Depart from Iniquity
Robert Wurtz II
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 2:19)
Timothy was at Ephesus on assignment from God. The church was rightly founded and became the premier church of the New Testament. However, Paul warned in Acts 20:29-32 that this church would be infiltrated and attacked by impostors. We know from John’s later writings that, over the next several decades, these impostors affected the church’s love and endangered its lampstand (see Revelation 2:1-5). Paul writes to Timothy to remind him that two inscriptions are etched into the very foundation of the Church. Regardless of what evil may come, these two facts remain.
1. God Knows His Own
Many people around the world call themselves Christians. But as surely as a parent knows their child, the Lord knows those who are born of His Spirit. The writer to the Hebrews, who certainly followed Paul’s theology, identified two categories: sons, whom God disciplines, and illegitimate impostors, who are undisciplined (Hebrews 12:7-8; Gk. nothos, spurious). John the apostle lists some characteristics of God’s children who are truly born of His Spirit. These people practice righteousness (1 John 2:29), don’t practice sin (1 John 3:9), love one another (1 John 4:7), and overcome the world and the Devil (1 John 5:4, 8).
A person who is born of God manifests God’s incommunicable attributes. That is a fancy way of saying that God’s children are loving, righteous, and holy, and that they behave like His Son, Jesus Christ. If a person’s ways are unChristlike, they are not God’s child, no matter what they profess, what title they hold, or what gifts and talents they possess. They are of their father, the Devil, and the lusts of their father, they do (John 8:44). Had they been God’s children, they would not have behaved like the world and Satan.
2. Everyone who names the name of Christ must depart from iniquity.
Paul then states that if a person names themselves “Christian,” they must depart from iniquity (unrighteousness). The quote is a paraphrase of Numbers 16:27, Isaiah 26:13, Isaiah 52:11, and Jeremiah 20:9 (A.T. Robertson). If they don’t depart from iniquity, and they remain in the house, they are vessels of dishonor (2 Timothy 2:20). The expression “vessels of dishonor” is used to identify false believers, much like the tares among the wheat, which inevitably exist in churches.
The church, like every house, has vessels of dishonor. Slop jars are used for food scraps or used grease. Trash cans hold garbage. Before modern plumbing, homes had chamber pots and bed pans that were emptied in the morning. These are some examples of “vessels of dishonor.” The picture identifies people who work iniquity and teach false doctrines that support their unrighteous living. No person can work iniquity in a church without a theology to support it.
Departing from Iniquity
Departing from iniquity requires repenting of false doctrine. Many teachings and mindsets (strongholds) are devised by Satan to perfume the stench of sin, so it makes sense to evil doers, the biblically uneducated, or the willfully ignorant. One such doctrine teaches that speaking in tongues, prophesying, hearing God’s voice, casting out devils, healing the sick, and performing miracles prove God’s favor on a person’s life. It does not. Many such people also work iniquity and lawlessness and will spend eternity in Hell (Matthew 7:23, Luke 13:27). Working iniquity is a very serious sin against God and is denounced many times in the Old and New Testaments.
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts (Psalm 28:3).
David, in this Psalm, begged God not to be drawn away with the workers of iniquity, because he was convinced that they could not be made more miserable than to be dealt with according to their deeds. “Lord, they think all well that they do, and justify themselves in their wicked practices. Lord, give them after the work of their hands, and so undeceive those about them, who think there is no harm in what they do because it goes unpunished” (Psalm 94:1–4). If what has been done wrong be not undone by repentance, there will certainly come a reckoning day, when God will render to every man who persists in his evil deeds according to them. It is a prophecy particularly of the destruction of destroyers:
“They speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.” David then goes on to pray, Lord, give them according to their deeds, let the spoilers be spoiled, and let those be treacherously dealt with who have thus dealt treacherously;” (see Isaiah 33:1; Rev. 18:6; Rev. 13:10). David foretels that God will reward them, not only according to their deed, but according to the wickedness of their endeavours; for sinners shall be reckoned with, not only for the mischief they have done, but for the mischief they would have done, which they designed, and did what they could to bring about. (Matthew Henry)
Vessels of Dishonour
Vessels of dishonor in the context of 2 Timothy 2:20 are the workers of iniquity that are sent away, surprised at the final judgment (Matthew 7:21-23). They, like politicians, smile in your face, but they intend to do you harm in some way (Psalm 28:3). They undoubtedly follow the pattern of multitudes before them and falsely believe they are “chosen” by God because they have a position of importance or have moved in the supernatural. Yet their ways are iniquity, which means to fornicate, deal greedily, hatefully, unlovingly, and to exhibit a host of other egregious character traits. Taken together, we see that the foundation of God stands sure, bearing this inscription: “Depart from iniquity,” or in the end, you will be departing from Christ. Why? God hates all workers of iniquity (Psalm 5:5, 6:8, Job 31:3, Psalms 92:7, Proverbs 21:15).
People form opinions about God based on the behavior of those who claim to know Him, especially Christian leaders. Workers of iniquity destroy those for whom Christ died and are a thorn in the flesh to the righteous. David writes much in the Psalms about workers of iniquity, and it is well worth studying. He asked God to protect him from them, especially those who move in “secret counsel” behind the scenes plotting evil (Psalm 64:2). When we suffer at the hands of the workers of iniquity, whether in the world or in the churches, we can draw strength from the Psalms (Psalm 28, 36, 37, 53, 59, 64, 92, 94, 125, 141).
