Bible Truth For Today
  • Home
    • Topics >
      • Abortion
      • Alpha Course
      • Arminianism
      • Communion
      • Assurance
      • Baptism >
        • Baptism - Lexicon Info
        • Baptismal Salvation
        • Infant Baptism
        • Baptism as an Ordinance of the church
      • Body of Christ
      • Calvinism
      • Covenant Theology
      • Denominations >
        • Apostolic Church
        • Assembly of God
        • Baptist >
          • American Baptist Churches USA
          • Baptist Bible Fellowships
          • Baptist General Conference
          • Conservative Baptist Fellowship
          • Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
          • Free Will Baptists
          • General Six Principle Baptists
          • Independent Baptists
          • Landmark Baptists
          • Missionary Baptists
          • National Baptists
          • Primitive Baptists
          • Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC)
          • Seventh Day Baptists
          • Southern Baptists
        • Brethren >
          • Brethren in Christ
          • Church of the Brethren
          • Grace Brethren
          • Plymouth Brethren
        • Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
        • Christian & Missionary Alliance (CMA)
        • Church of Christ >
          • Church of Christ
          • United Church of Christ
        • Church of God >
          • Church of God - Anderson
          • Church of God - Cleveland
          • Church of God in Christ
          • Church of God of Prophecy
          • Worldwide Church of God
        • Disciples of Christ
        • Episcopal Church
        • Evangelical Free Church
        • Four Square Gospel Church
        • International Pentecostal Holiness Church
        • Lutheran Church >
          • Evangelical Lutheran
          • Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
        • Mennonites >
          • Amish Mennonites
          • Beachy Amish Mennonites
          • Conservative Mennonite Conference
          • General Conference Mennonites
          • Hutterites
          • Mennonite Church USA
          • Old Order Mennonites
          • Old Order Amish Mennonites
          • Reformed Mennonite Church
        • Methodists >
          • Free Methodists
          • United Methodists
        • Nazarenes
        • Presbyterian Church >
          • Bible Presbyterian Church
          • Orthodox Presbyterians
          • Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)
          • Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA)
        • Quakers
        • Reformed Churches >
          • Christian Reformed Church
          • Unitarian Universalists
          • Reformed Church in America
        • Roman Catholic Church
        • Wesleyans
      • Canaan
      • Charismatic Movement
      • Church
      • Creation
      • Cults >
        • Christadelphians
        • Church of Christ, Scientist
        • Free Masons
        • Jehovah's Witnesses
        • Mormons
        • Seventh Day Adventists
        • Scientology
        • Unity Church
      • Deacons
      • Discipleship
      • Dispensationalism
      • Doctrines of Grace
      • Easter
      • Easy Believism
      • Ecumenicism
      • Election >
        • Who are the Elect and Why?
      • Emergent/Emerging Church/Movement
      • Evolution
      • Foot washing
      • Foreknowledge
      • Gospel
      • Halloween
      • Hermeneutics
      • Holiness Movement
      • Homosexuality
      • House Churches
      • House of God
      • Humanism
      • Inerrancy (of the Bible)
      • Islam
      • Justification
      • Knowing God
      • Lord's Supper / Lord's Table
      • Lordship Salvation
      • Original Sin
      • Pentecostal Movement
      • Positive Confession Movement
      • Predestination
      • Prophecy
      • Prosperity Gospel Movement
      • Reformed Theology
      • Repentance
      • Replacement Theology
      • Roman Catholicism
      • Sabbath / Lord's Day / Sunday
      • Sacramentalism
      • Salvation
      • Sanctification >
        • Entire Sanctification
      • Sovereignty of God
      • Spiritual Gifts
      • Substitution
      • Tithing
      • Tongues
      • Tradition
      • Unity
      • Vineyard Movement
      • The Christian "Walk"
      • Will of God
      • Wine
      • Worship
  • About Us
  • Blogs
    • Blood of Christ
    • Christianity Lite ?
    • Christmas Expectancy
    • Chronicle of Defeat
    • Easy Faith ?
    • Eulogy
    • God's Name
    • Grow
    • Hiking
    • Hope
    • Identification With Christ
    • Jesus the tekton
