2 Timothy 2:23–24

The literal meaning of the word is not quite "unlearned" but "undisciplined." It shows "a mind not subject to God, a man following his own mind and will." We should fear nothing more than the working of our own minds and wills in the things of God.

The truth is too vital and precious to turn into a mere argument. Foolish questions usually point to a heart that will not submit to the Word of God. Such questions need no answer. Avoid them, or they will only lead to strife... If someone truly wants to know the answer, let us give him the help he needs. But if he clearly asks in order to argue against the truth, he deserves no answer.

The same word covers shunning old wives' fables (1 Timothy 4:7), younger widows (1 Timothy 5:11), foolish and uninstructed questions (2 Timothy 2:23), and also a heretic in another passage. In none of these cases does it mean excommunication. It simply means avoiding those things or those people.

Separation from evil is the first step in God's path. If I cannot reform the evils of the Christian world around me, I am responsible to be right myself... Notice how often this letter calls for separation from evil, in different words and in different ways. The Apostle says: "avoid irreverent babble" (2 Timothy 2:16); "depart from iniquity" (2 Timothy 2:19); cleanse "himself from what is dishonorable" (2 Timothy 2:21); "flee youthful passions" (2 Timothy 2:22); "have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies" (2 Timothy 2:23); "avoid such people" (2 Timothy 3:5).

Whatever happens, the servant of the Lord must not enter into strife — he "must not be quarrelsome." If he lets a quarrel draw him in, he may end up completely defeated, even while he stands for the absolute truth. The servant is to remember that he is only the servant and not the Master. As the servant of the Lord, his business is to display the character of the Lord — gentleness, readiness to teach, patience and meekness when others oppose him... And when he presents the truth, he must not think that his clear presentation or his meek manner will make people accept it. Only God can bring anyone "to a knowledge of the truth."

It does not matter whether the question is right or wrong in itself. The devil can use a right question just as well as a wrong one, if he can raise that question to undue prominence and make it come between our souls and Christ, and between us and our fellow believers... But when we let any question take undue prominence, it stops being mere human weakness and becomes a trick of Satan.

The servant of the Lord must avoid strife at all costs. He cannot avoid conflict if he stays true to his Master. But he must not strive — that is, he must avoid the contentious spirit. He must never forget that although he stands for the Lord, he is only a servant. So he must show the meekness that fits that position. Earlier in the chapter we noticed various pictures of the different characters the believer wears. He is a soldier, an athlete, a farmer, a workman, a vessel — and now a servant, and not only a servant, but a servant of the Lord. So he must be careful not to misrepresent the character of the Lord whom he serves.

The word translated "strive" is better rendered "contend," and so is the word "strifes" in the verse before. "Contend" here means fighting, coming into conflict in an evil way. So the servant of the Lord must hold the truth despite all opposition. He must stand up to a fellow servant face to face if need be, as Paul did with Peter when the truth of grace was at stake. He must contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. But he must never step down from the platform of the truth — a positive revelation from God, entrusted to him as a witness — to fight with those who raise foolish and ignorant questions.

But aren't some people so trying that they deserve a sharp word, at the very least? He ought to be gentle towards all. The question is not how disagreeable people are, but whether we present Christ as we should. It is easy enough to wound or overthrow a man; but what if it grieves the Holy Spirit of God and dishonours Christ? Are we, as we should be, determined to bear patiently and to win by the irresistible might of meekness?

Let us remember that it is more important to display the character of Christ than to press our opinions, even right ones, or to defend ourselves. Men can oppose our opinions, our assertions and our forcefulness; but who can stand against gentleness? As someone has said, "Gentleness is irresistible."

The word didaktikos does not mean the gift of teaching in the strict sense. It means being fit to pass on whatever truth he has. Like all the other marks, it is a practical qualification, not a special gift. 2 Timothy 2:24 confirms this. There the word stands among the qualities that mark the manner of the Lord's servant — avoiding foolish questions, and dealing with souls for their instruction.

Many saints are slow of heart to receive fresh truth and to tell apart things that differ. It is natural to criticise, and for some even to ridicule. Readiness to teach assumes not only ability in the word, but love for the saints and faith in the Lord Jesus whom he serves.

In 2 Timothy 2:24, "patient" should be "bearing evil." He is to instruct those who oppose him with meekness, so that they may be recovered to God's will out of the snares of the devil.

The gentle and forbearing way He dealt with them is instructive too. In the Prophetic Servant we see a perfect example of the qualities the apostle Paul later urged on his dear son Timothy: "the servant of the Lord must not strive: but he must be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, forbearing, patient" (2 Tim. 2:24).

If others oppose, let him remember that they are really opposing themselves and their own good. He should long for God to work in blessing, through real repentance in such souls. The aim is never to prove the servant right. It is that by the grace of God the opposer may be recovered from the snare of the devil that has deluded him.