Titus VII
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. (Titus 3:1-3 ESV)
to avoid quarreling
When considering Paul’s reminder, I really wanted a cool etymological connection. If quarreling had the same root as quarry… then Paul could have been saying, “do not DIG for disagreements.”
If quarrelling had the same root as quiver (a stretch, I know), then Paul could be saying, “do not have MANY arguments and disagreements… but hone them down to some key ideas.
While these might be helpful concepts to help us see what Paul meant, neither of those words has anything to do with quarreling.
But instead, the roots of quarreling have a connection with a word that denotes a hissing, angry, scowling, threatening sound. And that makes sense.
Paul is not saying never to disagree with untruth. But do not quarrel.
Let our disagreement be colored with hope, with the joy of Christ, with humility… not with a hissing, angry, scowling, threatening tone.