⁹ But have nothing to do with foolish questionings, and lists of generations, and fights and arguments about the law; for they are of no profit and foolish.

¹⁴ Put these things before them, giving them orders in the name of the Lord to keep themselves from fighting about words, which is of no profit, only causing error in their hearers.

²³ And put away foolish and uncontrolled questionings, seeing that they are a cause of trouble.

³ Will he make arguments with words in which is no profit, and with sayings which have no value?

¹ Now about things offered to images: we all seem to ourselves to have knowledge. Knowledge gives pride, but love gives true strength.

² And if I have a prophet's power, and have knowledge of all secret things; and if I have all faith, by which mountains may be moved from their place, but have not love, I am nothing.

³ It was my desire, when I went on into Macedonia, that you might make a stop at Ephesus, to give orders to certain men not to put forward a different teaching,

⁴ Or to give attention to stories and long lists of generations, from which come questionings and doubts, in place of God's ordered way of life which is in faith;

⁵ But the effect of the order is love coming from a clean heart, and a knowledge of what is right, and true faith:

⁶ From which some have been turned away, giving themselves to foolish talking;

⁷ Desiring to be teachers of the law, though they have no knowledge of what they say or of the statements which they make so certainly.

⁷ But have nothing to do with unclean and foolish stories. Give yourself training in religion:

¹⁶ But take no part in wrong and foolish talk, for those who do so will go farther into evil,

¹⁴ Giving no attention to the fictions of the Jews and the rules of men who have no true knowledge.