But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus.
2 Timothy 2:16-17
We are all aware of the power of words. There are many instances in life when an unkind or tactless remark could even scar a child psychologically for life. We are exhorted to be conscious of the words uttered for “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”
Our words and conversation will often reflect our attitudes and values. Moreover, on the day of judgement , we will have to give an account of every word spoken. How serious is this in the eyes of God!
We are advised here in 2 Tim to avoid profane and vain babblings . They are considered worldly and valueless “noise.” Less obvious and more subtle than fighting, they have the effect of destroying godliness.
“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness” (1 Tim 4:7). Because “godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8), Paul strongly urged Timothy to “keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith” (1 Tim 6:20-21).
The “oppositions” spoken of are the “antithesis”—the conflict, the stand against knowledge. It sounds like knowledge or wisdom but is not true.
The results of these “babblings” are not good. Ungodliness will increase. Error will eat away at spiritual health and truth like gangrene, slowly but surely. The two church leaders that Paul mentions, Hymenaeus and Philetus, are listed as examples of such a cancer. They taught that the resurrection had already occurred for the saints.
We need to constantly check ourselves whether our conversation will help build confidence or encourage our hearers. If we have to reprove, do we do it with love? Do our words send the ‘wrong message’ to others about our faith or our character? The seeds of every word arise from our thoughts. How much more we have to guard our thought life.
Peter’s has a similar warning here: “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.” (2 Pet 3:17).
May the words of our mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be holy and acceptable in His sight (Ps 19:14). May we learn to be cautious with our words , and be quick to encourage but slow to anger and meek when provoked.
