Daily Writing

Wednesday, 4 April 2018

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19

The word “Nevertheless” is given as a contrast to the false teachings of people such as have been mentioned in verses 16-18. The two false teachers, Hymenaeus and Philetus, had taught that which was untrue about the resurrection, but no matter what they had said, “the solid foundation of God stands.” In other words, there is one foundation, Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 3:11), and that foundation is proclaimed by the prophets and apostles (see Ephesians 2:20) where Christ is the chief cornerstone of this foundation.

What Paul is saying is that the truth of the word of God is not diminished by false teachings. Despite people making outrageous or misleading claims which dupe people, the truth of the word stands. Some may walk away from the faith because they have been misled, but what they should have done is turned to the word and studied it on their own instead of losing heart and turning away. Paul then confirms the truth of God’s word in this manner by saying, “having this seal.”

Paul is using the term here metaphorically. A letter from a king is sealed with his royal seal in order to show its authenticity, that it has not been altered, and that it is official. Buildings, at times, are inscribed with a note of their original purpose, and who had been behind their construction. Such things show the source, the intent, and the reliability of what is stated. Likewise, the solid foundation of God is similarly sealed. The seal is that, “The Lord knows those who are His.”

This then is one of the inscriptions which is permanently seen on the foundation stone. Christ knows who belongs to Him, and who does not. Being led astray does not negate being His, just as having sound doctrine doesn’t necessarily mean one is His. Belief in His work is the deciding factor. In Nahum 1:7, it says, “…He knows who trust Him.” This is what the Lord looks for above all else. In his words now, Paul may have been thinking of Numbers 16:5 –

“…and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is His and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses He will cause to come near to Him.”

Jesus gave this same type of terminology in John 10:14, acknowledging that He knows His sheep. No true believer will be left out of His promises. The inscription is written. Further, Paul next says, “and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’” This is a second seal, or inscription, made upon the foundation. It may be a loose merging together of several verses from Isaiah. In Isaiah 26:13, we read –

“O Lord our God, masters besides You
Have had dominion over us;
But by You only we make mention of Your name.”

Also, we read in Isaiah 52:11 this –

“Depart! Depart! Go out from there,
Touch no unclean thing;
Go out from the midst of her,
Be clean,
You who bear the vessels of the Lord.”

Paul may be citing these two verses, or maybe he was just drawing them from the store of his memory as truth which apply to the church. Either way, the Lord divinely inspired Paul that this is the second inscription of the foundation. Those who are known by the Lord are to live lives of holiness to Him. We are to depart from iniquity and follow sound doctrine.

In citing these two things, it cannot be inferred that Paul is saying the two false teachers are not saved believers. Instead, he could be saying exactly the opposite. The Lord knows who are His, despite the incorrect doctrine, and they are being admonished by Paul, through Timothy, to turn from the iniquity of their false teaching. As it was, they were examples for the church in all subsequent generations to not be followed or emulated. For those who follow the proper path, they are to stay on it and not get caught up in such false ramblings.

Life application: We are all accountable to God for our doctrine. If we fail to follow sound teaching, it does not negate our salvation – if our conversion was true. However, we will not be considered obedient to the Lord, and so we are exhorted to turn from the iniquity of false teachings, and to pursue holiness and righteousness through a sound evaluation of Scripture.

Lord God, You know who belong to You. The Shepherd knows each of His flock. But we often get misdirected from the fold. We are prone to wander off into unsound teachings. Help us to not do this, but give us hearts that are willing to search out what is true, and to stay in line with that always. In this, we will stay safely among the flock and not be exposed to the false teachings of wolves. This we pray that we will be pleasing to You in our lives and doctrine. Amen.

Tuesday, 3 April 2018

…who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 2 Timothy 2:18

“Who” is referring to Hymenaeus and Philetus of the previous verse. Paul said of them that their message would spread like a gangrene which quickly consumes and corrupts. Thus, the message they proclaim is a false one. He then says of them, “who have strayed concerning the truth.”

