STRIVE NOT OVER WORDS. 2nd Timothy 2:14 Gnosticism is a heresy that can't be ignored because parts of it are still believed today. Its main teaching is that anything physical and all matter are evil, while what is spiritual or spirit is entirely good. This means the human body is evil because it is matter, in contrast to God, who is completely a spirit and is absolutely good. Therefore, salvation is not through faith in Jesus Christ but by escaping the body through special “knowledge” (“Gnosis” is the Greek word). Besides those two errors, Gnosticism denies the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some ancient Gnostics taught that Jesus only “seemed” to have a body. Others claimed that Christ joined the man, Jesus, when John baptized Him, and Christ left Him before He died. Another error of that false teaching was that because the body was considered evil, it had to be punished through practices like beating oneself, wearing a hair shirt, or other harsh methods to cause pain. They believed that by treating the “evil body” this way, they could become more holy. Another consequence of such teachings was that since matter was seen as evil, breaking God’s law had no moral consequences, which led to licentious living and immorality. Believers must continually be reminded of “these things,” the teachings Paul imparts that comprise the Christian message, instead of quarreling over trivial matters that are insignificant. Fruitless arguments mislead people and serve no purpose; they are completely useless and even harmful. Truth must be revisited regularly to be remembered. When we review the “ministry” we have received from the Lord and are aware of His presence, we become more mindful of its significance and impact on both believers and non-believers. Meaningless talk distances people from salvation's reality. If we permit "striving about words to no profit" and do not take action to prevent it, it can harm those who listen to wrong messages. Listeners may become distracted by harmful, pointless chatter. Arguing with others wastes time and energy that could be better used for spiritually healthy pursuits, such as learning God's truth from His word. God intends for us to turn away from foolish chatter and focus on knowing the solid truth. We should avoid those whose values are of little or no worth and shun false teachers whose words undermine our faith. Remember who you belong to and walk away from anything that contradicts God's word. The problems caused by false teaching confuse young believers and those curious about what every religion teaches. Just stick to the word of God and listen to the Holy Spirit as He guides you into “all truth.” False teachers misuse their leadership roles. They challenge the word of truth and label those with simple faith in the scriptures as uneducated and ignorant because they remember the truth of the Gospel and do not stray from the “faith that comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
2 Timothy 2:14