Avoid Empty Words that Corrupt

Paul's concern in writing to Timothy was that the truth of the Gospel be unaltered. Paul told Timothy how to deal with the false teachers who had infiltrated the church at Ephesus and were attempting to alter the message. False teachers were and are relentless in their efforts to change what is promoted as God's truth. In opposing them Timothy and all those upholding the gospel message must be relentless and zealous to give forth the true message.
Paul told Timothy he must be reminding people what the truth is, carefully handle the truth and thirdly he told Timothy what to avoid. He must avoid what the false teachers are saying and teaching. Paul describes their religious sounding commentary as worthless, worldly, empty chatter. He gives him two reasons – because of the impact it can have on him personally, potentially leading to ungodly behavior. False teaching always leads to a digression into an ungodly life. Another reason is that toleration of their error provides fertile ground for it to “spread like gangrene.”
There is nothing to be gained by entertaining false teachers or the erroneous doctrine they bring into the church. Even tolerating it without “promoting” it allows it to gain a foothold and it will begin its destructive influence. No matter how charismatic or prominent the false teachers may be, they must be confronted.
With a word of encouragement Paul turns attention back to the security and sufficiency the church has when it holds to the Word of God and accurately handles that Word. For the godly to remain godly the Word of God must remain the standard for conduct and means of transformation.