Well, What Are We Going To Talk About?!
In 2 Timothy 2:14-26, there are some clear instructions about talk to avoid, conversations to have, and how we are to live if we are known by God. I pulled 3 phrases out of this passage for our consideration:
Don’t quarrel about words (14).
Avoid irreverent babble (16).
Have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant controversies (23).
Having gone to graduate school and having led a Christian university for nearly 20 years, I heard a lot of words, studied a lot of words, and have sat through lengthy conversations and arguments about words. I suppose there are some words that are worthy of considerable discussion and debate. On the other hand, there are quarrels about words that do exactly what Paul suggests they would do: “which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.” Sadly, I have seen friendships end, and even seen some seminary students walk away from their faith, partly due to the arguments over the interpretation of some words.
It would have been nice if the apostle Paul had given us a list of words we aren’t to quarrel about! However, I suspect that in the context of this chapter, this letter, all Paul’s writings, and all of scripture, we are to make that determination by being led by the Holy Spirit and based on the wisdom of God.
Paul also told us in these few verses that we are to study his word and handle it well. Skimming your favorite verses occasionally does not qualify you to have “presented yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” To live out that last sentence requires spiritual discipline, study, and time.
Paul also said to avoid “irreverent babble;” the Greek word translated as irreverent has to do with worldly or secular things. Unfortunately, far too many believers spend a lot of time on social media and in personal conversations focused on worldly things instead of spiritual things. And worse, we sometimes try to make the worldly things sound spiritual. When we do this, Paul once again tells us what happens:
“For it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene.”
Ouch! When we as believers argue and spend time in irreverent talk, we actually lead people toward things that are worldly and not toward godliness. And the worst part might be that these are the topics that become gossip and spread like gangrene.
Towards the end of this chapter, Paul gives us one more instruction:
“Have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant controversies.”
Paul comes at this 3 different ways in this passage, which should tell us that he knew full well that believers would drift toward the worldly and the worthless talk and activities if we do not stay focused on Jesus and his kingdom as the main thing.
I believe Paul is echoing Jesus and James, who remind us that Christian living is far less about talking and a whole lot about living right, loving deeply, and practicing mercy daily.
Father, open our minds to hear your word. Open our hearts to make the changes in our behavior and in our speech so that we model the life of Jesus in all we do. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
2 Timothy 2:14-26 ESV
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