Don’t just be careful, stay away!

Scripture Read: 1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and apposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— ²¹ which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.

Application: Paul has reached out to Timothy concerning the importance of protecting the integrity of God’s Truth, he then clarifies what Timothy needs to stay away from. Paul chooses his words precisely so that there will be no confusion. The church was deeply influenced by the Gnostics, who claimed to have the “higher” knowledge. Paul dealt with this issue in his letter to the Colossians, and also needed to here because history testifies that Gnosticism continued to grow until its height in the middle of the second century of the Church. The Lord has no problem with believers that have healthy debates about interesting issues, God wants us to be thinkers, deep ones, He made the mind. However, the issues here are not healthy and so Paul begins with a clear directive to Timothy. He does say be careful when discussing these things, the word he uses is:  

Avoid - ἐκτρέπω ektrépō  from ek, from and trépō, to turn. To turn out or away, to turn oneself aside or away from a way or course, avoid.^[1]

Don’t even play with it! How many times do we fall because we think we can dance with sin and hold it loosely? Sin will not be held loosely, it will turn and grip you! As Paul describes the kind of issues we are to avoid, take note what they mean in the original:

Worldly - βέβηλος bébēlos; from baínō, to go, and bḗlos, a threshold, particularly of a temple, so that bébēlos properly denoted one who either was or ought to have been debarred from the threshold or entrance of a temple. Profane, void of religion or piety^[2] The word refers to Gnostic teachings which are scornfully described as profane and unholy μῦθοι (1 Tm. 4:7) and κενοφωνίαι (1 Tm. 6:20; 2Tm. 2:16). In opposition to their claim to offer an inward truth of religion inaccessible to others, the Gnostic statements concerning God are actually seen to be outside the sphere of the holy God and His Gospel.^[3]

Empty Chatter - κενοφωνία kenophōnía; from kenós, vain, and phōnḗ, a voice. Empty or fruitless speaking. In 1 Tim. 6:20 and 2 Tim. 2:16, Paul designates the bébēloi, godless, as those who engage in kenophōnía, senseless or wicked discourses, speeches that are devoid of any divine or spiritual character, fruitless as far as the satisfaction of man’s need of salvation and the molding of Christian life and character are concerned. It is equivalent to the “empty words” in Eph. 5:6.^[4]

Arguments - ἀντίθεσις antíthesis; to oppose, which is from antí, against and títhēmi, to place. Opposition, opposite opinions, contrary positions or doctrine. Equivalent to the Eng. word “antithesis,” which is derived from this Greek word.^[5]

These are discussions that will lead only in the wrong direction. They create divisions and quarrels. Their end is properly described by Paul:

Gone astray ἀστοχέω astochéō; one who misses his aim, target. To err, deviate in a figurative and spiritual sense, not to reach one’s goal. More distinctively, the verb does not mean to miss achieving the aim that one has set, but not to set the proper aim at which one ought to aim. It is not focusing on the right goal instead of not achieving one’s set aim. Naturally if one specializes in the proclamation of something that is not essential and central, he will inevitably neglect that which is central and important.^[6]

This is not some great target that was missed because of bad aim. This is picking the wrong target, which leads to everything else being wrong. The point is very simple and plain – we should do everything, which includes intellectual discussions, philosophizing and debates, with an end that will increase our faith! If we are getting in discussions or arguments that are more about how smart we are or how right we are, that is the wrong target and we are endangering not only ourselves, but everyone that participates with us. The goal of all knowledge is to learn more about the One that made our mind. That is worth learning.

Meditation Questions: How much do you hate sin? How much do you hate the sin in your life? Are there sins in your life that you only “dislike”? Do you think this would cause a problem? What kind of problems do you think this could cause? Are there mystery passages in the Scripture that fascinate you? How do you deal with them? How much time do you invest in trying to solve them? Looking at that investment of time – how much time do you spend fully understanding the things Go has made clear? What does that say? 

---

^[1] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

^[2] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

^[3] Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964- (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

^[4] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

^[5] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

^[6] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.