Shun Profane and Vain Babblings 2 Timothy 2:16

As Paul the apostle continued his letter to Timothy his “dearly beloved son”, he exhorted him to remind the church members in Ephesus of the benefits and rewards for following his teachings and not to strive “about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers”. Paul also told him to “study to show” himself “approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”. In chapter two and verse sixteen of his final letter to Timothy, Paul continued his exhortation by telling Timothy to “shun profane and vain babblings” where we read:

But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

The verse begins, “But shun profane and vain babblings:” Paul began this verse with the word “But” which is a disassociation conjunction which means what is about to be stated takes precedence over the previous words. In this case it means, “moreover, also and now then” “shun” or “avoid, stand around from, and turn one's self about to avert” “profane” which refers to “unhallowed, common and ungodly” “and vain babblings” or “empty discussion, or discussion of egotistical, conceited and useless matters”. Timothy was to study the word of God to divide it correctly, and he was to avoid all empty, useless and conceited discussions.

The verse continues, “for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” Paul went on to give the reason Timothy was to avoid such “babblings” “for” or “because, since, and on account of” “they will increase” which literally means “beat forward, lengthen out by hammering” and refers to “promoting further, progressing, advancing, proceeding and increasing” “unto more” or “greater in quantity, very many, superior and more excellent” “ungodliness” which means “want of reverence towards God and impiety”. In other words, if Timothy were not to avoid “profane and vain babblings” he would become more and more ungodly by the influence and advancement of them.

While we meditate upon Paul's words, perhaps this would be a great opportunity to examine the words and ideas to which we give attention. Do we “shun” and avoid “profane” words, jokes and pontifications, or do we laugh along with them like everyone else? Are we prone to listen to “vain babblings” or empty discussions which mostly promote a person's ego or conceited ways? Let us be aware of the warning Paul gave to Timothy, “they will increase unto more ungodliness”. As believers in Jesus Christ and His Lordship, our desire must be to become more “godly” rather than less, and if “shunning” and avoiding “profane and vain babblings” will help us to do so, may the Lord help us not only to know when these conversations are expressed, but also give us the courage and strength to walk away from them.

Next time Paul shares with Timothy how their “words will eat as does a canker”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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