Few things are more discouraging than having a worker of iniquity running loose and causing havoc in the churches of God. Bad behavior and hypocrisy distort people’s view of God, leading them to believe He condones or overlooks their ways. It can even cause people on the receiving end of the wickedness to harbor resentment towards God. Hence, we have this crucial command, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” Workers of iniquity are stumbling blocks in the kingdom of God (2 Corinthians 11:29).
Distorting God
Misrepresenting God occurs when a person fails to practice righteousness, engages in sin, and lacks God’s love. To name Christ and work iniquity, practicing unchristlike ways, is a serious sin. The Old Testament provides examples of leaders such as Saul, Ahab, Jeroboam, Manasseh, and Ahaz, who were meant to be godly role models but instead led others away from God or caused them to blaspheme Jehovah (Isaiah 52:5; Ezekiel 36:20-23).
Similarly, such leaders who name Christ and don’t depart from iniquity (unrighteousness) contribute to the perception that Christianity is hypocritical, undermining the essential truths they claim to believe. For example, in modern times, it’s common for people to name Christ online. 2 Timothy 2:19 still applies. For instance, if someone frequently posts about important Christian topics on social media yet is perceived as unrighteous, unloving, or hypocritical due to their actions and ways, the issues they address become tainted by association. Imagine being unable to address subjects like holiness or godliness because of the hostility these attention-seekers provoke. This is why departing from iniquity is commanded. It causes systemic destruction in the body like a deadly disease.
Turning People Against God
I have known people to develop antagonistic attitudes towards those they perceive as bad, enemies, or people they dislike. They hate what they love and love what they hate. Will this reactionary attitude extend to holiness, righteousness, godliness, etc.? God forbid that a person who names Christ would turn people against righteousness, holiness, or love because they refused to depart from iniquity.
We mustn’t allow another person’s evil and hypocrisy to affect our love for God or our mandate to walk in holiness and righteousness before Him. It can’t be allowed to happen. We know it’s a genuine concern because we have the warning in 2 Timothy 2:19. Dear reader, if you name Christ, depart from iniquity and unrighteousness lest you stumble others or give an occasion for the enemies of God to blaspheme Him.
Demonic Deception
Unfortunately, many people disregard 2 Timothy 2:19. God knows their hearts, but clearly, they are deceiving and being deceived. Some people are so deceived that they believe they have all deceived. It takes a lot of effort and consistency to maintain a façade. One diversionary tactic of the Pharisees was to focus on hot-button issues while ignoring the evident evil in their own lives (Matthew 23:23). Many still try this today, believing it makes them appear righteous and holy, but it doesn’t deceive anyone.
Pretentious and exaggerated spirituality is a behavior that reflects the Pharisees, not Jesus. They were obsessed with outward appearances and neglected their own wrongdoing (Mark 7:1-5; Matthew 9:10-13; Matthew 6:16-18; Matthew 12:9-14; Matthew 23:5; Matthew 23:23; Matthew 6:5-6). What should they have done? What should people do today? Depart from iniquity. Focus on that, and you won’t need to talk as much. Let your righteousness and love do the talking.
Children of the Devil
The Pharisees, by and large, were children of the Devil (John 8:43-44). They resented Jesus for exposing their hypocrisy (Matthew 21:45) because they worked so hard to conceal it (Luke 11:39-40). For the workers of iniquity, it’s aggravating to have someone constantly exposing them while they work full-time, duping people into believing they are righteous and holy (Matthew 23:28).
In Matthew 23, Jesus delivered a stunning expose that can only be described as a take-down for the ages. It is well worth prayerfully studying Matthew 23 to make sure we are not guilty of such evil. Jesus asked at the end, “How will you escape the damnation of Hell?” Here is a summary of the issues he rebuked:
1. Hypocrisy
2. Obsession with titles
3. Burdening others with laws
4. Neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness
5. Obsession with outward appearances
6. Seeking honor and recognition
7. Corruption of the temple and worship practices
8. Persecuting the prophets and the righteous
Disillusioned and Downtrodden
The religious leaders were regarded as examples of godliness. Yet they aggressively sought to destroy anyone they perceived as a threat, even enforcing laws requiring people to report their detractors’ whereabouts. While many knew this was happening, they feared speaking out. People naturally avoid conflict, which emboldens others to continue in wickedness and reinforces their own deceptions.
One strategy of Satan is to constantly keep people in fear of being truthful. It’s like he wants everybody to participate in his cover-up of hypocrites. He encourages an expectation that people not show their genuine emotions or feelings about subjects, so as not to appear this way or that, and it is known as guile. The Devil wants everybody to be fake. When people encourage guile, they are being influenced by Satan. The Psalmist said that God desires truth in the inward parts, and he expects us to walk in truth, not to put on a façade or keep up appearances for any reason. It only emboldens the workers of iniquity.
Depart from Iniquity
People were not as blind as the religious leaders thought. They were afraid to stand for Jesus lest they be put out of the Synagogue (John 9:22, 12:42). Once Jesus exposed them, the people saw their evil and viewed them as pretentious hypocrites. But the Pharisees were too blind to see that people viewed them this way, so they went on with the charade, imposing their will by intimidation. It wore down the people and their faith. Many didn’t know what to believe or what to do. They believed in Jesus but feared the religious leaders. Such antics could lead to full-blown atheism.
This type of diabolical misrepresentation leads to disillusionment, as individuals equate the conduct of Christians with the principles of Christianity itself. The biblical command to “depart from iniquity” serves as a reminder that those who claim to know God must live in a way that reflects His character, lest they drive others away from Him and end up being driven from God forever themselves.
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