20 O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and absurdities of so-called "knowledge."
21 By professing it, some have strayed from the faith. Grace be with you all.
Vs. 20: - "O Timothy" - As Paul closes this letter to his friend, companion, and co-worker, he issues a tender warning.
“protect what has been entrusted to you” - Protect yourself from being pulled away from the gospel. We can get into debates about various hot-button issues - abortion, same-sex marriage, politics, to name a few.
“Avoid the profane chatter” - Paul is warning us also - don't get caught up in the profane chatter and absurdities. Bring the conversation back to Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). Steer people to answer the question, "Who is Jesus Christ, and what do you say about Him?"
“So-called ‘knowledge’” - A common novel and movie theme is there is a secret "knowledge" and the possession of it may change the world. Movies like "Raiders of the Lost Ark", or "Matrix", "The Da Vinci Code", or books like "Angels and Demons" are built around the theme of a secretive group (e.g., Illuminati) has hidden an object or information that in the wrong hands will destroy the world. The hero of the story must find and destroy that object to keep it out of evil hands.
Vs. 21: - "strayed from the faith" - All of this chatter and ‘secret knowledge’ distracts us from the main and only truth: "Salvation is found in no one else. There is no other name under heaven by which men may be saved." Acts 4:12.
Keep the faith.
“grace be with you all.” See: Num. 6:24, 25. Paul starts the letter with "grace, peace and mercy" to his reader, and ends with "grace to you all."
END OF CHAPTER
END OF LETTER
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