Avoid Nonscriptural Teaching

II Timothy 2:16-18

On deputation several years ago, I visited an independent Baptist church in Kansas. The Sunday school lesson was a chapter in one of Focus on the Family’s books by James Dobson. When I was approved as a missionary, I was tested and counseled by Charles Solomon of Grace Fellowship, before I could be approved.

In Bible college, we were required to take certain Psychology courses, and now many colleges offer degrees in “Christian” psychology. Jay Adams’ book Competent To Counsel, is frequently referred to as a basis for these classes, which is interesting since the theme of the book was that Psychology itself had little or nothing to offer, but the scriptures provided real answers.

Traditionally Baptists held certain specific beliefs known ad Baptist Distinctives. These included individual responsibility to God, eternal security, autonomy of the local church, divine inspiration of scripture, and salvation by grace and not works. To be Baptist was to believe all these points. One who believed most but not all was Baptistic but not Baptist. Many no longer use the name Baptist, as they no longer hold these distinctives, and many others should probably drop it as they are no longer truly Baptist, merely Baptistic.

The key to all the other Baptist doctrines was that they believed that the Bible to be divinely inspired and thus the sole and final authority on all issues of faith and practice. Every doctrine or practice must be based on scripture, and any conflicting idea must be resolved by study and acceptance of the scriptural position.

In our day there are seminars, conventions, classes, clinics and meetings of all kinds teaching about every possible aspect of Christianity. There are missions boot camps, youth conferences, pastor’s schools, prophecy conferences, music seminars, fellowships, and retreats. Bible Colleges offer degrees and advanced degrees in Biblical counseling, Christian education, Theology and other subjects.

Books on every subject are also available, from Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins books on the second coming to Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life, to Joyce Meyer’s The Battle For The Mind. Some are like the Athenians in Acts 17:21, spending all their time in nothing but trying to learn some new thing. They are like some government employees, never able to do their job because they are away at training, and as Timothy 3:7 describes them as, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Paul has stressed the importance of study of the scriptures in II Timothy 2:15, and now stresses the need to avoid falling for all the other stuff that is available. For the Christian, scripture is to be the sole authority.

“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.” (II Timothy 2:16-18)

Paul instructs Timothy to shun or deliberately avoid profane and vain babblings. Profane mean ‘having no spiritual or divine attributes,’ while vain means ‘empty, having no real value or basis.’
As he says, they will only turn people further from God, and the teachings will be like a cancer, weakening and destroying real faith. He then cites an example of how false teaching about the second coming has destroyed the faith of some, turning them from the truth.

I Timothy 6:20 warns against the same things, and especially what is passed off as scientifically proven. Some of the claims are not valid. “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.” Even if the ideas are correct, they remove the focus from God’s word to man’s ideas, which is why Paul said. “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God,” in I Corinthians 2:4-5.

Rick Warren’s or James Dobson’s books may be completely accurate in their teachings, but they are not the word of God and as such risk focusing people on the man rather than God. They must never be more than a support reference to clarify what God has said. All their teachings must be subjugated to what scripture teaches if we are to please God.

Titus 3:9-11 warns against several things that have no value in Christianity. “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”

Purely hypothetical questions, such as “how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” serve only to divert from matters of real importance. It distracted the Catholic church for nearly 100 years starting with the council of Nantes. Even if an answer could be found, it would serve no useful purpose. Such questions are to be avoided because they prevent learning what is needed.

That a man is descended from a great preacher indicates nothing of his own spiritual development. He may have well imbibed the jargon with no personal knowledge or understanding. In fact , Paul stressed that his own background had to be abandoned in order to receive Christ. We are not to let someone ‘s background convince us to accept their teachings.


Contention is not a sign of Godliness. Romans 16:17 advises, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” I Corinthians 3:3 makes it clear that contention is evidence of an unspiritual state. “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

Zeal proves nothing. Throughout history some of the most zealous individuals have been involved with evil. That a man is willing to be killed or to kill for what he believes doesn’t make his belief correct. His zeal may only be a means of blackmail to get his way, as evidenced by terrorists and suicide bombers. Far too often zeal is based on our traditions rather than valid teaching. The Jews attacked Jesus on this very basis, as breaking the Law.

Jesus accused them of replacing God’s commands with their own customs and laws. “He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” (Mark 7:6-9) He was quoting a statement by Isaiah, made five hundred years before.

As a result, Titus 1:14 warns, “Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.” This echoes I Timothy 1:4, stating that they cause rather than answering questions. “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”

Rather than getting caught up in all these things, including the modern health craze, we should focus on what God wants.
“But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (I Timothy 4:7-8)