提摩太後書2:22-26

 

  2:22 你不要像少年人意氣用事；要跟那些心地純潔、祈求主幫助的人一同追求正義、信心、愛心，與和平。 2:23 要棄絕那種愚拙無知的辯論；你知道，這種辯論往往會引起爭吵。 2:24 主的僕人不可爭吵；他應該和氣待人，殷勤善導，處處忍耐， 2:25 用溫柔規勸敵對的人。也許上帝會給他們悔改的機會，使他們認識真理。 2:26 這樣，雖然他們被魔鬼抓去，被迫順服了他，他們也會醒悟，從他的羅網中掙脫出來。

  Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

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      保羅教導提摩太如何成上帝之僕人：『主的僕人不可爭吵；他應該和氣待人，殷勤善導，處處忍耐，用溫柔規勸敵對的人。也許上帝會給他們悔改的機會，使他們認識真理。這樣，雖然他們被魔鬼抓去，被迫順服了他，他們也會醒悟，從他的羅網中掙脫出來。』

      所以，上帝的僕人是以『忍耐』的心來帶領人認識上帝，不是用爭辯的，那是無益的！