2 Timothy 2:14-19

Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.  But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,  and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,  who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.  But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

2 Timothy 2:14-19

Timothy is told to "Remind them of these things".  What is he to remind people of?  Well, most immediately preceding this verse is about remembering Jesus Christ.  They are to remember Jesus and that he was risen from the dead.  They are to remember salvation that is in Christ Jesus and that we have died with him and will live with him.  These are great things to be reminded of, but who is Timothy called to remind?  I am first thinking of those who he is leading.  This is probably true.  Also, looking back towards verse 9, we see who Paul is enduring everything for: "the elect".  This would also make sense because what people are being reminded of are things that would apply to the elect.  I guess they're both true and it is applying to both those who he is leading and those who are elect.

Beyond reminding, Timothy is told to charge the same people "not to quarrel about words".  We are not told much about what this means, but there were perhaps many similar issues.  For example, we read about "foolish ignorant controversies" in verse 23.  Even looking back at 1 Timothy, we read about people who "devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies".  Whatever "quarreling about words" means, it's not good.  In fact, Paul explains that, "which does no good, but only ruins the hearers".

The following verses probably shed some more light on the meaning of this verse.

Skipping ahead, we read about "irreverent babble", which should be avoided.  This is in contrast to the previous verse, where Paul instructs Timothy to be a worker approved by God.  A worker approved by God does not need to be ashamed and should rightly handle the word of truth.  What would he be ashamed of?  Perhaps not working hard would bring shame.  Well, working hard and being approved by God would avoid this shame.

I'm still not sure why Paul warns against quarreling about words and against irreverent babble.  Well, I get that they're not good things, but how does this fit?  Perhaps that's what Timothy was facing by those around him?  Perhaps working hard to be a worker approved by God is contrast to quarreling about words and engaging in irreverent babble.  Apparently, quarreling about words does no good and irreverent babble leads people into more and more ungodliness.  If that's the case, it would make sense that a worker approved by God would not do something that would not be good and would not do something that would lead others into more and more ungodliness.

Another bad thing about irreverent babble is that this talk will spread very fast.  Paul describes it as spreading like gangrene.  Apparently, gangrene is a type of cell death and spreads to connected tissues.  I think it will continue to spread until the dead cells are removed.  This irreverent babble spreads quickly and produces death in some sense.  As an example, Paul talks about Hymenaeus and Philetus.  So what does this look like?  They have swerved from the truth.  This irreverent babble is that which is off the path and not of the truth.  Specifically, they are saying that the resurrection has already happened.  I'm assuming this refers to the resurrection that is to take place in the end times.  By doing so, they upset the faith of some.  What they are doing is very destructive and not good at all.

God's firm foundation is in direct contrast to this.  Compared to those who have their faith upset, or have left the faith, there is a firm foundation that says "the Lord knows those who are his".  Some may turn away and depart, but we shouldn't be worried because God isn't worried.  God knows who are his.  For those who are his, they are to depart from iniquity.