Daily Devotions
2 Timothy
"But shun profane and idle babblings..."
Text: 2 Timothy 2:16
PROFANE AND VAIN BABBLINGS
There were many who postured themselves as teachers and preachers of the Word of God. The same scenario exists today. The apostle Paul sought to enlighten Timothy on this subject.
“But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort,
who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past;
and they overthrow the faith of some.”
2 Timothy 2:16-18
1. Recognition of the problem
a) The message is wrong.
i) It is profane.
ii) It leads to more ungodliness.
b) The message is deadly.
i) It is like a disease.
ii) It may be likened to cancer.
c) The messengers must be identified clearly.
i) Hymenaeus
ii) Philetus
2. The danger is very real
a) Truth is compromised.
b) Error is promoted.
c) The faith of weaker ones may be overthrown.
3. The doctrine of the resurrection
a) Some denied its truth and relevance (1 Corinthians 15).
b) Others interpreted it wrongly saying that it had already happened. Thus those who have not been resurrected are left behind and this creates a sense of hopelessness.
COMMITMENT TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF TRUTH
The apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ were great examples of people who were deeply committed to rightly dividing the word of truth. This cannot be emphasised enough in our day and age. Too few are deeply committed to the study of the Word of God. Let us bestir ourselves to sparing no effort to fulfil the challenge of the Apostle Paul. We live in “perilous times!”
Let us take strong and definite steps to grow in our knowledge of the Scriptures. Let us seek the Lord humbly and diligently for grace to be enlightened! (Ephesians 1:17-19)