In English, to overthrow means to bring about downfall or destruction. The Greek word, anatrepō, which is used in this passage, means the same.
It is unfortunate that Bible commentators mitigate the "destruction" spoken of in this passage by adding the word “figuratively” in their definitions the word, anatrepō.
Holding fast the Faithful
Word as he has been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort
and to convince the gainsayers For there are many unruly and vain
talkers and deceivers specially they of the circumcision Whose
mouths must be stopped who overthrow [anatrepō] entire households [1] 2
Timothy 3:6 teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucre's sake
Titus 1:9-11
[1]
There is nothing figurative about an eternity of destruction that
results
from being spiritually overthrown. And Paul says this is what is being
done by false teachers, whose primary goal is to financially
sack their victims.
Victims are plundered both spiritually and financially
through deceit and greed. They are financially overthrown when
income streams or wealth is funneled to false teachers or when they
liquidate and turn their entire net worth over to these wolves.
Contending for the faith is serious business.
The
motivation of false teachers is generally greed, and they prey on either
legitimate needs of their victims or on their victim’s sins or weaknesses. One
of the most common weaknesses in the Body of Christ, is not having a working,
conversive, knowledge of the Bible.
There is great protection in being full of
the knowledge of God—which can only happen if we fill our minds and spirits
with His Word and ask the Holy Spirit to give us understanding. That means we must read it
for ourselves and not depend entirely on the interpretations of others. The Word of God encompasses
every part of the Armor of God—most of which is defensive, protective. Knowing
the Word and acting on it is a protection from the many snares the enemy of our
souls lays for us.
So we see that contending for the faith is an urgent
business and involves biblical literacy.
One thing is true of most victims;
they quickly become defensive of their teacher and conversive in the false doctrine they embrace. When defending their paradigm or leader, they
memorize talking points, mantras, and slogans that discourage productive discussion.
Believers who depend on daily Bible
devotions and Bible studies for all their Bible knowledge can still be biblically illiterate.
Daily
devotions can be helpful but are limited.
When these are the sum of our Bible reading, the vast majority of the Bible
never gets read. The only way to ensure the protection of biblical literacy is
to read our entire Bibles on a daily and systematic
basis. This writer, recommends reading our Bibles every day, always picking up
today where we left off yesterday.
