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NASB | 2 Timothy 2:23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Timothy 2:23 But have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant speculations [useless disputes over unedifying, stupid controversies], since you know that they produce strife and give birth to quarrels. |
Subject: What To Shut Your Mind Against |
Bible Note: Hi Kalos, 2 Timothy 2:23 "But refuse (paraiteomai - decline, avoid) the foolish (moros - meaning mentally dull or stupid) and uninstructed (apaideutos - untrained or uneducated, Roberston: undisciplined) questionings, knowing that they generate quarrels." (LITV) Vincent says this: Rev. ignorant is better; but the meaning at bottom is undisciplined: questions of an untrained mind, carried away with novelties: questions which do not proceed from any trained habit of thinking. So I would say that this meanse we are to ignore, and not answer, questions which we deem to be of this variety. Putting this in context, this is in contrast to the previous verse, which instructs us to "pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with the ones calling on the Lord out of a pure heart." So we join with those calling on the Lord out of a pure heart, ignoring those who ask ignorant and undisciplined questions, because (vs. 24) the slaves of the Lord are not to quarrel. We are, however, to gentle, patient, "apt to teach" (instructive). I would summerize this portion of Scripture to be saying that we are to join with those who are true in the faith, and not let ourselves become sidetracked into agruments, and fighting, but to continue gently and patiently teaching, even those who oppose us, in hopes that God will rescue them also. In context of the letter of Paul writing to Timothy, this comes as a personal, individual instruction, which we all do well to heed, and especially those who have been placed in the body as pastors and teachers, or other church leadership. Of neccessity, since we are not given a list of which questions are considered "foolish and ignorant", this requires a judgment on the part of the hearer. Considering that the heart of the questioner is in question (as this person is contrasted with the one who calls on the Lord out of a pure heart), we are not capable of judging this, and require a gift of discernment from the Holy Spirit. Without that discernment, we cannot always really know if someone actually has an issue with knowing who Cain married, or if they are just trying to muddy the water. So perhaps the best thing to do is answer or not, according to whether you (or I) believe the Holy Spirit is leading us. And if we choose to not answer, we are to ignore the question. I do not see where this gives place for us to give commentary on the question itself, or on the one asking it. We simply ignore it. If we choose to answer, we should be careful to not get dragged into an argument, but hopeful to bring someone to Christ. What if we disagree with another? Say I have chosen to ignore a question, but someone else has chosen to answer? Should I fault them for answering? Would my faulting them risk my being in disagreement with God, if perhaps God has led them to answer? Would I be better to "call" them on it, and inform them that I don't think they are doing the right thing? Or would I be better to pray for them, that they would be fruitful, and bring another to the Lord, or if they are barking up the wrong tree, for the Holy Spirit to give them understanding? So here is one of three. I will look at the other two passages you have asked about as I have time. Love in Christ, Mark |