease, till they have wrested the whole Scripture to their own destruction, and that of others."

Paul next reminds Timothy of two such men who once held the truth, but now had turned their backs on it and began to declare things that were completely false and wrong, here is what he wrote, "And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." (2 Timothy 2:17-18) (KJV). The little English phrase 'doth a canker' is translated by the Greek word gaggraina (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning (to gnaw); an ulcer ('gangrene'): - canker. In other words, just like an ulcer or gangrene is to human flesh eating and rotting it from the inside out, so does spiritual error destroy any person or group now in time and forever in eternity in hell. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say concerning false teachers, "As a gangrene; i.e. as a mortification in the flesh, where the circulation is entirely stopped, and putrefaction takes place, which continues to corrupt all the circumjacent flesh, spreading more and more till death takes place, unless stopped by a timely and judicious application of medicine. Such is the influence of false doctrine; it fixes its mortal seed in the soul, which continues to corrupt and assimilate every thing to itself, till, if not prevented by a timely application of the Word of Life, under the direction of the heavenly Physician, it terminates in the bitter pains of an eternal death. To such a gangrene the Apostle compares the corrupt doctrines of Hymeneus and Philetus."

Here in these two verses of Scripture we learn that the false teacher or false Christian or false believer is not only destroying himself or herself, but is a detriment, a damage, and even a destruction for those who will hear and listen to their teaching or preaching and be led down a rabbit hole that will end in hell. Such are the health, wealth, and prosperity preachers today who are peddling the Word of God like some mid evil snake oil salesmen, which is just the opposite of what Paul and every real Christian does as Paul declared to the Corinthian Church with these words, "For we are not as many, hawking the Word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God." (2 Corinthians 2:17) (Modern King James Version). Also the spiritualist and mediums and psychics and witches and wizards who have invaded the visible Churches with their practices leaving the Gospel as an after thought and the Word of God as some reference book that is secondary to some spiritual or angelic visitations or even communicating with the dead through dreams and visions, let us always remember how the Lord Jesus Christ views this garbage, "When you come to the land which Jehovah your God gives you, you shall not learn to do according to the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, an observer of clouds, or a fortune-teller, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or one who calls to the dead. For all that do these things are an abomination to Jehovah. And because of these abominations Jehovah your God drives them out from before you." (Deuteronomy 18:9-12) (Modern King James Version).

Note: "The devil is not opposed to big or small beautiful Church buildings that are constructed with the finest of materials and have all of the lastest technological amenities and where there is found great decor and where many rituals take place and people are dressed in their finest attire and are so pleasant, nice, and wonderful to one another, no he is just opposed to the truth of the Gospel and to the truth of the Word of God being proclaimed in these buildings, as our Lord Jesus Himself said concerning those who belong to Him, 'I have given them Your Word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not pray for You to take them out of the world, but for You to keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Your truth. Your Word is truth.' (John 17:14-17) (Modern King James Version)."  

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…