The words, “have strayed” are from a Greek word used only by Paul in 1 & 2 Timothy. This is its final use. It signifies “off target.” If proper doctrine were a straight line, these two have gone off that straight line. This does not mean that such people are necessarily heretics, but that their doctrine is askew. Heresy and bad doctrine are not always the same thing. In this case, what they are teaching is a type of heresy, and it is a source of causing others to wander and have their faith overthrown. As Paul notes, it is not correct “concerning the truth.” Thus, they are teaching that which is false.

And what is their false doctrine? They are “saying that the resurrection is already past.” The reason that what they are teaching can be considered heretical is because although they are teaching that the resurrection is true, they are saying that it had already occurred. The problem with this is that in taking the Lord’s Supper, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 11, we “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” If the resurrection is already past, then the Lord must have returned, and we are taking the Lord’s Supper for no reason at all. In their doctrine, they are teaching one of a few possible scenarios.

1) That Christ has returned and resurrected His believers at the rapture. If this is so, then everyone else, including these two numb skulls, have been left behind. The implication is that they must now enter the tribulation period. This means that those left behind were not true Christians. Talk about wrecking someone’s faith.

2) That the resurrection has occurred, and the tribulation period is now anticipated as outlined by Paul in 2 Thessalonians. This means that all living believers must then go through the tribulation period. Only the dead have been resurrected, but there is no pre-tribulation rapture for those who were left alive at the Lord’s coming. But Paul has already explained this is incorrect in 1 Thessalonians 4. This would ruin the faith of those who had been instructed concerning this event as it was outlined in Paul’s other letters. (Note: If you accept a mid- or post- tribulation, you will still be going pre-trib. However, you will just be more surprised than the rest of us).

3) That the resurrection has occurred, and those resurrected are living among the believers, awaiting the end times events together. This would mean that Paul was wrong about the conversion of our bodies to new bodies in 1 Corinthians 15. This would ruin the faith of the believers because Paul was wrong about this issue. Instead of new bodies, we are forever stuck in these fallen, corruptible, pain-filled bodies.

For one of these, and possibly other reasons, these people were wrecking the faith of others by claiming that the resurrection is past. Why is this important to have recorded in Paul’s letter? It is because the truth of the issue has not, and will not, change throughout the church age. Anyone who claims that the resurrection has occurred is causing the same confusion now as was caused at Paul’s time. In this, they are calling into question the truth of Paul’s words, and thus the truth of Scripture. In doing so, “they overthrow the faith of some.”

This is a constant state of some people. It has been the same since the beginning. They teach this nonsense, and it can be found on Christian blogs and discussion boards even today. People will claim that the tribulation period has already started. People will claim that the rapture has already occurred, people will claim that there is a resurrection but it is not tied to the rapture, and so on. Each time they make these inane claims, they imply that what Paul says is incorrect. Each of these views comes from someone with a perverse mind, who is filled with vain babbling, and who has no idea of what he is talking about.

There will be a resurrection, it will be at the time of the rapture, and it will be for all true believers in Christ – from the first to the last throughout the church age – and it will be pre-tribulation. The saints will not enter the tribulation period; something implied in Paul’s words here. Note: John’s “first resurrection” of Revelation 20:5 is not what is being referred to in these comments. The rapture is something different than the resurrection of those who die for Christ in the Tribulation period.

To understand the timing of these things, as outlined by Paul, this video can be watched. It clearly and concisely presents the timing of the events – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQrh8mc8w-4

Life application: If you are a saved believer in Jesus Christ, and someone tells you that the resurrection is already past, tell them to take a hike. They have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. When the resurrection occurs, the believer in Christ will know it, personally. There is no secret knowledge that these folks possess in this matter. When the event occurs, all true believers will be affected at the same time.

Lord God, please keep us from people who teach false messages about things like the rapture, the resurrection, and the tribulation period. Your word shows that nobody is going to know in advance when the rapture will occur. It details the timeline of Your coming for Your people, and it tells about the tribulation period after that. Help us to not have our faith shaken by those who have not properly handled Scripture. May our doctrine be sound and in line with Your word! Amen.

Monday, 2 April 2018

And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 2 Timothy 2:17

The words of this verse build on what Paul said concerning “profane and idle babblings” of the previous verse. Paul exhorted Timothy to shun those things. Unless that was done, Paul knew one thing was for sure concerning those who spoke out such nonsense, “their message will spread.”

