The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
Being the servant of The Lord is a tough gig. No one has the restrictions and expectations in regard to leadership as do these servants. Young Timothy was fresh into the ministry and was even told to not let others despise his youthfulness. It is no doubt he made some mistakes. But, in his, perhaps, human desire to respond in an unkind and uncivil manner, Paul sends him the above admonishment. Timothy was faced with false teachers all around him. In chapter one Paul actually identifies two of them. Timothy was not to "stand-up" and scold them. He was, with gentleness, to correct them, in kindness, without quarreling. The purpose of the correcting was to lead them to the knowledge of the truth, should God so desire to give it to them. This knowledge of the truth would allow them to escape from Satan's domain and allow them to repent. The approach of the servant of God was as important as the repentance of the false teacher. One act of grace would open the door, God willing, to another act of grace. Don't expect others to repent if you don't, yourself, act in grace. Grace begets grace.
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