2 Timothy 2:14-19

2 Timothy 2:14-19
2:14 Remind people of these things and solemnly charge them before the Lord not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen. 2:15 Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately. 2:16 But avoid profane chatter, because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness, 2:17 and their message will spread its infection like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are in this group. 2:18 They have strayed from the truth by saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are undermining some people’s faith. 2:19 However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.”

Notes:
1. Lead people to the truth, remind them of the truth, turn them back to the Word of God, and tell them not to wrangle over words or doctrines of men. This brings ruin to the listeners. 1 Timothy 1:3-4. People are ruined by our wordly debates. We need to stop, quickly and efficiently, false teaching wherever it pops up. Do not tolerate it.

2. Present yourself a proven worker...teaching the message of truth accurately. - Accurately is a figure of speech that literally means something like “cutting a straight road.” In regard to the message of truth, it means “correctly handling” or “imparting it without deviation.” Do not stray from the teachings of the word. Do not give room to speculations of men, but hold the Word of God in highest regard. Be a proven worker of the Word, and lead people to the truth.

3. Avoid profane chatter. It leads to ungodliness... basically the point Paul is making in this whole section is to fall back on the Word. Not to give room to “new revelation knowledge” or to new doctrines of men, and to warn others not to do so either. The Word is to be our only source for doctrine and instruction.

4. God’s foundation remains standing. The Lord knows those who are his (and those who are not), and everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.


Study Prayer:
Lord, let me be diligent in the study and application of your word. Let me trust and follow it, let me fall back on it as the only source of my doctrine, and the only authority on a Godly life. Help me to teach it to others, to live it out, and to be a follower of it. I pray that you would keep me safe from, and give me discernment about the doctrines of men. Let me not tolerate false doctrine and keep my path straight. In Jesus’ name, amen.