2 Timothy 2:14-19

2 Timothy 2:14-19 A. Paul here warns against unprofitable words and their effects which undo men but not God. B. “These things” (v. 14) could include all things which Paul had taught Timothy (v. 2) and specifically the faithful saying of the faithful God in vs. 11-13. 1. These include certain promises of God to the elect for whom Paul labored. v. 10. 2. They are certainties in spite of man’s unbelief. v. 13 c/w ROM 3:3-4. 3. There are many things God has done or promised that are not overthrown by man’s unbelief. 2PE 3:3-10. C. It is negligent for a minister not to remind saints of what they have been taught already. v. 14 c/w 2PE 1:12-13. 1. Saints need to be charged (commanded, enjoined, exhorted authoritatively) about unprofitable words that are not conducive to spiritual benefit. 2. This is not a charge for saints to avoid earnestly contending for the faith. JUDE 1:3. 3. Scripture is made up of God’s words and they are profitable when received as God’s words, whereas the contrary words of man do not profit. 2TI 3:16-17 c/w 1TH 2:13 c/w JER 23:32. 4. Scripture words, their definitions and orderly arrangement, are critical to subverting (overthrowing, overturning) the vain imaginations and speculations of men. 2CO 10:5. a. Christ and Paul argued from fine points of wording. MAT 22:31-32; GAL 3:16. b. Paul argued for the form (orderly arrangement) of words: grammar. 2TI 1:13. c. To strive not about words to NO profit is not equal to striving about words to profit. 5. Contending for the truth is good; contending against it is bad. PHIL 1:27 c/w 2TI 3:8. 6. Beware of power engagements that generate more heat than light. The goal is simply to stop the mouth of gainsayers with sound doctrine. TIT 1:9. D. Paul immediately goes on to order a right dividing of the word of truth. v. 15. 1. divide: To separate a thing into parts, or (a number or collective body) into smaller groups, to split up, cleave; to break or cut asunder. a. The reading of Scripture must be broken down, read distinctly (in a distinct or separate manner, separately, individually, severally). NEH 8:8. b. Attention must be given to the component parts of the Scripture, word for word. c. Attention must be given to word definitions, grammar, context and parallel passages. 2. “...rightly dividing the word of truth...” assumes there is a composite body of truth made up of constituent parts which are true. PSA 119:151; ECC 12:10-11. 3. The man of God must be completely convinced he has the very word of truth. Many so- called workmen should be ashamed, not because of imperfectly dividing the word of truth, but because they don’t even think they have it. 4. Other so-called workmen ought to be ashamed that they don’t study the word of truth but may be altogether informed about church fathers and creeds or false science. 5. A minister of Christ may be excused for not being a dedicated studier of nature, commentaries, religious books, secular knowledge, etc., but he may not be so excused for not studying Scripture which sets forth the wisdom of God which PRECEDED all disciplines (PRO 8:23) and sets forth Jesus Christ “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (COL 2:3). 6. approved: Proved or established by experience, tried, tested. a. God is interested in the mettle of His laborers. MAT 24:45-51. b. A minister should also study to shew himself approved unto God, i.e., to manifest to his hearers that he is indeed a called and studied man of the word. 1TI 4:13-15. 2 Timothy 2:14-19 3-6-25 Page 1 of 2  (1) Saints may be looking for a proof of a man's ability and calling. 2CO 13:3. (2) The studied man is manifestly approved by standing strong against the winds of heresy. 1CO 11:19. 7. The word of truth of primary importance to a N.T. minister is the gospel of salvation. EPH 1:13. a. This gospel was witnessed by the law and the prophets. ROM 1:1-2; 3:21-22; GAL 3:8. b. This gospel is unveiled by the apostles. EPH 3:4-6; 2PE 1:19. c. This gospel of salvation embraces the necessity of the true doctrine of resurrection since salvation depends upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ and all that entails. 1CO 15:13-20. E. The issue of the true gospel of salvation is underscored in vs. 16-18. 1. Profane and vain babblings do not increase faith but ungodliness and so must be shunned. c/w 1TI 6:3-5. a. profane: Not pertaining or devoted to what is sacred or biblical, esp. in profane history, profane literature; unconsecrated, secular... b. vain: Devoid of real value, worth, or significance; idle, unprofitable, useless, worthless; of no effect, force, or power; fruitless, futile, unavailing. c. babbling: Incoherent talk, idle chatter, babblement. 2. Profane, vain babblings substituted for right dividing of the word of truth sadly will find weak spots and metastasize. ROM 16:17-18; 2TI 4:2-4. 3. Hymenaeus and Philetus had perverted the doctrine of resurrection, undermining the very hope of the believer which incentivizes godliness. 1TH 4:13-18 c/w 1JO 3:2-3. 4. They overthrew the faith of some. This is why cancerous doctrine must be addressed promptly, before “some” becomes “many.” 2PE 2:1-2; TIT 1:10-11; 3:10-11. F. In spite of the false teachings and the overthrowing of the faith of some, “...the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal...” 1. God's truth stands unmoved against the errors of men. PRO 19:21. 2. God's faith is not made ineffectual by the unbelief of men. ROM 3:3. 3. “...The Lord knoweth them that are his...” (v. 19). a. Sometimes wheat, through error, looks much like a tare. MAT 13:24-30. b. God’s sheep may wander or even get lost (like Moses or Solomon) but they never become goats. JOH 10:14-15, 27-29. c. The truth of salvation is not the absolute perseverance of the saint, but the absolute preservation of the saint by God. PSA 37:28; JUDE 1:1. 4. “And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (v. 19). The true gospel of salvation both comforts by its promises of God’s faithfulness to save His own and teaches us to live godly. TIT 2:11-15. 2 Timothy 2:14-19 3-6-25 Page 2 of 2