strife

²³But avoid foolish and undisciplined questions, for you know that these produce strife. ²⁴For the servant of the Lord must not be contentious, but instead he must be meek toward everyone, teachable, patient, ²⁵correcting with self-restraint those who resist the truth. For at any time God may give them repentance, so as to recognize the truth,

¹²Hatred rises up from disputes. And charity covers all offenses.

²⁸A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.

³Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations.

¹⁴But if you hold a bitter zeal, and if there is contention in your hearts, then do not boast and do not be liars against the truth. ¹⁵For this is not wisdom, descending from above, but rather it is earthly, beastly, and diabolical. ¹⁶For wherever envy and contention is, there too is inconstancy and every depraved work.

²²A short-tempered man provokes quarrels. And whoever is easily angered is more likely to sin.

²⁰When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.

¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are manifest; they are: fornication, lust, homosexuality, self-indulgence, ²⁰the serving of idols, drug use, hostility, contentiousness, jealousy, wrath, quarrels, dissensions, divisions, ²¹envy, murder, inebriation, carousing, and similar things. About these things, I continue to preach to you, as I have preached to you: that those who act in this way shall not obtain the kingdom of God.

¹⁴Whoever releases the water is the head of the conflict. And just before he suffers contempt, he abandons judgment.

²⁵Whoever boasts and enlarges himself stirs up conflicts. Yet truly, whoever trusts in the Lord will be healed.

¹⁶Six things there are that the Lord hates, and the seventh, his soul detests: ¹⁷haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸a heart that devises the most wicked thoughts, feet running swiftly unto evil, ¹⁹a deceitful witness bringing forth lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.

¹⁰Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease.

¹⁸A short-tempered man provokes conflicts. Whoever is patient tempers those who are stirred up.

¹Where do wars and contentions among you come from? Is it not from this: from your own desires, which battle within your members?

¹⁵But if your brother has sinned against you, go and correct him, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you will have regained your brother. ¹⁶But if he will not listen you, invite with you one or two more, so that every word may stand by the mouth of two or three witnesses. ¹⁷And if he will not listen to them, tell the Church. But if he will not listen to the Church, let him be to you like the pagan and the tax collector.