14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. (2 Timothy 2:14-18 KJV)
A Worker Approved by God
Having encouraged Timothy to endure hardship, Paul now directs him in his ministry. Timothy must make it his business to edify those under his care, reminding them of the truths they already know. This is the minister’s duty—not to bring new revelations, but to remind believers of established truth, charging them not to strive about words. Those who are inclined to argue usually quarrel over trivial matters. Such strifes are destructive to the things of God and of no profit. If people realized how useless most controversies in religion are, they would not engage so zealously in these verbal disputes, which distract from the great truths of God and lead to unchristian tempers and divisions. These disputes only shake some and subvert others; therefore, ministers must charge their people before the Lord not to strive about words.
Paul continues, “Study to show yourself approved unto God” (2 Timothy 2:15). Ministers must focus on being approved by God, seeking His acceptance above all. This requires diligence and devotion: study to show yourself such a one—a workman who does not need to be ashamed. Ministers are workers; they have a sacred task and must be industrious in it. Unskilled or careless workers have reason to be ashamed, but those who faithfully do their duty will not. Their work is to rightly divide the word of truth—not to invent new doctrine, but to handle the gospel faithfully. They must speak warning to those who need warning and comfort to those who need encouragement, giving each person their portion in due season (Matthew 24:45).
The word that ministers preach is the word of truth, for its author is the God of truth. Great wisdom, study, and care are needed to divide this word rightly, so Timothy must labor diligently in this task.
He must also avoid anything that would hinder his ministry (2 Timothy 2:16). He must shun profane and empty talk. The heretics of his time, boasting in their ideas and arguments, thought their teachings profound, but Paul calls them “profane and vain babblings.” Those who delight in such talk will only increase in ungodliness. The path of error is downward—one falsehood leads to another. “Their word will eat like a canker,” or gangrene. Once heresy spreads in the church, it infects many, just as one error often leads to others in the same person.
Paul names two false teachers—Hymenaeus and Philetus—to warn believers against them. They had strayed from the truth, particularly concerning one of the core doctrines of the Christian faith—the resurrection of the dead. They did not openly deny it (which would have directly opposed Christ’s words) but twisted its meaning, claiming that the resurrection was already past and should be understood only in a mystical or spiritual sense.
It is true that there is a spiritual resurrection, but to deny a literal resurrection of the body at the last day contradicts Christ’s teaching. By this false doctrine, they overthrew the faith of some, leading them away from the hope of resurrection and eternal life. If there is no resurrection or future state, then there is no reward for our labors and sufferings, and “we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19). Whatever undermines the doctrine of a future state destroys the foundation of Christian faith. Paul had already refuted this error at length in 1 Corinthians 15 and therefore does not repeat his arguments here.
The babblings Timothy was to avoid were both profane and empty, leading only to more ungodliness. Error is dangerous because it spreads rapidly, like a gangrene. Those who err from the truth often disguise it with plausible words. Hymenaeus and Philetus did not deny a resurrection but claimed it had already happened. Yet any doctrine that undermines the foundation of the gospel will overthrow the faith of some.