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 Living Translation (NLT)Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.

Context of 2 Timothy 2:16

14Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

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 them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.
• 1 Timothy 4:7But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
• 1 Timothy 6:20O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—
• 2 Timothy 3:13But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
• Ezra 10:10Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have transgressed and have taken pagan wives, adding to the guilt of Israel.
• Hosea 12:1“Ephraim feeds on the wind, And pursues the east wind; He daily increases lies and desolation. Also they make a covenant with the Assyrians, And oil is carried to Egypt.
• 1 Corinthians 5:6Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
• 1 Corinthians 15:33Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
• 2 Thessalonians 2:7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
• Hebrews 12:15looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
• 2 Peter 2:2And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
• Revelation 13:3And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.

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