CORRECTLY HANDLE THE WORD OF TRUTH

Passage: 2 Timothy 2:14-19

Key verse: 15

NIV

Dealing With False Teachers

14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words;(A) 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.(B) 16 Avoid godless chatter,(C) because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus(D) and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place,(E) and they destroy the faith of some.(F) 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,(G) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”(H) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord(I) must turn away from wickedness.”

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

A Worker Approved by God

14 Remind them of these things, and (A)charge them before God[a] (B)not to quarrel about words, (C)which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,[b] a worker (D)who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But (E)avoid (F)irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are (G)Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, (H)saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: (I)“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone (J)who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Timothy 2:14 Some manuscripts the Lord
  2. 2 Timothy 2:15 That is, one approved after being tested
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. A workman who is not ashamed (14-15)

'These things' (14) refers to the gospel stated in 11-13. Christians should not quarrel about peripheral things or argue about words. We must study God's word prayerfully and diligently. The Bible is about Jesus, and our Bible study must lead us to him. We must do our best to be workmen who correctly handle the word of truth. We must pay attention to what the Bible says, think about what it means, and apply it to our own lives. Scripture is interpreted by other Scripture. We must serve God's word, hold it in our hearts and seek to plant it in others.

2. God's solid foundation of truth (16-19)

Some people enjoy sarcastic humor; others like lewd speech. Some show off their knowledge by pointless theological arguments. All godless chatter tears down faith; it does not build up. God's solid foundation is his elect people who obey and teach his word of truth. God knows his own; his own confess Jesus' name and turn from wickedness. They do not need to argue with ungodly people.

Prayer: Lord, help me to hold your word in my heart so that my conversation builds up others.

One Word: Handle the word of truth correctly