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

A Worker Approved by God

¹⁴ Remind them of this, and warn them before the Lord^[a] that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening.^(A)

²³ Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.^(A)

⁷ Have nothing to do with profane and foolish tales. Train yourself in godliness,^(A)

¹⁴ not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth.^(A)

¹⁶ Avoid profane chatter, for it will lead people^[a] into more and more impiety,^(A)

Warning against False Teachers

³ I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach different teachings^{(A) 4} and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training^[a] that is known by faith.^{(B) 5} But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.^{(C) 6} Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, ⁷ desiring to be teachers of the law without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.

Food Offered to Idols

8 Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.^(A)

² And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.^(A)