    • Natural Disasters
    • Non-resistance
    • One Day
    • Perseverance
    • Pragmatism (Success)
    • Prayer
    • "Preach the Gospel - Use Words if Necessary"
    • Que sera, sera ?
    • Quotables
    • Resolutions
    • Seeing Jesus
    • Songs (Hymns) >
      • Site Theme Song
      • Songs - Recommended
      • Songs With Issues >
        • And Can It Be
        • I Know Whom I Have Believed
      • Songs Better Left Unsung >
        • Come, Thou Almighty King
        • Create in Me a Clean Heart
        • Faith of Our Fathers
        • Just a Little Talk with Jesus
        • The Old Rugged Cross
        • Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior
        • Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
    • Spiritual Authority
    • Spiritual "Lettuce"
    • Spiritual Strength
    • Substitution
    • The Fig Tree
    • The Four "Transes"
    • The Tongue
    • Thought Life - How is Yours?
    • Times Such as These
    • Do You Know What Time It Is?
  • Critical Questions
    • Is there really a God?
    • Who is God?
    • Can we really know God? >
      • The "Knowing God" Study >
        • God IS
        • GOD IS ABLE
        • God is AWESOME
        • God is COMPASSIONATE
        • God is a CONSUMING FIRE
        • God is My DEFENSE
        • God is My DELIVERER
        • God is FAITHFUL
        • God is FOR you !
        • God is GOOD
        • God is GRACIOUS
        • God is GREAT
        • God is my GUIDE
        • God is My HELPER
        • God is my HIGH TOWER
        • God is HOLY
        • God is JEALOUS
        • God is JUDGE
        • God is KIND
        • God is KING
        • God is LIFE
        • God is LIGHT
        • God is LONGSUFFERING
        • God is LOVE
        • God is MERCIFUL
        • God is MIGHTY
        • God is PERFECT
        • God is PRECIOUS
        • God is PURE
        • God is my REDEEMER
        • God is my REFUGE
        • God is my REWARDER
        • God is RIGHTEOUS
        • God is my ROCK
        • God is SALVATION
        • God is my SHEPHERD
        • God is my SHIELD
        • God is SLOW TO ANGER
        • God is my SONG
        • God is SPIRIT
        • God is my STRENGTH
        • God is a WARRIOR
        • God is WISE
        • God is WITH me
        • Jesus is the BREAD
        • Jesus is the DOOR
        • Jesus is the HEAD
        • Jesus is the LAMB
        • Jesus is the SHEPHERD
        • Jesus is the TRUTH
        • Jesus is the WAY
        • Jesus is WORTHY
        • Holy Spirit is COMFORTER
    • Who is Jesus?
    • What about the Bible?
    • Where did everything come from?
    • Who am I?
    • Why am I here?
    • How should I live?
    • What happens when I die?
  • Bible
    • Genesis
    • Exodus >
      • Exodus - Gleanings >
        • Making Excuses to God
        • Facing Compromise
        • Spared to Serve
        • Bitter Waters
        • Manna Lessons
        • God Uses People to Help Us
    • Leviticus
    • Numbers
    • Deuteronomy
    • Joshua
    • Judges >
      • Judges 6 - Gideon's Doubts; God's Assurances
      • Judges 6-8 Lessons From Gideon
    • Ruth
    • 1 Samuel
    • 2 Samuel
    • 1 Kings
    • 2 Kings >
      • 2 Kings 5
    • 1 Chronicles
    • 2 Chronicles
    • Ezra >
      • Ezra - Gleanings
      • Ezra 7:10
      • Ezra 9
    • Nehemiah
    • Esther
    • Job
    • Psalms
    • Proverbs
    • Ecclesiastes
    • Song of Solomon
    • Isaiah >
      • Isaiah 8:11-22
    • Jeremiah
    • Lamentations
    • Ezekiel
    • Daniel
    • Hosea
    • Joel
    • Amos >
      • Amos - Outline & Study Guide
    • Obadiah
    • Jonah >
      • Jonah 4:11
    • Micah
    • Nahum
    • Habakkuk
    • Zephaniah
    • Haggai
    • Zechariah
    • Malachi
    • Matthew >
      • Matthew 21:18-21
    • Mark
    • Luke
    • John >
      • John 5:21
      • John 6:44,65
      • John 15
    • Acts >
      • Acts - Overview
    • Romans >
      • Romans 3:9-12
    • 1 Corinthians >
      • 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
      • 1 Corinthians 11:17-23
    • 2 Corinthians
    • Galatians
    • Ephesians >
      • Ephesians 2:8
    • Philippians
    • Colossians
    • 1 Thessalonians
    • 2 Thessalonians
    • 1 Timothy
    • 2 Timothy >
      • 2 Timothy 2:15
    • Titus >
      • Titus - Outline and overview
    • Philemon
    • Hebrews >
      • Hebrews 10:25
    • James >
      • James - Overview
      • James 4:14
    • 1 Peter
    • 2 Peter
    • 1 John
    • 2 John
    • 3 John
    • Jude
    • Revelation >
      • Rev. 1:10
  • Contact Us
2 TIMOTHY 2:15
          “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

