⁹ But ^(A)avoid foolish ^(B)controversies, ^(C)genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for ^(D)they are unprofitable and worthless.

A Worker Approved by God

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, and ^(A)charge them before God^{[a] (B)}not to quarrel about words, ^(C)which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.

²³ Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant ^(A)controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.

⁷ Have nothing to do with irreverent, ^(A)silly myths. Rather ^(B)train yourself for godliness;

^14 (A)not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and ^(B)the commands of people ^(C)who turn away from the truth.

¹⁶ But ^(A)avoid ^(B)irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,

Warning Against False Teachers

^3 (A)As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not ^(B)to teach any different doctrine, ⁴ nor ^(C)to devote themselves to myths and endless ^(D)genealogies, which promote ^(E)speculations rather than the stewardship^[a] from God that is by faith. ⁵ The aim of our charge is love ^(F)that issues from a pure heart and ^(G)a good conscience and ^(H)a sincere faith. ⁶ Certain persons, by ^(I)swerving from these, have wandered away into ^(J)vain discussion, ⁷ desiring to be teachers of the law, ^(K)without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

Food Offered to Idols

8 Now concerning^{[a] (A)}food offered to idols: we know that ^(B)“all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” ^(C)puffs up, ^(D)but love builds up.