WORKERS APPROVED BY GOD
Opening Prayer
Father in heaven, as I come to you now, fill me with your spirit. Help me to live each moment of this day in ways that bring you glory. May the love of Christ be faithfully expressed in my words and actions.
Read 2 TIMOTHY 2:14-19
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Dealing With False Teachers
14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
May we be strong in biblical doctrine and not moved by wrong teaching around us.
Paul now emphasizes the solid foundation of truth (v 19), understood as the teaching of Jesus1 and his apostles2 or, more widely, the church.3 Paul assures us that God knows those who are his, and that they know the Lord and are called to holiness.4 Good doctrine is basic to Christian life: we need to handle the Word of truth well (v 15). To do this we must study the Word of God. There are false teachers in the world today, as in Timothy’s time, and if we are not strong in the Word we can easily be swayed. One prevalent heresy is the ‘prosperity gospel,’ which is enticing in the affluent West and even for middle-class Christians in India. We should be awake and vigilant.
Paul gives three warnings. First, avoid ‘godless chatter’ (v 16); second, do not get involved in foolish arguments because such arguments are confusing, useless, and even harmful. False teachers can argue about unnecessary details and cause strife and division. Third, Paul asks us to ignore unbiblical teaching, such as speculation about the resurrection (vs 17,18).
We need to study the Bible carefully and be aware of false teaching. When I studied at a liberal college in Bangalore, I decided to try to prove my evangelical faith, for if it was false I was a fool to hold on to it. I applied logical thinking to my studies and came to two conclusions. First, the Bible was logical and true; and second, that some Christians based too much thinking on conjecture and baseless theories. I became a stronger evangelical!
Apply
We strive to be approved workers for God, correctly handling the Word of truth.
Closing prayer
Loving Lord, thank you for your truth that changes lives; may that truth reign in my heart, my words, and my actions. Give me wisdom to share your truth clearly, without compromise, and with love.
1 See 1 Cor 3:11 2 See Eph 2:20; Rev 21:14 3 1 Tim 3:15 4 Cf 2 Tim 1:9
Book and Author Intros
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