The Greek words here literally state, “will have a pasture.” In other words, just as animals find a field of grass and come in to eat it up, moving ever-outward in order to find more fresh grass, so will such a perverse message spread. Paul then says, “like cancer.” The Greek word is gaggraina, and it is found only here in the Bible. It signifies “gangrene.” The word “cancer” is not a good choice. Cancer can get into a person and affect only one portion of the body. Further, it can take quite a while for the cancer to finally destroy the person, even years. Gangrene is something which spreads quickly, and if not excised immediately, it will eat up everything around it.

Paul then speaks of two people who were just like gangrene, Hymenaeus and Philetus. Hymenaeus is probably the same person noted in 1 Timothy 1:20 whom Paul “delivered to Satan” along with a guy named Alexander so that “they may learn not to blaspheme.” Apparently, he didn’t learn anything. He and Philetus were like a festering gangrene which ate away at the saints with their profane and idle babblings.

The name Hymenaeus comes from Hymen, the Greek god of weddings. Instead of looking in anticipation of a marriage to Christ, he taught others to be wedded to unsound things which profited no one. The name Philetos gives the sense of “amiable,” or “worthy of close friendship.” Unfortunately, the things he taught only made him unworthy of the friendship of the saints. Until these two stopped their unholy speaking, they would only cause dissension, not unity. In the coming verse, the false message they proclaimed will be explained.

Life application: As you go to Bible class, or discuss biblical matters on social media, watch closely and see who is teaching something sound and reasonable, and who is engaging in the discourse to simply stir up trouble. If you step back and carefully evaluate people’s words, it won’t take long for you to come across these gangrenous folks. Once you have identified them, don’t argue with them, just cut them off. They are a festering sore which will only spread and cause trouble and division.

Lord God, Paul describes the message that some folks spread among the church as gangrene. That is something which is festering, destroys quickly, and unless cut off, it will continue to cause disruption and harm. Help us to identify such festering folly, and then to cut off communication with those teachers so that they don’t continue to harm proper doctrine. Your word is far too precious to be attacked in this way. Give us wisdom in this, O Lord. Amen.

Sunday, 1 April 2018

But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 2 Timothy 2:16

The word “But” here is given as a strong and stark contrast to the things just stated, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” It was a positive exhortation intended to guide Timothy’s life and conduct before the Lord, and in the handling of His precious word. Now, Paul exhorts him to “…shun profane and idle babblings.”

The word translated as “shun” is one which means, “to stand around.” As it is in the middle voice here, it thus signifies to turn oneself around in order to avoid contact with something. The sense then is to look away from, and keep away from, such things. In this case, it is “profane and idle babblings.” The word “profane” means “worldly.” It comes from two words signifying “go” and “threshold.” Thus it is to cross a threshold which profanes due to improper entrance. The words are unfit to access God, particularly because faith is not involved.

The second word, translated as “babblings,” was first used by Paul in 1 Timothy 6:20 as he closed out his first letter to Timothy. It signifies empty disputing and worthless babble. This is now the second and last use of it in the Bible. In other words, Paul has already said this to him, but he is reminding him of the danger of such contact. This is how Paul stated it there –

“O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— ²¹ by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.

Grace be with you. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:20, 21

Paul then gives a sound reason for avoiding these things by saying, “for they will increase to more ungodliness.” The word translated as “increase” means to advance. It is as if they are on a mission, removing obstacles in the process in order to meet a set goal. They are as soldiers marching from a state of ungodliness to more ungodliness. In the process, they spit out their worthless words in order to bring more into their ranks as they continue forward.

Such people are found in abundance in Christian blogs, chat rooms, and discussion boards. They play Scripture tennis, pulling verses out of context, and dispute simply for the sake of disputing. Their goal is never edification, but destruction. Two of such people will be mentioned by Paul next, and he will explain the destructive effects of their march toward ruin.

Life application: Paul says elsewhere, “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” Playing Scripture tennis with a fool can only lead you to looking like one too. Give your case, state your stand, support your doctrine, and the be done with the perverse people who simply want to hear themselves as they rush headlong into destruction. Don’t let them take you there as well.

