2 Timothy 2:23
“But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul warns Timothy to steer clear of foolish, ignorant controversies, since they only breed quarrels.
What Does 2 Timothy 2:23 Mean?
Paul returns to the theme of avoiding empty disputes. Foolish and ignorant controversies are to be turned away from, for Timothy knows full well that they only breed quarrels.
Not every question is worth pursuing. Some debates are foolish at their root and lead nowhere but to conflict. Paul wants Timothy to recognize these and refuse to be drawn in, knowing the bitter fruit they produce. There is real freedom in this counsel. We are not obligated to engage every argument or chase every controversy; some are best left alone. For the reader, the wisdom is discernment, the ability to tell which conversations build up and which merely stir strife. Turning away from pointless quarrels leaves more room for the things that actually nourish faith and bring peace among God's people.