2 Timothy 2:16-18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 2:17

Verse 17 17And their word will eat as a gangrene I have been told by Benedict Textor, a physician, that this passage is badly translated by Erasmus, who, out of two diseases quite different from each other, has made but one disease; for, instead of “gangrene,” he has used the word “cancer.” Now Galen, in many passages throughout his writings, and especially where he lays down definitions in his small work “On unnatural swellings,” distinguishes the one from the other. Paul Aegineta, too, on the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 2:18

Verse 18 18Who, concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is already past After having said that they had departed from “the truth,” he specifies their error, which consisted in this, that they gave out that “the resurrection was already past.” In doing this, they undoubtedly contrived a sort of allegorical resurrection, which has also been attempted in this age by some filthy dogs. By this trick Satan overthrows that fundamental article of our faith concerning the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:14-26

Conduct in view of heresy appearing in the Church. I. METHOD OF THE HERETICS . "Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear." The method of the heretics called for solemn warning from Timothy. Its essential character was word fighting. It dealt with the form, and not with the reality; and so it came to be controversial. The word is not unimportant, but it has... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:15-26

The skilful workman. Besides the concentration of purpose, and the willingness to endure, which are necessary to the faithful minister of Christ, two other qualifications are no less needed. The one is skill in his work; the other is gentleness and patience in dealing with those that oppose themselves. By skill in his work we mean both the knowing what to avoid and shun, and the effective handling of the Word of truth. The minister of Christ who wastes his time, and spends his strength in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:16

Profane for profane and vain, A.V.; proceed further in ungodliness for increase unto more ungodliness, A.V. Shun ( περιΐ́στασο , as in Titus 3:9 ); literally, step out of the way of, or stand away from—an unusual use of the word, found also in Josephus, 'Ant. Jud.,' 4. 6:12. Profane babblings (see 1 Timothy 4:7 ; 1 Timothy 6:20 ). They will proceed ( προκόψουσιν ); see note on προκοπή in 1 Timothy 4:15 . Further in ungodliness ( ἐπὶ πεῖον ἀσεβείας ); surely... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:16-18

A warning against vain babblings,with there tendency to heresy and impiety. "But shun profane babblings." I. THE DUTY OF THE MINISTER TOWARD SUCH BABBLINGS . He is to shun them, because they are profitless—a mere sound of words, without solid meaning; great swelling words of vanity, not only unprofitable, but contrary to the doctrine that is according to godliness. The minister must shun, discourage, and repudiate them in the interests of truth and piety. II. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:17

Gangrene for canker, A.V. Their word; as opposed to "the Word of truth" in 2 Timothy 2:15 . Will eat ( νομὴν ἕξει ); i.e. spread, like a gangrene, which gradually enlarges its area, corrupting the flesh that was sound before. So these heretical opinions spread in the body of the Church which is affected by them. νομή is literally "pasture" ( John 10:9 ), "grazing of flocks," and hence is applied to fire (Polybius), which as it were feeds upon all around it, and, in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:18

Men who for who, A.V. Have erred ( ἠστόχησαν ); see 1 Timothy 1:6 (note) and 1 Timothy 6:21 . In Matthew 22:29 and in Mark 12:24 our Lord's word for "erring" is πλανᾶσθε . It is remarkable that it was the subject of the resurrection which was so misunderstood in both cases. The heretics to whom St. Paul here alludes probably explained away the resurrection, as the Gnostics in the time of Irenaeus and Tertullian did (Huther), by spiritualizing it in the sense of Romans 6:4... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Timothy 2:16

But shun profane and vain babblings, - see the notes at 1 Timothy 6:20.For they will increase unto more ungodliness - Their tendency is to alienate the soul from God, and to lead to impiety. Such kinds of disputation are not merely a waste of time, they are productive of positive mischief. A man fond of contention in religious things is seldom one who has much love for the practical duties of piety, or any very deep sense of the distinction between right and wrong. You will not usually look for... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Timothy 2:17

And their word - The word, or the discourses of those who love vain and idle disputations.Will eat as doth a canker - Margin, “gangrene.” This word - γάγγραινα gangraina - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It is derived from γραιω graiō, γραινω grainō, to devour, corrode,” and means “gangrene” or “mortification” - the death of a part, spreading, unless arrested, by degrees over the whole body. The words rendered “will eat,” mean “will have nutriment;” that is, will spread over and... read more

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