Heavenly Father, give us wise discernment to not argue with fools. Your word tells us to reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition. It’s hard to follow this path, because pride steps in and we want to defend our case concerning You and Your gospel. But there are many who couldn’t care diddly. They only want to hear themselves, and to prove their know-it-all-ness in the process. Give us wisdom with such warped people, and the presence of mind to cut them off from further words. May we conduct our affairs to Your glory alone. Amen.

Saturday, 31 March 2018

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

The previous verse exhorted Timothy to charge others “before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit.” Now he contrasts that with a thought concerning Timothy himself, beginning with, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God.” The word translated as “Be diligent” carries with it the sense of being swift, or hastening. And so there is a sense of urgency in the act. To paraphrase it, “Present yourself approved to God, and do so with fervency.”

In his statement is a contrast to striving about words to no profit. Such striving will only ruin those who hear. However, in presenting oneself approved to God, the minister will teach what is sound, reasonable, and in context. His doctrine will be set in order to please God rather than his hearers. Instead of ruining the hearer, there will be edification and growth in sanctification and towards holiness. In performing in this manner, Timothy (and any such minister) will be “a worker who does not need to be ashamed.”

In presenting proper doctrine, there may be bitterness towards the teacher, but there will be no shame before God. Which is more important? In 2 Corinthians 11:13, Paul contrasts this with those who will be ashamed. There he says, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.” Timothy is implored now to remember such people and not act like them. In the end, all will stand before God, and they will have their works revealed. They will be tested for purity at that time. Many will stand ashamed. One particular way to ensure that such will not be the case is for the minster to ensure he is “rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Here Paul uses a word found only here in the Bible. It comes from two words which signify “straight” and “cut.” We can imagine a carpenter ensuring that the board he is cutting is straight, so that it will fit properly elsewhere. A tile-setter will make his cuts straight so that the mosaic will be harmonious and pleasing to the eye. The priest of Israel would cut the sacrifices properly to ensure that the parts which were dedicated to God would be wholly reserved to Him as required. To improperly cut any such thing will lead to faults or flaws in what is cut. Therefore, the one receiving the item will have a diminished quality of product. The house frame will be off, the mosaic will look odd, and the sacrifice to God will be displeasing.

The same is true with presenting Scripture. Pulling one verse out of its intended context, and then inserting it with another verse in an inappropriate manner, will lead to something wholly unintended by God. Scripture should be used to interpret Scripture, not misinterpret it. The axiom, “A verse out of context is a pretext,” is correct. It should always be remembered. To rightly divide the word of truth is to maintain truth in the word. Anything else is to form a lie, not intended by God for the instruction of His people.

In 1 Corinthians 3:9-15, Paul speaks of erecting a building upon a foundation. He says there that the foundation is Jesus Christ. Elsewhere (Ephesians 2:20), he says that the foundation is the prophets and apostles with Christ as the chief Cornerstone. What that means is that the prophets and apostles spoke of Christ. Their word is what teaches of Him. Thus He is both the Cornerstone and the Foundation, as revealed through their words. This building is now being constructed out of the people of the church. Our works are being revealed through this process, and Paul says that there is a time of judgment upon those works. Take time to read that passage and consider if what you are doing is in line with the concept of “rightly dividing” the word of truth.

Life application: It can be difficult for a minister to continue with sound doctrine when the numbers are dwindling and no new congregants are coming in to replace them, or when people turn away because they don’t like what they hear. But in the end, if the ministry is the Lord’s to begin with, it is His to end. A church not established on this ideal is one not worth attending. And one that is faithful should be considered that way, even if it is time to close the doors. If He established it, then He will continue it or close it. Changing doctrine away from what is biblically correct to keep a church open is evidence that the church is not in the Lord’s will at all. Run, don’t walk from such a place.

Lord God, when a church is established on Your word, and it later changes its doctrine away from what Your word teaches, it really is no longer Your church. Your word is eternal and unchanging. How sad it is that so many churches are now accepting what You have already forbidden. What a mournful day for them when they present their life and doctrine for Your evaluation. Convert hearts now Lord, before that terrifying day comes when many find out that they were never approved. Amen.