2 Timothy, Part Sixteen
Avoid Godless Chatter
2 Timothy 2v16-19
18th September 2026
We don't hear the word "heresy" very often, but I'm going to use it in this article. Heresy is doctrinal deviation from the fundamental truths taught by Scripture and the orthodox Christian church (New Dictionary of Theology, IVP, page 292).
In verse 14, Paul instructed Timothy to warn people against quarrelling about words. He now returns to this theme:
2 Timothy 2v16-18
Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more
and more ungodly.
Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and
Philetus,
who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has
already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
There are many kinds of godless chatter, from meaningless silliness, to cruelty, to heresy. Avoid all of it. Time is precious, people are precious. Truth is precious. And like all kinds of sin, godless chatter goes from bad to worse. Speaking foolishly and making cruel remarks can come to seem normal and enjoyable. However, Paul is writing here about heresy.
Disagreeing with the apostolic writings is of no more value than godless chatter. To ignore, contradict or misinterpret what the apostles wrote in the New Testament will result in more and more ungodliness. When a person, church or denomination contradicts or wilfully misinterprets any part of the New Testament, they are emboldened to keep doing it, until their beliefs bear little resemblance to biblical Christianity. The heretics will become more and more ungodly and their teaching will affect the whole church. Their teaching will spread like gangrene.
In the world around us, it used to be said that everybody's entitled to his opinion. In England now, however, free speech is being increasingly limited. But even those who seek to limit free speech claim to be advocates of free speech. This is what George Orwell wold have called "doublespeak". It's nonsense, and it's wrong. In a democracy, genuine free speech is essential. However, free speech must not be tolerated in the church. The church is not a democracy; it's a theocracy.
The church exists to proclaim the truth contained in the Bible and to care for the people who respond to the Gospel and are born again into the kingdom of God. Free speech for heretics in the church only does harm. It's like gangrene. It spreads until the body is dead. Heresy kills churches.
Paul gives two examples of heretics: Hymenaeus and Philetus. Philetus is only mentioned here but Hymenaeus is mentioned in Paul's previous letter to Timothy:
2 Timothy 1v18-20
... fight the battle well,
holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected
and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.
Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to
Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
Heresy is serious. It results in the shipwreck of one's faith, and it spreads to shipwreck the faith of others.
Hymenaeus and Philetus were teaching that the resurrection has already taken place. This was probably the idea that the resurrection of believers was purely a spiritual event, and no bodily resurrection could be expected. This heresy would have been in accord with non-Christian ideas of the time, which saw the spirit as being good and the body as being evil, and which caused people to think that, so long as they were spiritually healthy (whatever they imagined that means) the sins of the flesh didn't matter. By teaching this nonsense, they destroy the faith of some.
This heresy is just one of many that have infected the church over the last 2,000 years. New heresies, and resurgent old heresies, are with us today. Again, heresy is serious. Avoid it. Don't allow it in your church. The church is the household of God. It's not a democracy. Only the truth should be spoken in church. Only the truth should be spoken by Christian people.
Even if your church has been infected with some sort of heresy, don't despair. Paul writes:
2 Timothy 2v19
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this
inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who
confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
In most church congregations there are some true Christians, who have repented of their sins, have believed in the power of the cross to atone for those sins, and have been born again as children of God. In most church congregations there are also some people who are not yet born again but will be, and there are some who are more interested in their own ideas than in what the Bible teaches. The Lord knows those who are his and He will protect them. Paul warns those who are his [God's] to turn away from wickedness, whatever the false teachers may say.
May God give your church the courage to expose the false teachers - the heretics - who seek to lead you astray. May God restore your church to the truth. In Jesus's name. Amen.