2 Timothy 2:15-16 - Wed. PM

Which of the following teaching or Bible study formats are Healthier or not Healthy for the church?

And which of the following Bible study teaching practices are Biblical or not Biblical?

1. Open discussion and answers where any Bible interpretation goes and no one is ever corrected for mishandling the Word of God or Misrepresenting the Word of God. ** Healthier or unHealthy / Biblical or unbiblical ??

2. Teaching and some open discussion where the whole group is concerned about Rightly dividing the Word of God and they're not concerned about man's opinion and correction takes place whenever the Bible is misrepresented? ** Healthier or unhealthy / Biblical or unbiblical ??

Obviously the Second teaching format is the correct one. In fact a simple reading of the NT will show you times when this kind of correcting went on.

1. For the unlearned who misrepresented the Word of God and gentle correction was the norm.

2. For the stubborn false teacher a stern rebuke and sometimes church discipline was the norm.

3. It's important to know that the early Church did not simply let False teaching and Misrepresentation of God's Word go unaddressed.

Unaddressed Misrepresentation of God's Word leads to a number of problems within the Body of Christ:

We've already seen in 2 Tim. 2 that it leads to the ruin of the hearers in 2:14

Ruin = [kat-as-trof-ay] overthrow or destruction

That does not mean that every false teaching causes a True Christian to stop walking with God:

BUT false teachings lead to False practices!

False practices lead to False lifestyles for the Christian.

And false Christian lifestyles ARE NOT GODLY, but rather follow the World's Philosophies.

When a church or a Christian fails to be concerned about representing God's Word just at it is, they open themselves and the church to the teachings and philosophies of this world.

Stoicism - no earthly pleasure, no emotion at all, always found apathetic

Monasticism - removing themselves from all worldly concerns / no family, no marriage, no earthly pleasure.

Epicureans - feeding the lust was their pursuit in life, live now, indulge yourself.

Example of: Acts 17:18, "Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him..."

Paul made it absolutely clear to the Church at Colossia, that Jesus was the standard for Wisdom not the World.

Col. 2:8, Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Getting back to our study in 2 Tim. 2, Paul has just told Timothy to Rightly divide the Word of God.

Be diligent is a command to Timothy and to us - "Do it!"

Paul's next command deals with Timothy's response to the False teacher:

2Tim. 2:16, But shun profane and idle babblings,

Shun = [avoided, discouraged, refused, rejected]

Profane = in the context "of men" in contrast to of God!

Idle babblings = empty & useless discussion or teaching

Teaching that finds no basis in God's Word should not become part of a Christian's practice or lifestyle. They should not play any part in the Christians life. No, in stead, they need to be avoided, shunned, stood against.

v. 16, "for they will increase to more ungodliness."

Profane teaching is man's teaching, man's spin on God's Word. This kind of teaching does NOT lead to godliness! Regardless of how well intentioned the Christian is. It's either God's Word and a God given practice resulting from that or NOT. If the teaching is man's wisdom mixed with God's Word, then it's tainted, it's profane. Adding a bit of man's practice to God's Word corrupts what God would have us to do. Just look at the Scribes and Pharisees.

Paul's command to Timothy is still applicable today.

Shun = [avoid, discourage, refuse, reject * ]

Profane = Men's teachings / man's philosophies mixed in with God's Word.

Idle babblings = useless teachings of men

God's Word without mixture is the Standard for life and practice, all other teachings lead to ungodliness.

Just because a group of Christians or an individual Christian has morality does not mean that all their practices and life styles are godly. If the teaching, the practice, the life style does not line up with God's Word (rightly divided) it's man's practice, man's life style and that makes it profane and ungodly. Monasticism / Stoicism / Epicureanism * all found their way into the church through members that mixed worldy philosophies with God's Word. Cutting God's Word straight we produce a lifestyle that pleases God, any thing else is ungodliness.

2Timothy - Outlines & Notes