Loading…
VRSZ
This sets the art on your cards and whose commentary you read on each verse. You can change it later in settings.
Translation
Loading…
What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes." Do you see how he everywhere draws him off from questions; not that he was not able to overthrow them; for he was well able. For had he not been able he would have said, Be diligent, that thou mayest be able to refute them; as when he says, "Give attendance to reading, for by so doing thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee." (1 Tim. iv. 13, 1 Tim iv. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Do you see how the apostle everywhere steers Timothy away from disputes? This is not because Timothy was unable to refute them; he was able; but because it is utterly useless even to enter into such disputes. Nothing good comes from them except quarreling and hatred. Such disputes, he says, reject as foolish. There are other inquiries, namely, about the truths of Scripture, which should not be rejected, because they do not give birth to strife. See how those err who also quarrel in their inquiries concerning the Scriptures.
Oecumenius
Reject foolish and ignorant questions, knowing that they generate arguments. A servant of the Lord must not argue but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient. foolish and ignorant. For there are also sound and learned questions, namely those concerning the sacred Scriptures. But why did he say, "Reject," and not rather, "Convince and refute it yourself"? Because a good answer brings no benefit: for they generate arguments. A servant of the Lord must not argue. For the servants of Christ ought to be peaceful. but be gentle to all. …
Western Saints
Thomas Aquinas
Avoid foolish and unlearned questions: Foolish questions must be avoided, because their subject matter deals with foolish things, i.e., with things contrary to wisdom, namely, with matters contrary to divine wisdom. A man should not raise such questions, but resist them: every man is become a fool for knowledge (Jer 10:14). But he says, unlearned questions, because of the manner in which they are proposed, namely, by shouting. …
Translation