2 Timothy 2:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.

NIV: Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.

NASB: But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.

CSB: But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels.

NLT: Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.

KJV: But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

NKJV: But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.

In the prior two verses, Paul gave Timothy commands of what to "flee" and "pursue." Here, Paul once again reminds Timothy to avoid the kind of shallow, pointless bickering which he warned about in verse 16. There, Paul condemned "irreverent babble" as a form of spiritual gangrene. The false teachers in Ephesus were examples of this kind of foolish talk.

The result of these value-less arguments is that they simply lead to more arguments. They set Christian brothers against each other for no good reason. Paul mentions this in verses 14 and 24 of this chapter as well. In 1 Timothy, Paul called leading men in the church to pray without quarreling (1 Timothy 2:8), taught elders could not be quarrelsome (1 Timothy 3:3), and taught that a sign of false teachers was this type of quarreling over words (1 Timothy 6:4). This theme was also noted in Titus (Titus 3:2, 9), as well as elsewhere by Paul in his other writings (Romans 13:13; 14:1, 1 Corinthians 1:11; 2 Corinthians 12:20). James 4:1–2 also addressed quarreling as a matter of internal sinful desires.

Second Timothy 2:14–26 contains Paul's instructions to Timothy about leading other believers. Two important themes here are avoiding pointless bickering and holding to sound biblical teachings. Arguments over non-essential issues quickly turn into feuds, poisoning the body of Christ just as gangrene attacks the physical body. Paul names specific false teachers, but brings a note of compassion. Here, he reminds Timothy that gentleness and patience are key. After all, those who do not believe are not our enemies: they are those we are trying to rescue from the control of the Devil!

Paul gives Timothy a clear mandate to defend the truth. This includes both upholding the gospel accurately, and presenting that defense in a gentle and loving way. While truth is important, Paul also notes that there are some issues which are only distractions. He considers these "babble," and arguments over them a form of spiritual disease. Like gangrene, this bickering only spreads and spreads until it becomes catastrophic. The ultimate goal of our evangelism is not to "win" an argument, but to rescue lost people.

In chapter 1, Paul gave Timothy encouragement by reminding him of his heritage and spiritual power. Here, in chapter 2, Paul expands on these commands. Rather than giving minute details, Paul presents a series of examples and tells Timothy to consider them carefully. Paul's instructions here set the stage for the warnings coming up in the next chapter. Timothy—and all believers—need to be prepared and right-minded, because the world is going to become spiritually darker and darker.

Second Timothy is the last New Testament letter written by Paul. Paul writes these words while awaiting execution by Rome. At this time, around AD 67, Timothy was leading the church in Ephesus. Paul writes to Timothy in order to encourage him. Paul is facing the worst of all hardships: his own impending death. So, he encourages Timothy to stand strong in his faith, with a reliance on the written Word of God. This letter echoes many of the themes Paul uses in his other letters.

Accessed 11/23/2024 7:17:50 PM