Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

This is another verse that is often misused and misquoted by Christians, albeit in a well meaning attempt. Most translations of the bible, like the KJV above, say without dispute(ing), arguing (CSB), or something very similar. 

So of course we throw this verse out there to say hey everyone should get along, we are all fellow believers in Christ and that is what really matters. Yeah that is all well and good;  except it is totally out of context and CONTEXT MATTERS for proper bible understanding. 

The entire chapter up to this point has been about being Christ like. Does Paul suddenly shift gears and tell everyone to just get along and be merry. NO, he is saying to go about our duty to be Christ like  without murmurings and disputings. The (AMP) version renders it this way; Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God], I hope you can see the difference, while we are going through everything life has to throw at us trying to be Christ like, we are to do so without complaining or questioning the providence (circumstances we find yourself in) of God.

Why so that before the world we can be a light blameless and harmless. 

Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God], ¹⁵ so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness], ¹⁶ holding out and offering to everyone the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to rejoice greatly because I did not run [my race] in vain nor labor without result. PHILIPPIANS 2:14-16 (AMP) 

Haced todo sin murmuraciones y contiendas, ¹⁵ para que seáis irreprensibles y sencillos, hijos de Dios sin mancha en medio de una generación maligna y perversa, en medio de la cual resplandecéis como luminares en el mundo; ¹⁶ asidos de la palabra de vida, para que en el día de Cristo yo pueda gloriarme de que no he corrido en vano, ni en vano he trabajado. (RVR 1960)