Paul told Timothy, "Remind them of these things, and solomnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to teh ruin of the hearers. BeDiligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:14-15 NASB)
Paul is not telling Timothy to stay away from studying deeply into the word, or even not to understand the words of his studies. Rather, as Paul goes on to explain, to "avoind worldy and empty words" (vs 16). It's important for us as believers to understand what the words mean since they weren't originally written in English. Studying the meaning of the Greek, gettting deep into the word is not nit-picking, but rather 'accurately handling' the word. If we don't understand what it is that is truly being said, then how can we know that we've truly gotten it right.
There is a point were quibbling over words does get in the way of the message of the passage though, and this is when it becomes 'worldly and empty chatter' and 'leads to the ruin of the hearers'. This wrangling of words can even lead to 'a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language , eveil suspicions, and constant friction between men of dpraved mind and deprived of the truth, who supposed that godliness was a means of gain.' (1 Tim. 6:4-5 NASB) Make no mistake, it's important to have a knowlege of 'sound words' as this this is equated to sound doctrine (1 Tim. 6:3 NSAB), but we must also know when this turns into 'wrangling' about words.
Paul tells Titus that and elders qualifications includes 'holding fast the word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradicts.' (Tit. 1:8 NASB) Hear again Paul equates words with sound doctrine. The words of sound doctrine then are important for the Christian because we are able to exhort one another and refute those that contradict them. Thus it is important to 'hold fast' those words.
How can we be 'ready in season and out' if we don't get into the meat of the word? Is it truly possible to refute and exhort if we don't even really understand the words of sound doctrine that we so dearly hold as vital to our being as Christians? But don't let this desire to delve into the word lead to word wrangling.
In Christ,
Matthew
