Dr Paul Allen

Saint Timothy (ortodox icon) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus ." ( 2 Timothy 2:16-17 ) Paul's earlier warning about "word fights" ( 2 Timothy 2:14 ) is strengthened in the text above with a different emphasis. Word fights are "picky" debates started by quarrelsome people. They are useless and divisive. They create conflicts and schisms. Profane and vain babblings, however, are worldly and valueless "noise." Less obvious and more subtle than fighting, they have the effect of destroying godliness . "But refuse profane |ungodly| and old wives' fables |myths, baseless stories|, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness" ( 1 Timothy 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 Ti

Image via Wikipedia Image via Wikipedia "Their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus ; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." ( 2 Timothy 2:17-18 )   Many Christians decry the citing of actual names of those Christian leaders who teach heretical doctrines, saying that such an act is "unloving." Paul, however, considered it an important evidence of true love to warn against those who would "overthrow the faith of some," realizing that generalities would be useless.   Not only did Hymenaeus and Philetus make Paul's list, but so did Demas ( 2 Timothy 4:10 ), Alexander the coppersmith ( 2 Timothy 4:14 ), the Cretians ( Titus 1:12 ), another Alexander ( 1 Timothy 1:20 ), and even Peter ( Galatians 2:11-14 ) when he began to teach legalism. Likewise, the apostle John warned against Diotrephes ( 3 John 9 ) and the Nicolaitans ( Revelation 2:6 ).   On