Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the ruin of the hearers.
All Commentaries on 2 Timothy 2:14 Go To 2 Timothy 2
John Chrysostom
AD 407
Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord, that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. It is an overawing thing to call God to witness what we say, for if no one would dare to set at nought the testimony of man when appealed to, much less when the appeal is to God. If any one, for instance, entering into a contract, or making his will, chooses to call witnesses worthy of credit, would any transfer the things to those who are not included? Surely not. And even if he wishes it, yet fearing the credibility of the witnesses, he avoids it. What is charging them before the Lord? He calls God to witness both what was said, and what was done.
That they strive not about words to no profit; and not merely so, but to the subverting of the hearers. Not only is there no gain from it, but much harm. Of these things then put them in remembrance, and if they despise you, God will judge them. But why does he admonish them not to strive about words? He knows that it is a dainty thing, and that the human soul is ever prone to contend and to dispute about words. To guard against this, he has not only charged them not to strive about words, but to render his discourse more alarming, he adds, to the subverting of the hearers.
