2 Timothy 2:23

New Life Version

Let me say it again. Have nothing to do with foolish talk and those who want to argue. It can only lead to trouble.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels.

King James Version (1611)
But foolish and vnlearned questions auoid, knowing that they doe gender strifes.

King James Version
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

English Standard Version
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.

New American Standard Bible
But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.

New Century Version
Stay away from foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they grow into quarrels.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.

Legacy Standard Bible
But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.

Berean Standard Bible
But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling.

Contemporary English Version
Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments. These only lead to trouble,

Complete Jewish Bible
But stay away from stupid and ignorant controversies — you know that they lead to fights,

Darby Translation
But foolish and senseless questionings avoid, knowing that they beget contentions.

Easy-to-Read Version
Stay away from foolish and stupid arguments. You know that these arguments grow into bigger arguments.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And put away foolish and vnlearned questions, knowing that they ingender strife.

George Lamsa Translation
Keep away from foolish disputes which do not educate, you know they cause strife.

Good News Translation
But keep away from foolish and ignorant arguments; you know that they end up in quarrels.

Lexham English Bible
But avoid foolish and uninformed controversies, because you know that they produce quarrels.

Literal Translation
But refuse the foolish and uninstructed questionings, knowing that they generate quarrels.

Amplified Bible
But have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant speculations [useless disputes over unedifying, stupid controversies], since you know that they produce strife and give birth to quarrels.

American Standard Version
But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse, knowing that they gender strifes.

Bible in Basic English
And put away foolish and uncontrolled questionings, seeing that they are a cause of trouble.

Hebrew Names Version
But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife.

International Standard Version
Do not have anything to do with foolish and stupid discussions, because you know they breed arguments.1 Timothy 1:4; 4:7; 6:4; 2 Timothy 2:16; Titus 3:9;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
23 From foolish controversies which are without instruction withdraw; for thou knowest that they beget strifes [fn]

Murdock Translation
Avoid those foolish discussions which afford no instruction; for thou knowest, that they generate contests.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But foolishe & vnlearned questions put from thee, knowyng that they do but gender strife.

English Revised Version
But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse, knowing that they gender strifes.

World English Bible
But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But avoid foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that they beget strife:

Weymouth's New Testament
But avoid foolish discussions with ignorant men, knowing--as you do--that these lead to quarrels;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And eschewe thou foltische questiouns, and without kunnyng, wytynge that tho gendren chidyngis.

Update Bible Version
But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse, knowing that they gender strifes.

Webster's Bible Translation
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they gender contentions.

New English Translation
But reject foolish and ignorant controversies, because you know they breed infighting.

New King James Version
But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.

New Living Translation
Again I say, don't get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.

New Revised Standard
Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, from the foolish and undisciplined questionings, excuse thyself, knowing that they gender strifes;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And avoid foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that they beget strifes.

Revised Standard Version
Have nothing to do with stupid, senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Folisshe and vnlearned questions put from the remebrynge that they do but gendre stryfe.

Young's Literal Translation
and the foolish and uninstructed questions be avoiding, having known that they beget strife,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
As for folish questions and soch as teach not, put them fro the: for thou knowest that they do but geder stryfe.

Mace New Testament (1729)
decline all impertinent barren disputes, since they only serve for contention.

Simplified Cowboy Version
How many times do I have to say it? Stay away from petty arguments that only bring quarreling and bickering.

Contextual Overview

²² Turn away from the sinful things young people want to do. Go after what is right. Have a desire for faith and love and peace. Do this with those who pray to God from a clean heart. ²³ Let me say it again. Have nothing to do with foolish talk and those who want to argue. It can only lead to trouble. ²⁴ A servant owned by God must not make trouble. He must be kind to everyone. He must be able to teach. He must be willing to suffer when hurt for doing good. ²⁵ Be gentle when you try to teach those who are against what you say. God may change their hearts so they will turn to the truth. ²⁶ Then they will know they had been held in a trap by the devil to do what he wanted them to do. But now they are able to get out of it.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

2 Timothy 2:14, 2 Timothy 2:16, 1 Timothy 1:4, 1 Timothy 4:7, 1 Timothy 6:4, 1 Timothy 6:5, Titus 3:9

Reciprocal: Proverbs 6:19 - that soweth Proverbs 17:14 - leave Proverbs 26:17 - passeth Acts 18:15 - a question 1 Corinthians 1:11 - that there Ephesians 4:31 - wrath Colossians 3:8 - anger 1 Timothy 1:6 - turned 2 Timothy 3:5 - from Titus 1:1 - the acknowledging

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
The Lord God planted a garden to the east in Eden. He put the man there whom He had made.

Genesis 2:9
And the Lord God made to grow out of the ground every tree that is pleasing to the eyes and good for food. And He made the tree of life grow in the center of the garden, and the tree of learning of good and bad.

Genesis 29:14
Laban said to him, "For sure you are my bone and my flesh." And Jacob stayed with him a month.

Judges 9:2
"Speak to all the leaders of Shechem. Say to them, ‘Which is better for you? Should all seventy of Jerubbaal's sons rule over you? Or should one man rule over you? Remember that I am your own bone and flesh.'"

2 Samuel 5:1
Then all the families of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "See, we are your bone and your flesh.

2 Samuel 19:13
And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be the captain of my army at all times instead of Joab.'"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But foolish and unlearned questions avoid,.... Such as have no solid wisdom in them, and are foreign from the Gospel, the wisdom of God in a mystery, and are not useful and unedifying; such ought to be avoided, publicly and privately; they should not be started in the public ministry, nor attended to in private conversation; as being unworthy of the notice of a minister of the Gospel wise and learned, and useless to the church, and to his hearers.

Knowing that they do gender strife; about words, and contentions, which break the peace of churches, and hinder the profit of souls, and the progress of the Gospel.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But foolish and unlearned questions avoid; - see the notes at 2 Timothy 2:16; compare the notes at 1Ti 1:4, 1 Timothy 1:6; 1 Timothy 4:7. The word “unlearned,” here, means “trifling; that which does not tend to edification; stupid.” The Greeks and the Hebrews were greatly given to controversies of various kinds, and many of the questions discussed pertained to points which could not be settled, or which, if settled, were of no importance. Such has been the character of no small part of the disputes which have agitated the world. Paul correctly says that the only effect of such disputes is to engender harsh contention. Points of real importance can be discussed with no injury to the temper; but people cannot safely dispute about trifles.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 23. Foolish and unlearned questions — See the notes on 1 Timothy 1:4; "1 Timothy 4:7", and "Titus 3:9".