2 Timothy: Guard The GospelSample

These verses warn us to stay away from people who pretend to follow Jesus but whose words and behaviour aren’t consistent with his teaching. We should be especially wary of Bible teachers like this – in church, but also through TV, social media and books. These people are very dangerous. They are not genuine believers and use their position as teachers (v. 8) to lead people away from the truth.

In Ephesus, false teachers are targeting women who are overwhelmed by sins that they’re struggling with. These women are ‘gullible’ (v. 6): they can’t distinguish between false teaching and the truth. While eager to learn, they don’t understand the gospel can free them from guilt and from sinful patterns of behaviour. So the false teachers are successful in deceiving them – and perhaps even benefitting from them financially (1 Tim. 6:5).

Paul compares these dangerous teachers to Jannes and Jambres, the Egyptian magicians who recreated the first three miracles Moses performed in front of Pharaoh (Ex. 7–8). Just as the magicians opposed Moses with their actions, so the Ephesian false teachers oppose Timothy by preaching a false gospel. In both cases, though, it is not just God’s servants they are opposing, but God himself. They have corrupt minds and have rejected the gospel.

You may come across people who distort God’s Word to make themselves famous and wealthy. There are people who teach that followers of Jesus shouldn’t suffer illness or disability or poverty, and they make a lot of money from this teaching. But although they enjoy success and popularity now, it won’t last. The Egyptian magicians were defeated by God’s power and shown up as frauds (Ex. 8:18–19), and eventually the false teachers of our generation will be rejected by God too.

We must be careful to avoid their teaching, and to guard against the sins that may make us vulnerable to their influence. But we don’t need to be afraid of people who oppose the truth because God will expose their hypocrisy and judge them. Ultimately, his truth will triumph.

Reflection

Thank God that he has supreme power and will defeat those who oppose him. Pray he will protect you from being deceived by false teaching.