2 Timothy 2:24-25

‘And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting those who oppose themselves, if perhaps it may be that God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth,’

In contrast the Lord’s servant (especially the Christian leader, see Romans 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:7; Titus 1:1; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1, but of course true for all Christians) must concentrate on the essentials, and must not strive and be argumentative, but must be gentle towards all (compare Isaiah 42:1-4). He must be ‘apt to teach’ (compare 1 Timothy 3:2), fully versed in the whole Gospel and able to present its message clearly. He must be forbearing. He must correct those who oppose him in ‘meekness’, that is with understanding and humility, recognising his own tendency to stray (compare Galatians 6:1). For his hope must ever be that he may win them round, and that ‘God may give them repentance unto the knowledge (epignosis) of the truth’, as against their own false ‘knowledge’ (gnosis). (For God desires that all men come to a knowledge of the truth - 1 Timothy 2:4). Note the indication that their false understanding requires repentance. Men go astray in their lives before they go astray in their doctrines.