Gangrene is a medical condition that takes place when body tissue begins to die as a result of lack of blood flow or a dire infection produced by invading bacteria. It is important to understand the crucial role that blood has in the human body in order to understand how lethal a gangrenous infection truly is. It has been proven that blood feeds the body’s cells oxygen and nutrients to keep them healthy, but also transports antibodies that helps the body combat infection. Thus when the flow of blood becomes obstructed, cells begin to die due to the shortage of oxygen and nutrients that sustains them, and the body becomes exposed to perilous infections such as gangrene. Although gangrene is most commonly associated with the body’s extremities, it can also attack the body internally by infecting muscles and vital organs, causing severe damage to them. Due to its venomous nature, tissue that has been spoiled by gangrene unfortunately becomes permanently lost. Treatment for this condition varies depending on the severity of the infection. When the gangrene is extremely toxic it will quickly devour the tissue and spread throughout the entire body. When this is the case, doctors must operate urgently to remove the infected area from the body to prevent any further damage. Lamentably, in certain circumstances amputation of a patient’s limb is necessary to stop the contamination from progressing its destructive path. For this reason, the inspired apostle’s simile referring to false teachers is of the utmost importance for us to examine in an effort to fully understand the purpose of his command. Paul wrote to Timothy, “But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some” (2nd Timothy 2:16-18, emphasis added). To begin deciphering the apostle’s instruction, let us first identify the simile employed by him. Observe that Paul reveals to Timothy that “profane and idle babblings” equates to false teachings. This is explained by the apostle as he states that it is this manner of irresponsible teaching that increases to more ungodliness. However, it must not be ignored that teaching false doctrine leads to more ungodliness. Logic dictates that in order for there to be more of anything, something must already be in existence. In other words, zero times zero equals zero. Thus if teaching false doctrine multiplies (i.e. increases) ungodliness, this means that the false teacher’s spiritual contamination began internally and independently. So, the question now is when did this individual become infected by unholy knowledge? Paul submits that a wicked man’s profane teachings has its origin in an irresponsible approach to studying God’s Holy Scripture. In the previous context to the pericope under examination, Paul urges Timothy, “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord, not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2nd Timothy 2:14-15, emphasis added). Their demise originates when they forget God’s sacred teachings because they have abandoned them. They strive to unprofitable words because they do not compare them with God’s Holy Word. The beloved apostle concurs with Paul as he, too, warns “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1st John 4:1, emphasis added). It is imperative to understand that to “test the spirits” is referring to test their doctrine with Holy Writ to determine if what they espouse is true or not. This, however, can only be practiced if we have diligently and consistently matured our faith by being “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:7, emphasis added). Remember, a false prophet’s doctrine originates in his irresponsible division of Holy Scripture. This illuminates that a false teacher’s focus has shifted from God to man. The Master cautioned “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21, emphasis added). It is typical to interpret following man in a literal way, but the most common way of practicing this sorrowful sin is when we begin to seek ways to twist Scripture to justify our lusts. Ergo, false teaching has at its core will-worship. The infection springs from a sinful heart that refuses to repent and is addicted to sin. Paul describes that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2nd Timothy 4:3-4, emphasis). Observe that the false teachers were heaped up by those who choose not to endure sound doctrine. Therefore, their erred method of studying the Bible is motivated by selfish intentions and convincing others of their dangerous concepts, tragically feeds their delusion. For this reason, Paul’s simile is an accurate and appropriate illustration of what they have become, but more importantly the threat they represent. Paul valiantly states that those who promote false doctrine “will spread like cancer.” The Greek word implemented by Paul for cancer in this passage is gaggraina and is explained to be “a gangrene, a disease by which any part of the body suffering from inflammation becomes so corrupted that, unless a remedy be seasonably applied, the evil continually spreads, attacks other parts, and at last eats away the bones” (Thayer, G1044). Behold the horrendous peril wrongly dividing the word of truth can create. The apostle astutely discovers that the root of the infection originates in the lack of a spiritual blood flow that provides life to the interior man, obstructed by a domineering sin. Because the Holy Spirit provides an image that readily manifests the lethal venom a false teacher can inject in the body of the Lord, the wisdom of having to remove them from us becomes undeniable. To be continued…
