Why we must guard the gospel

When Paul describes false teaching in 1 & 2 Timothy he is not working with the literary style that is suitable for a textbook or encyclopedia entry. Paul's language wouldn't go down well with the false teachers, but it is very appropriate to the reality of what he is dealing with.

What is false teaching?

In 1 Timothy 6:20 it is "irreverent babble" (ESV), "godless chatter" (NIV), it is falsely called knowledge.

What happens when false teaching like this spreads?

It destroys faith, it is the spiritual equivalent of gangrene (2 Tim. 2:16).

The "good deposit" must be guarded, and the pattern of sound teaching must be kept (2 Timothy 1:13-14). And so what appears to be a fairly restrictive and somewhat negative approach to ministry is seen against serious and severe background.

These are not small matters. Unoriginality in this regard is to be prized, for the true teacher will not seek to modify or adapt the content of the message to suit his age or audience. Rather he will see that guarding and keeping are significant aspects of authentic orthopraxy. This is what God requires of gospel ministers.

The real impact of this is not measured by the influence of the church in the present age, but in the eternal destiny of those who listen to false and true gospels. Yet even here Timothy is to take heart that in the midst of a confused church scene, there is no confusion on the Lord knowing his people (2 Tim. 2:19.