“Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they don’t argue about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.”
— WEB
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Translations sourced from the public-domain WEB, KJV, and ASV. See all sources.
“Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they don’t argue about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.”
— WEB
“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
“Of these things put them in remembrance, charging [them] in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear.”
— ASV
Having thus encouraged Timothy to suffer, he comes in the next place to direct him in his work. I. 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.
— Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary (public domain)
them--those over whom thou dost preside (Tit 3:1). charging--Greek, "testifying continually": "adjuring them." before the Lord-- (Ti1 5:21). that they strive not about words--rather, "strive with words": "not to have a (mere) war of words" (Ti2 2:23-24; Ti1 6:4) where the most vital matters are at stake (Ti2 2:17-18; Act 18:15). The oldest manuscripts put a stop at "charging them before the Lord" (which clause is thus connected with "put them in remembrance") and read the imperative, "Strive not thou in words," &c. to no profit--not qualifying "words"; but Greek neuter, in apposition with "strive in words," "(a thing tending) to no profit," literally, "profitable for nothing"; the opposite of "meet for the master's use" (Ti2 2:21). to the subverting--sure to subvert (overturn) the hearers: the opposite of "edifying" (building up) (Co2 13:10).
— Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary (public domain)
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