2 Timothy 2:14

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.

a. 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.

b. 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.

c. Young’s Literal Translation: These things remind them of, testifying fully before the Lord -- not to strive about words to nothing profitable, but to the subversion of those hearing;

d. Amplified Bible: Remind the people of these facts, and solemnly charge them in the presence of the Lord to avoid petty controversy over words, that does no good, but upsets and undermines the faith of the hearers.

e. Worrell New Testament: Of these things put them in remembrance, solemnly charging them before God, that they engage not in word-battles to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.

f. Wuest Translation: These things constantlybe reminding them, charging them in the presence of God not to be continually wrangling about empty and trifling matters, which results in not even one useful thing, since it ruins those who hear.

1. “Of these things put them in remembrance…”

a. Of these things [Strong: 5023 tauta tow'-tah nominative or accusative case neuter plural of 3778; these things:--+ afterward, follow, + hereafter, X him, the same, so, such, that, then, these, they, this, those, thus.]

1). “These things” are the subject of the passage 2 Timothy 2:14-21. Paul lists three of them, of which we will attempt to cover in detail.

b. put them in remembrance [Strong: 5279 hupomimnesko hoop-om-im-nace'-ko from 5259 and 3403; to remind quietly, i.e. suggest to the (middle voice, one's own) memory:--put in mind, remember, bring to (put in) remembrance.]

2. “…charging them before the Lord…”

a. charge [Strong: 1263  diamarturomai dee-am-ar-too'-rom-ahee from 1223 and 3140; to attest or protest earnestly, or (by implication) hortatively:--charge, testify (unto), witness.] [Zodhiates: To bear witness, testify earnestly or repeatedly, or to charge as it were before witnesses, to affirm.]

1). The word “charge” is used two other times by Paul in 1 & 2 Timothy. Paul is telling Timothy that God is witnessing this command of Paul’s to Timothy.

a). 1 Timothy 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

b). 2 Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2). A Hebrew word translated “charge” is also used in the Old Testament in connection with the commandments of God. It is never used lightly. One can do a word search of it and be struck by the heaviness associated with it.

a). 1 Kings 2:1-3 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,

2:2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thy self a man;

2:3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whitherso ever thou turnest thyself.

b). Numbers 27:18-23 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, an man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

27:19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.

27:20 And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.

27:21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of the Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

27:22 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:

27:23 And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

b. them before [Strong: 1799 enopion en-o'-pee-on neuter of a compound of 1722 and a derivative of 3700; in the face of (literally or figuratively):--before, in the presence (sight) of, to.] [Zodhiates: In the face of, in the presence of. Marking the manner, and especially the sincerity with which anything is done before God or in the sight of God, meaning God being present and witness, “before God” means God being witness.]

c. the Lord [Strong: 2962 kurios koo'-ree-os from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.]

3. “…that they strive not about words to no profit…”

a. [that they] strive…about words [Strong: logomacheo log-om-akh-eh'-o from a compound of 3056 and 3164; to be disputatious (on trifles):--strive about words.] [logomacheō; logos-word; machomai-to fight] [To fight over words.] [Thayer: to contend about words, to wrangle about empty and trifling matters.]

b. not [Strong: 3361 me may a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.]

c. to [Strong: 1519 eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

d. no [Strong: 3762 oudeis oo-dice', including feminine oudemia oo-dem-ee'-ah, and neuter ouden oo-den' from 3761 and 1520; not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e. none, nobody, nothing:--any (man), aught, man, neither any (thing), never (man), no (man), none (+ of these things), not (any, at all, -thing), nought.]

e. profit [Strong: 5539 chresimos khray'-see-mos from 5540; serviceable:--profit.] [Thayers: fit for use, useful.]

1). We are not to fight over words that won’t help anybody grow spiritually.

4. “…but to the subverting of the hearers.”

a. but to [Strong: 1909 epi ep-ee' a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).]

b. subverting [Strong:2692 katastrophe kat-as-trof-ay' from 2690; an overturn ("catastrophe"), i.e. demolition; figuratively, apostasy:--overthrow, subverting.] [Thayer:  overthrow, destruction, metaphorically, of the extinction of a spirit of consecration.]

c. of the hearers [Strong: 191  akouo ak-oo'-o a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.]

 

1). This is where we get the English word catastrophe, so in light of that I don’t believe the meaning is just to shake up or wound a persons faith. It means to overthrow or destroy it. If our discussion with other Christians is only going to destroy or completely overthrow their faith, we need to keep our mouths shut. This is the first on the list of “these things” that Paul was admonishing Timothy to not only be obedient to himself but to pass these commandments on to those under him.