Week 49 2 Timothy
Back in 1 Timothy I saw that Paul had warned Timothy about false teaching. So I was wondering if things had changed in the second letter. Apparently they hadn’t.
I found more warnings:
1. don’t quarrel about words
2. avoid irreverent babble
3. have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies.
The problem for me – just like it was in 1 Timothy – is that Paul doesn’t pin-down what exactly the words & babblings & controversies are. Which is unfortunate.
Another thing Paul did – just like back in 1 Timothy – is to point out that fake teaching had negative repercussions:
1. Nit-picking over words does no good, but only ruins the hearers
2. Irreverent babble leads people into more and more ungodliness
3. Ignorant controversies breed quarrels.
Near the end of the letter I see what looks to me like a helpful summary:
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
Adopting nonsensical myths isn’t the starting point. It only comes after a couple of other criteria are in place:
First I’ve decided that sound doctrine is intolerable
Second (or maybe at about the same time) I’ve quit listening to truth
Third I’ve started picking-and-choosing my own preferences
Finally when those are settled I’m in the market for myths.
Note: quotes from 2 Timothy 2:13-17 23 1:13 4:3-4 (ESV)