Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 2nd Letter Volume 23

Paul tells Timothy to Study and Know the Word of God Part 1

2 Timothy 2:14 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. KJV

The Apostle Paul has encouraged and exhorted Brother Timothy in this first part of this second letter to him to be a good soldier of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ being strong in grace, committing the Word of God to faithful men to teach to others, enduring hardship and suffering for Christ sake and for the truth of His Word, and not to be entangled, embroiled, or enamored by the world and the things of this world which are fading away and he wants Timothy to remind all who will listen to his spoken word and his written words concerning these matters, so he writes these word, "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) (KJV). The little English phrase 'put them in remembrance' is translated by the Greek word hupomimnēskō meaning to remind quietly, that is, suggest to the (middle voice, one’s own) memory. The English word 'charging' is translated by the Greek word diamarturomai meaning (as used here) to testify unto, or witness to someone. The long English phrase 'that they strive not about words' is translated by the Greek word logomacheō meaning to be disputatious (on trifles): - strive about words. The English phrase 'to no profit' is translated by the Greek words eis meaning to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose and oudeis meaning none or nothing and  chrēsimos meaning serviceable or profitable. The English word 'subverting' is translated by the Greek word katastrophē which means an overturn ('catastrophe'), that is, demolition; figuratively apostasy: - overthrow, subverting.

In other words, Paul wanted Timothy to constantly remind his hearers by witnessing and testifying to them always that disputing and fighting over words that are not eternal and from the Word of God are pointless, purposeless, and pitiful to and for the soul of the listener and would only serve to overturn one's faith and cause many disputers and listeners to such talk to apostatize, abdicate, or abandon true faith in the Gospel of Grace and in  the Word of God and in our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul knew that the only grounding or stability any follower of our Lord Jesus Christ has is His Holy Word from Genesis to Revelation, that is, no person or persons can give to the believer the spiritual food or nourishment that will be required to successfully manage or navigate our way through this dark, deceitful, and dangerous world of woe better than the Word become flesh Jesus Christ and His Spoken Word the Bible, for let us remember His words to us regarding this very matter, "Jesus answered: I tell you for certain that you won't live unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man. But if you do eat my flesh and drink my blood, you will have eternal life, and I will raise you to life on the last day. My flesh is the true food, and my blood is the true drink. If you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you are one with me, and I am one with you. The living Father sent me, and I have life because of him. Now everyone who eats my flesh will live because of me. The bread that comes down from heaven isn't like what your ancestors ate. They died, but whoever eats this bread will live forever." (John 6:53-58) (Contemporary English Version).

Here is what Adam Clarke had to say concerning this verse of Scripture, "Words, not things, have been a most fruitful source of contention in the Christian world; and among religious people, the principal cause of animosity has arisen from the different manner of apprehending the same term, while, in essence, both meant the same thing. All preachers and divines should be very careful, both in speaking and writing, to explain the terms they use, and never employ them in any sense but that in which they have explained them. This is the general tendency of all polemical (Of or involving dispute or controversy) divinity and controversial preaching, when angry passions are called in to support the doctrines of the Gospel." Here is what Matthew Henry had to say concerning this verse of Scripture, "He must make it his business to edify those who were under his charge, to put them in remembrance of those things which they did already know; for this is the work of ministers; not to tell people that which they never knew before, but to put them in mind of that which they do know, charging them that they strive not about words. Observe, Those that are disposed to strive commonly strive about matters of very small moment. Strifes of words are very destructive to the things of God. That they strive not about words to no profit. If people did but consider of what little use most of the controversies in religion are, they would not be so zealous in their strifes of words, to the subverting of the hearers, to the drawing of them away from the great things of God, and occasioning unchristian heats and animosities, by which truth is often in danger of being lost. Observe, People are very prone to strive about words, and such strifes never answer any other ends than to shake some and subvert others; they are not only useless, but they are very hurtful, and therefore ministers are to charge the people that they do not strive about words, and they are most likely to be regarded when they charge them before the Lord, that is, in His name and from His word; when they produce their warrant for what they say."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…