SATURDAY, MARCH 18
2 Timothy 2:16-18
1 Timothy 1:20

"… I have delivered unto Satan,
that they may learn not to blaspheme."

WARNINGS AGAINST PROFANE BABBLINGS

Paul gave his injunction to Timothy that he must campaign as a good soldier against the opponents of Christ and the gospel. Timothy must be uncompromising on the matter of sound doctrine. Paul warned him that a religious teacher who knew the truth but taught falsehood, or allowed falsehood to be taught under his jurisdiction, would not have a good conscience. He would be condemned for such a perversion.

Paul admonished Timothy to avoid profane, empty talk for it would advance to more ungodliness. "Profane" describes worldly or godless talk void of any spiritual value (2 Tim 2:16). "Vain babbling" is empty talk, chatter, or foolish discussion that produces nothing but empty chaff. These are the characteristics of false teachers. Since words and conduct are inseparable, ungodly conduct would be advanced by ungodly words.

Paul was not hesitant to name names and wrote that these false teachers, Hymenaeus and Philetus, were condemned not for saying there was no resurrection, but for teaching that the first resurrection was past already. Paul wrote of those whom he had delivered unto Satan, so that they might not teach others to blaspheme. This means he excommunicated them from the church. He turned them back to the world so that if they were truly God’s children, they would realize their sin and come back to the church in repentance. Paul’s concern was for the protection of the church as well as the constructive correction of Hymenaeus and Philetus.

Let us keep ourselves from profane and vain babblings! Let us guard our mouth from blaspheming our God. Let us keep our words guided always by the Word of God and the Spirit of God!

THOUGHT: Am I guarding my mouth from sin and blasphemy?
PRAYER: "O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom" (Ps 74:10-11).