THEIR WORD WILL EAT AS DOTH A CANKER

Verses 16 to 18 are all linked and are a contrast to what is detailed in the preceding verse. In verse 15, Paul wants Timothy to do two things. He wants him to ‘walk the walk’ - ‘study to shew thyself approved unto God’. He also wants him to ‘talk the talk’ - ‘rightly dividing the word of truth’. These exhortations are set against the backdrop of an increasing number of men who will not present the ‘word of truth’ but who will traffic in ‘profane and vain babblings’. The erroneous doctrines of these men will result in the insidious spread of corruption.

In verse 16, Paul describes the conversation of the false teachers as ‘profane and vain babblings’. He also tells us of their course for they will ‘increase unto more ungodliness’. In verse 17, we are informed about their corruption, for ‘their word will eat as doth a canker’. Canker erodes that which is healthy by gnawing it away and replacing it with that which will pro­duce decay.

On four occasions in the Pastoral Epistles Paul refers to ‘sound doctrine’. The adjective ‘sound’ qualifies both the teach­ing itself and its outcomes, for it is ‘health giving’. Such doctrine is what God intends His people to hear, but, in verse 17, men like Hymenaeus and Philetus peddle an altogether different form of teaching. Their brand of teaching grinds down what is healthy and generates decay.

Whilst we cannot be dogmatic, it is not unreasonable to assume that the Hymenaeus referred to here is the same man mentioned in 1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 20. It was bad enough that his behaviour and doctrine resulted in his own spiritual disaster but we now see that it impacts on others. Men of this character may appear to be very genial and their teaching may seem plausible but their words will corrode spiritual vitality.

It is essential that we are able to detect that which is errone­ous and to confront those who present such teaching. To achieve this, elders and Bible teachers must devote time and effort to ‘rightly divide the word of truth’. However, it is equally essential that we all, as churches of God, give opportunity for such teach­ing, and that we respond to it.