Thursday, September 22, 2011

2 Timothy 2:23


Copyright Ó 2011 J. Neely
2 Timothy 2:23

23 But [de] foolish [moros] and [kai] unlearned [apaideutos] questions [zetesis] avoid, [paraiteomai] knowing [eido] that [hoti] they do gender [gennao] strifes. [mache]KJV-Interlinear

23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. NASB

We are told to hold fast to truth and abstain from the untruths of life, 1 Thess. 5:21-22.

We are told to avoid myths and mindless genealogies, 1 Tim. 1:3-6.

We are told to not get caught up in word wrestling, 2 Tim. 2:14.

And here we are warned to avoid foolishness, naïve concepts, debates that have no purpose and so forth.

The world is filled with those who would deceive intentionally, who would lie to take advantage, who would misdirect in order to control your actions or thoughts.

But there is a vast array of people who speak foolishness simply because they themselves are foolish, meaning they lack facts or factual truths. This is how many so called wives tales get started.  How superstitions get started.  How people come up with the most bizarre ideas, that have no basis in fact, whatsoever.

People will often times challenge truth, because they do not see it and they believe that you cannot document or prove truth.  Like proving God exists for example.  Well, none of us can prove that by any earthly means, other than pointing out the long history of the scriptures, the prophecies, the details of creation and life and so forth, combined with the verification of all of these things within themselves.

Others have no proofs of their religions, cults, philosophies, and certainly they have no history that spans thousands of years to support their position, by comparison.

But in the minds of many, they will mock you because you lack proofs, because you lack arguments, because you are unable to debate a matter. But oddly enough those same people have no counter position that holds any water, either.  They only mock because Christians cannot support their position, even though they have nothing better.

And then they make things up out of thin air, taking doctrine and twisting the content to show something that they believe it a good argument, but is ludicrous at best.

People who lack truth, lack discernment, and therefore lack perspective, so they lack the ability to see their flaws and errors.  But they will try as they may, to engage you in foolish discussions in order to convince you that you are wrong, not necessarily that they are right. They only want to derail your beliefs, offering nothing better.

So, with doctrine in your soul, then you will have an understanding and an orientation to God, to life and to other people, and especially to yourself.  With this you will be able to spare yourself the grief of engaging in a conversation or debate that is destined to go nowhere.

Once you have a vast amount of doctrine in you, once you have a vast amount of knowledge and wisdom within your soul, then you will be able to counter arguments, but more importantly you will have the wisdom to turn your back on and walk away from foolishness.

Most foolish people are not interested in learning, they are only interested in the debate, the quarrel, they are impressed with their own views, and could care nothing for yours, let alone truth.

Some time ago I had a conversation with some folks that opposed my views and I think I kept that record in a special study in the online library. I think I called it a conversation with evil or apostasy or something like that.  But anyway, if you have the opportunity to read through it, you will see that opposing views generally become more and more agitated, and then they mock and ridicule and they completely disregard your views altogether.  Anyway is was an interesting conversation and a good example of just how hardened people can get when confronted with truth.

What did the priests do when they were confronted with Jesus claims of deity, they got really upset even to the point of tearing their own clothes.  Which, when you think of it, seems like a really childish behavior.  After all, Jesus only spoke words, and words of truth at that, so where was the harm to them.  And they went so far as to falsify accusations and execute Him.

So, even foolish debates can and will turn to violence.  After all evil has but one destiny and that is destruction.

So, do not get caught up in the foolishness of the world.  Do not get drawn in.  Its only purpose is to destroy your spiritual value, and you should guard your possessions of great value with the greatest of care.  Your spiritual life is your greatest, and actually your only real possession.

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