Problem:

Paul seemed to forbid theological arguments when he instructed Timothy “not to strive about words to no profit” (

2 Tim. 2:14

) and to “avoid foolish and ignorant disputes” (v.

23

). On the other hand, Paul himself argued with the Jews in their synagogues (

Acts 17:2

,

17

) and disputed with the philosophers on Mars Hill (

Acts 17:18ff

). Indeed, Jude exhorted us “to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (

Jude 3

).

Solution:

A distinction must be made between the two senses of what it means to argue or to contend.

Arguing

is not necessarily wrong, but being

argumentative

is. We should

contend

for the faith, but we should not be

contentious

in so doing. Making an

earnest effort

to defend the faith is good (cf.

Phil. 1:17

;

1 Peter 3:15

). But engaging in

fruitless quarrels

is not. Likewise, Paul did not oppose disputing about

what words really mean

in a given context—he simply opposed

mere semantical wrangling.