2 Tim 2:14-26 (Questions 8-10)
8. Even though chatter leads to foolish teaching and immorality, what confidence can a Christian leader have (2:19)? What is the nature of our confidence? Is it confidence in the fact that false teaching will never prevail? This seems unlikely, both in the light of verse 17 (" their talk will spread like gangrene") and of personal experience. I think the injunction is to encourage us to continue to faithfully teach and preach the Word (v.15) so that we can be "approved" by God. Faithful ministry will bear fruit. The 2 reasons why we can be confident in doing this are because: 1. God Himself knows that we belong to Him. He is the one who called and chose us from before the foundation of the world. He will keep us spiritually secure until glory. 2. True faith from God is reflected in holy living, and right teaching. The false teaching spread by some is evidence that they are not truly of the Lord. This may not be initially clear on first contact with people, but...