2 Timothy 2:14 kjv
Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
2 Timothy 2:14 nkjv
Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.
2 Timothy 2:14 niv
Keep reminding God's people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
2 Timothy 2:14 esv
Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.
2 Timothy 2:14 nlt
Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God's presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.
2 Timothy 2 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Tim 2:14 | Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to dispute about words | Warning against empty talk |
| Titus 3:9 | But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. | Warning against unprofitable debates |
| 1 Tim 1:4 | nor to devote themselves to myths and endles genealogies, which yield controversy rather than godly edification as by faith. | Fulfills warning against myths |
| Rom 14:1 | As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. | Welcome the weak, not quarrel |
| Phil 2:14 | Do all things without grumbling or disputing, | Avoid grumbling/disputing |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfect in the same mind and the same judgment. | Unity against divisions |
| Eph 4:3 | striving to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Maintain unity in peace |
| Eph 4:14 | so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by that craftiness of deceitful schemes. | Against being tossed by doctrine |
| Col 2:8 | See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. | Warning against deceptive philosophy |
| 1 Tim 6:20 | O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, | Guard the deposit, avoid false knowledge |
| Titus 1:10 | For there are many rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. | Identification of deceivers |
| Acts 20:30 | and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. | Rise of false teachers |
| 2 Peter 2:3 | and in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from of old is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. | Exploiting with false words |
| Matt 22:29 | Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. | Jesus on misunderstanding scriptures |
| John 6:63 | It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. | Words have spiritual life |
| 1 Thess 5:21 | but test everything. Hold fast to what is good, | Test everything, hold to good |
| 1 Tim 4:16 | Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will save both yourself and your hearers. | Guard teaching, persevere |
| 2 Tim 4:2 | Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. | Preach the word, exhort |
| Rom 15:4 | For whatever was written before was written for our instruction, that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. | Scriptures for instruction/hope |
| Isa 8:20 | To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. | Law and testimony is light |
2 Timothy 2 verses
2 Timothy 2 14 Meaning
This verse serves as a direct exhortation from the Apostle Paul to Timothy, a young pastor. It emphasizes the importance of actively instructing believers in the church, moving them beyond mere discussions about doctrinal minutiae. The core message is to build up the church through sound teaching and practical godliness, while warning against unproductive debates that have no positive spiritual outcome.
2 Timothy 2 14 Context
Second Timothy is Paul's final letter, written from a Roman prison shortly before his execution. He writes to Timothy, his beloved son in the faith, urging him to remain faithful and courageous in ministry, especially in the face of false teachings and persecution. The immediate context of chapter 2 involves Paul's instructions on sound doctrine, the conduct of a true minister, and the endurance required in ministry. Specifically, verse 14 follows a passage discussing sound and unsound teachers, and the potential for errors in teaching to spread like a disease.
2 Timothy 2 14 Word Analysis
remin-d (ὑπομνή-σκων - hypomnēskōn): From hypo (under, beneath) and mnēma (memory). Literally, "to bring to mind," "to cause to remember." It's a gentle yet firm act of recalling truths, urging adherence to sound doctrine, and warning against deviations. It's more than just recalling facts; it implies reminding someone of their obligations and the core tenets of the faith. It speaks to a pastoral duty of consistent teaching and reminding.
them (αὐτοὺς - autous): Refers back to the believers Timothy is ministering to, likely the church at Ephesus. This "them" represents the congregation, the body of Christ, whom Timothy is tasked to shepherd.
be-fore (πρὸ - pro): "Before," "in the presence of." Indicates a solemn, authoritative charge. The charge is given publicly or semi-publicly, with the Lord as witness, lending weight and seriousness.
the Lord (Κυ-ρί-ου - Kyriou): The Greek word kyrios, often translated "Lord," refers to Jesus Christ in the New Testament, affirming His authority and sovereignty. This emphasizes the accountability of Timothy's actions to Christ himself.
not (μὴ - mē): A particle of negation, strongly forbidding something.
to dis-pute (δια-πα-ρα- πρί-ειν - diaparaprisein): A compound verb. Dia (through, across) and parapráō (to overreach, to sell amiss, to misrepresent, to make a faulty dispute). It signifies a contentious, unproductive quarreling that distorts or twists the truth. It's about debating for the sake of winning an argument rather than for the edification of the church. It implies that such disputes often involve misinterpretations or distortions of the actual issues.
a-bout (εἰς - eis): "Into," "to," "for the purpose of." Here, it indicates the subject matter of the dispute, pointing towards something as the end or purpose of the dispute, implying the futility of these debates.
words (ῥή-μα- τα - rhēmata): The Greek word for "words" or "sayings." In this context, it likely refers to trifling, unimportant discussions or minor points of doctrine that become subjects of pointless argument. These are not core truths but rather peripheral matters that lead to division and lack spiritual substance. It can refer to arguments over mere human pronouncements rather than divine revelation.
Group: "charging them before the Lord not to dispute about words": This phrase forms a strong imperative command. The "charging" (not explicitly a separate word in Greek but implied in the forceful imperative) combined with the invocation of the Lord’s presence underscores the solemnity. The object of the charge is to cease "disputing about words," highlighting that the content of these disputes is trivial, pointless, and destructive rather than edifying. This contrasts sharply with "godly edifying which is in faith" (1 Tim 1:4).
2 Timothy 2 14 Bonus Section
The Greek term diaparaprisein carries a strong connotation of attempting to "overreach" or "sell short" the truth. It implies a manipulative or corrupt way of handling matters, aiming to gain an advantage in an argument rather than arrive at a clear understanding of God's word. This paints a picture of theological jousting that harms more than it helps, often stemming from arrogance or a misunderstanding of the purpose of teaching. The "words" in question can be interpreted as mere human speculation or quibbling over fine points of scripture that distract from its main message of salvation and godly living.
2 Timothy 2 14 Commentary
Paul is instructing Timothy to use his authority to stop futile debates within the church. The focus should be on building up believers through sound teaching, not getting bogged down in endless, unproductive arguments over minor points or technicalities of language. These debates were not beneficial for spiritual growth, peace, or unity in the church. The church needs solid teaching that strengthens faith, rather than being sidetracked by semantic quarrels. Such discussions, driven by human pride or a desire to seem knowledgeable, are described as "useless" and "unprofitable" because they damage the body of Christ.
- Practical Application: When engaging with church members, prioritize gentle correction and edifying teaching over winning arguments. Focus on foundational truths. Discern when a discussion is moving from seeking understanding to unproductive debate and intervene.