2 Timothy 2:14-26 Questions 1-4

 1. What seems to be Paul's overall point i n 2:14-26?

"Ignore distractions and focus on your ministry."

"To be effective; to handle the Word, avoid disagreements, be holy, be kind and able to each."

 Do not associate with irreverent and irrelevant things

"Watch your words, walk and your hearts"

"Stay focused on what you are called to do"

What are the 'these things' mentioned in 2:14? Why are they important for all Christians to remember?

This is likely a reference to all of 2:1-13 (c.f. 2:8, "Remember Jesus Christ" - something Paul asks Timothy to remember and, following the pattern, asks him to pass on to others):

• The pictures of Christian life and ministry as soldier, athlete and farmer requiring dedication/single-mindedness, obedience/discipline and hard work.
• The need to put in effort to understand spiritual truth that will be revealed by God.
• The saving truth of the Gospel of Christ that makes suffering worthwhile
• The need for suffering and death before glory and life, conversely, the certainty of rejection and punishment if we fall away from Christ. There are consequences to our actions.
  

 These are foundational truths that apply to all Christians, not just to Timothy. The "them" (2:14) is a reference to the elect (v2:10) or to Timothy's congregation

2. Give one example from your own experience about :

• 'quarreling about words' (2:14). = Getting upset about semantic hair-splitting without no consequence: being petty despite not grasping the core concerns. There is anger about things that do not really matter. Phrasing for preference's sake, not clarity's sake. e.g. church meetings and social media
  

• 'godless chatter'/'irreverent babble' (2:16. c.f. 1 Ti 6:20 'contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge'): = Worldly, inconsequential talk with no reference to a life centered on God. It is talk that is not concerned about God's character or truth. Gossip is the taking of pleasure (Prov 1:8. 26:22) in the news without concern for the people mentioned. The motivation of sharing news distinguishes gossip from prayer items. But Paul's warnings go deeper than telling us to avoid silly talk, since this kind of talk leads lead people away from the truth. 
  

• 'ignorant speculations'/'foolish, ignorant controversies' (2:23) = Guesses and 'what might be's without real knowledge of the topic. Sometimes we will not know something until we see the Lord, and at other times we will not know something because it lies in the future.  Unfounded assumptions. e.g. Job's friends, speculation about the man born blind in Jn 9, Interpreting Bible prophecies.
  

I would summarise  these 3 aspects of idle conversation as misplaced anger, worldly shallowness and ignorance.

3. According to 2:14, 16. 23, why should Christians avoid ignorant speculations and quarrels about words?

It "does no good, but only ruins the hearers". There is no eternal value - these quarrels lead to anger and resentment, There is a habitual drawing away of focus from the main issue and from God.

It promotes more ungodliness - leading to situations that worsen an individual's personal spiritual state and influence more and more people ("spread like gangrene, v.17, c.f. the 'sound teaching' in 2 Ti 4:3) in the congregation away from spiritual truth and godly standards of morality. Leads to doctrinal error (2:17-18), because wisdom is obtained from people and not from God. The doctrinal deviation in 2:17-18 may be an example of over-realized eschatology, (cf. 1 Cor 4:8ff) similar to that of the prosperity gospel in our day.

It "breeds quarrels" - leading to more and more  dissension, disunity and personal animosity.

Does this preclude debate or argument of every kind? If so, why? And if not, what kinds of debate are acceptable for Christians?

We are to "correct opponents with gentleness" (v.25)  to help lead people to he truth.

Paul argued with Peter (Gal 2:11). When the truth of the gospel is at stake (Ac 15:2)

When we provide intellectual grounds for the truth claims of Christ (Ac 19:8-9)

When there is a controversial subject important for the church (Ac 15:7)

4. How should a Christian respond to foolish arguments?

• 2:15. We must present ourselves to God alone as tested and approved, especially in the way we know and interpret Scripture ("word of truth" vs. "quarrel about words"). We please Him rather than try to win arguments or to show that we are right.
  
• 2:16,23. We avoid getting involved in these kinds of conversations.
  
• 2:21-22. We take care to be clean from what is dishonorable so we are fit for noble use, rather than being 'ruined' and useless.
  
• 2:24-25. We must have a patient, steady, knowledgeable character that knows when to step in to speak out to convict people

Which of these actions could someone who is not a pastor or elder practice? 

All these actions, in increasing measure, except for the fact that not all can teach (c.f. qualifications of elders vs. deacons (1 Ti 3, c.f 2 Ti 2:2). Scripture seems to regard some as being specially responsible for teaching (Js 3:1) in a church, whereas in a sense all (cf. Tit 2:3, Col 3:16) believers are to teach one another by word and example.

QC question: Are denominations unbibilcal?

Denominations came into existence at different times for different purposes. They arose even very early in the Protestant movement when faithful Reformers disagreed over peripheral issues. The numerous denominations are ordained by the Lord, even though their origins may be nothing to be proud of! While Roman Catholics will point to the existence of Protestant denominations as evidence of disunity and confusion, the essential unity of Christian believers despite the organizational diversity can also be a testimony to the underlying spiritual realities we share. In one sense, denominations are 'unbiblical' because there is no direct reference to them in Scripture (despite hints at factions, 1 Co 1:12, 3:4). But we can also say that they are 'biblical' in the sense that they arose because Christians disagree over