2 Timothy 2:16

2 Timothy 2:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
• New International Version (NIV)Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
• New King James Version (NKJV)But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

Context of 2 Timothy 2:16

14Remind people of these things and solemnly charge them before the Lord not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen. 15Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately. But avoid profane chatter, because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness, 17and their message will spread its infection like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are in this group. 18They have strayed from the truth by saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are undermining some people’s faith.

2 Timothy 2:16 word by word

Τὰς δὲ βεβήλους κενοφωνίας περιΐστασο· ἐπὶ πλεῖον γὰρ προκόψουσιν ἀσεβείας,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• shunπεριΐστημιperiistēmi · to stand aroundG4026
• profaneβέβηλοςbebēlos · profaneG952
• vain babblingsκενοφωνίαkenophōnia · empty talkG2757
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• they will increaseπροκόπτωprokoptō · to advanceG4298
• untoἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• moreπλείων, πλεῖονpleiōn pleion pleon · greaterG4119
• ungodlinessἀσέβειαasebeia · ungodlinessnessG763

Cross-references for 2 Timothy 2:16

• 2 Timothy 2:14Remind people of these things and solemnly charge them before the Lord not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen.
• 1 Timothy 4:7But reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible, and train yourself for godliness.
• 1 Timothy 6:20O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and absurdities of so-called “knowledge.”
• 2 Timothy 3:13But evil people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.
• Ezra 10:10Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have behaved in an unfaithful manner by taking foreign wives! This has contributed to the guilt of Israel.
• Hosea 12:1Ephraim continually feeds on the wind; he chases the east wind all day; he multiplies lies and violence. They make treaties with Assyria, and send olive oil as tribute to Egypt.
• 1 Corinthians 5:6Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast affects the whole batch of dough?
• 1 Corinthians 15:33Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
• 2 Thessalonians 2:7For the hidden power of lawlessness is already at work. However, the one who holds him back will do so until he is taken out of the way,
• Hebrews 12:15See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.
• 2 Peter 2:2And many will follow their debauched lifestyles. Because of these false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.
• Revelation 13:3One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement;

Commentaries on 2 Timothy 2:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Shun profane and vain babblings - This is the character he gives of the preaching of the false teachers. Whatever was not agreeable to the doctrine of truth was, in the sight of God, empty and profane babbling; engendering nothing but ungodliness, and daily increasing in that.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16But 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-21Verses 14-21 Those disposed to strive, commonly strive about matters of small moment. But strifes of words destroy the things of God. The apostle mentions some who erred. They did not deny the resurrection, but they corrupted that true doctrine. Yet nothing can be so foolish or erroneous, but it will overturn the temporary faith of some professors. This foundation has two writings on it. One speaks our comfort. None can overthrow the faith of any whom God…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-26Timothy must focus on Paul's teaching and avoid the teachings and behavior of false teachers 2:8–13. The false teachings were probably similar to those in 1 Timothy 6:20–21.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. shun--literally, "stand above," separate from, and superior to. vain--opposed to "the truth" (2Ti 2:15). babblings--with loud voice: opposed to the temperate "word" (Tit 3:9). increase--Greek, advance"; literally, "strike forward": an image from pioneers cutting away all obstacles before an advancing army. They pretend progress; the only kind of progress they make is to a greater pitch of impiety. more ungodliness--Greek, "a greater degree of impiety."Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Timothy 2:16

• Doctrines
• Holiness
• Minister, Christian
• Preaching
• Vanity

In the dictionaries

• Acknowledge
• Approved
• Commit
• Deny
• Eat
• Endure
• Entangle
• Eternal
• Faithful
• Foolish

Commentaries on 2 Timothy 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings