The case for questioning everyone — including me!

Ricky Ketchum

Apr 25, 2026

Avoid Profane Chatter

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But avoid profane chatter, because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness,

2 Timothy 2:16 (NET)

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Okay, so what exactly is “profane chatter?”

(The ESV translates this as “irreverent babble”)

Well, apparently the false teachers in Ephesus - the city where Timothy was pastor of the early church -- made a spectacle of their speeches.

Thus, this chatter or babble is exactly that: yapping away with nothing of substance to say.

Oh, I’m sure they felt that they had plenty to say.

People in positions of power, particularly ones who like to lord their power over others and display their “superior knowledge,” love to talk a lot.

But their teaching almost always falls apart when you try to actually apply it to life.

I see a lot of this on social media.

Where guys who want the clout of authority pretend they’re important but have no experience to pull from. At best, they can only copycat what better experts have already said (for which they steal all the credit).

But most of the time they just look foolish.

I also think this is similar to the “tickle the ear” warning we get from other letters.

Since we are of the royal priesthood of believers, we should always inspect what we’re taught against the truth of Scripture.

Yes … you should be inspecting my own emails too.

I’m a flawed human and despite my best efforts I will make mistakes.

Or you may simply disagree with me.

Either way, I’d rather you think for yourself -- in conjunction with the Holy Spirit -- than take everything I say as absolute truth.

At least I try to keep this pithy.

— Ricky Ketchum

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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