2 Timothy 2:23-26 BSB (Berean Standard Bible)

“23But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling. 24And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing. 25He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. 26Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.”

Avoid Foolish Controversies

What does “foolish and ignorant speculation” look like? It has to do with foolish and ignorant (without knowledge) arguments (controversies, debates). And what do those look like? It depends a lot on perspective and on what people are being taught, and what truth or lies they are buying into, or what examples are being set before them. But let me suggest one of them. And it has to do with a pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib rapture of the church. Too many people arguing over when Jesus is going to come again to take his bride (the church) to be with him. Why? Do any of us know? No!

And what benefit is gained by such a debate? None! But what is important to discuss along those lines? Are you ready to meet Him when He does return? Is your heart right with God? Are you walking in obedience to His commands, no longer as slaves to sin? Or are you still playing chess with God, i.e. are you manipulating your circumstances and testing your boundaries hoping to not get caught and to lose? For if you are, you must know that Jesus said that not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one doing the will of God the Father.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18]

So, choose your battles wisely. Yes, rebuke the lies of Satan and speak the truth of God’s word to the people, but avoid foolish arguments over things which do not matter for eternity, and/or which are begun by “trolls” and people who just like to argue who are not really seeking the truth at all. They just want to bait you into an argument. They feed off of that. And this does not mean you not correct the lies and you not proclaim the truth of God’s word if the lies are what are leading people to hell. Defend the truth and rebuke the lies which are leading God’s people in the wrong direction.

Be Kind to Everyone

Not everyone is going to agree with you on everything. A lot of people may oppose you and fight against you. Pick your battles wisely. Pray for wisdom in what to say and in what not to say and as to whether you should say anything at all. Remember that Jesus and His New Testament apostles often got accused falsely of things which they did not do or say. Sometimes they just walked away from those situations, and other times they debated with their opponents in order to refute the lies and to proclaim the truth. So defending your own honor or the honor of God’s word is not wrong.

But we should be kind to everyone. We should not “trade tit for tat,” i.e. we are not to trade insults for insults. If others are nasty and hateful to us, we are not to be nasty and hateful to them. State the truth! Yes! But do it in a way which is kind and not nasty, or else just walk away from the situation when you realize the direction that it is going, especially if it is one of those repetitive arguments which are intended to get you riled up and to lead to repeating the same arguments. But it is okay to defend your own honor. Jesus did! The apostles did! And they defended the honor of God’s Word.

Gently Reprove

Depending upon whom you are having to reprove biblically will depend on the approach that you take. Jesus was way stronger with the Pharisees than he was with his own disciples or as he was with sinners who needed to be led to repentance. We can be honest without being hateful and nasty. But those who are living in willful and deliberate and habitual sin, who have been there a very long time, while still they profess faith in Jesus Christ, may have to be dealt with stronger than those who have no relationship with Jesus or who are just beginning their walks of faith in obedience to God.

But “gently reprove” never should mean tolerating sin in the lives of those who profess faith in Jesus Christ, or giving them the impression that God is okay with them sinning. Too many people today, in the name of “love,” are pacifying professing Christians in their sins and are not calling them to repentance, and are not warning them of the judgments of God should they continue in deliberate and habitual sin and not in walks of obedience to our Lord’s commands. They are those who “softball” the gospel to make it less offensive and more acceptable to the flesh, but who lead people to hell.

So do not quarrel (debate, argue) with people over things which do not matter for eternity. Avoid foolish arguments which go nowhere good. But don’t “softball” the gospel message or refuse to share the gospel of Christ with people to avoid offending them. Speak the truth of God’s word to the people, but speak it in love. And if someone wants to just pick a fight, walk away. Don’t let them bait you into an argument which goes nowhere good. Love your enemies. Be kind to those who treat you badly. And keep speaking the truth of God’s Word to the people for their salvation and life in Christ.

[Proverbs 24:17-20; Proverbs 25:21-22; Matthew 5:8-12,43-48; Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:27-36; Luke 10:27; John 12:25,42-43; John 13:33-35; John 14:15-21; John 15:12; Romans 12:9-11,14-21; 1 Corinthians 13:1-8; 1 Corinthians 16:14; Galatians 6:2; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:7-8]

Reject Senseless Arguments
An Original Work / September 19, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Love Must Be Genuine

Based off Romans 12:9-21
An Original Work / October 22, 2013
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Love must be genuine.
Hate what’s evil; cling to good.
Love each other with affection.
Show respect for ev’ryone.
Never lack in your zeal.
Serve the Lord with diligence.

Rejoice in steadfast hope.
In affliction, patient be.
Keep on praying; share with others.
Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute.
Feel with others sympathy.

Be not filled with conceit.
Daily sit at Jesus’ feet.
Live in harmony with others.
Live at peace with ev’ryone.
Repay not to someone
With the evil he begot.

Do not take your revenge;
Leave it to the wrath of God.
If your enemy is thirsty,
Give to him something to drink.
Do what’s right for mankind.
Evil: overcome with good.