But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
Foolish, х mooras (G3474)] - 'insipid:' producing no moral fruit. Genealogies - akin to the "fables" (note, 1 Timothy 1:4). Not so much direct heresy as yet, but profitless discussions about genealogies of aeons, etc., which ultimately led to Gnosticism. Synagogue discourses were termed darashowt (H1875); i:e., discussions. Compare "disputer of this world," 1 Corinthians 1:20. Strivings about the law - about "commandments of men," which they sought to confirm by "the law" (Titus 1:14: note, 1 Timothy 1:7); and about the mystical meaning of the various parts of the law in connection with the "genealogies."
Avoid, х periistaso (G4026)] - stand aloof from (2 Timothy 2:16). Vain, х mataioi (G3152), inanes; empty of results: but kenos (G2756), vanus; empty of contents].