It may be that you are very familiar with this verse. Perhaps you memorized this verse in the past and recite it quite regularly; you may have listened to a fair number of sermons or other teachings emphasizing the need to “study” hard, stay in the books (especially THE Book), etc.

While studying God’s word would certainly seem to be one aspect of the word “study” used here, it seems to us that the exclusive use of our usual concept associated with the word “study” which is so commonly used in reciting this verse misses the broader, more important, contextual understanding of this verse, and therefore hinders the “rightly dividing” of this verse.

The Greek word which here was translated “study” is the verb spoudazo, which appears 12 times in 11 verses in the KJV (these are listed below). The basic idea, according to the Lexicon and dictionary, is to be diligent, to endeavor to do something. The verse we are discussing does NOT say “Be diligent to study hard…” Rather, it is stressing the giving of attention, endeavoring, being diligent “to present yourself approved to God”. As mentioned above, studying God’s word certainly CAN be one way that we do that which is acceptable to God and even does help us to “rightly divide the word of truth”.

What is the verse truly communicating? In the broader context of 2 Timothy chapter 2, Paul is writing to encourage Timothy and in just this one chapter, Paul addresses:

1.   v.2 Finding faithful men to whom he can commit the truth of God’s word. “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

2.   v.3 Enduring hardship. “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

3.   v.4 Staying focused and not being distracted. “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” NOTICE that the second part of THIS verse mentions pleasing someone else – just like in v.15

4.   v.5 Striving, and doing so in an acceptable (lawful) manner. “And if a man also strive for masteries, [yet] is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”

5.   v.6  Laboring. “The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.”

And so, as we “divide” verse 15, we find that what the verse is communicating is to use your every effort to present yourself acceptable unto God.

The word “present” is the verb paristēmi. This is the same word that Paul uses in Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.” And also in Romans 6:16 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield [present] yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey ; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” and also in Colossians 1:28 “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:”

The word “approved” carries the idea of “pleasing”; so, in other words, these are NOT things done “in order to be accepted by", they ARE things done “to please” because of our love and desire to please.

The word “workman” is simply a laborer, as was seen in verses 1 thru 6 discussed above.

Being diligent (as opposed to being slothful) gives no reason to be ashamed, or to become dishonored (see note above on verse 5).

“Rightly dividing the word of truth” in simple terms is “giving it to them straight”, teach the truth directly and correctly, so that they know HOW to be diligent to present themselves in a manner pleasing to God.

Here are other uses of the Greek word “spoudazo”:

Gal. 2:10  Only [they would] that we should remember the poor; the same which I4704 also was forward4704 to do .

Eph. 4:3  Endeavouring4704 to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

1 Thes. 2:17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured4704 the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

2 Tim 4:9   Do thy diligence4704 to come shortly unto me:

Titus 3:12   When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent4704to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.

Heb. 4:11  Let us labour4704 therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

2 Pet 1:10   Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence4704 to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

2 Pet 1:15    Moreover I will endeavour4704 that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

2 Pet 3:14   Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent4704 that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Copyright © 2009-2023   Bible Truth For Today
  • Home
    • Topics >
      • Abortion
      • Alpha Course
      • Arminianism
      • Communion
      • Assurance
      • Baptism >
        • Baptism - Lexicon Info
        • Baptismal Salvation
        • Infant Baptism
        • Baptism as an Ordinance of the church
      • Body of Christ
      • Calvinism
      • Covenant Theology
      • Denominations >
        • Apostolic Church
        • Assembly of God
        • Baptist >
          • American Baptist Churches USA
          • Baptist Bible Fellowships
          • Baptist General Conference
          • Conservative Baptist Fellowship
          • Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
          • Free Will Baptists
          • General Six Principle Baptists
          • Independent Baptists
          • Landmark Baptists
          • Missionary Baptists
          • National Baptists
          • Primitive Baptists
          • Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC)
          • Seventh Day Baptists
          • Southern Baptists
        • Brethren >
          • Brethren in Christ
          • Church of the Brethren
          • Grace Brethren
          • Plymouth Brethren
        • Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
        • Christian & Missionary Alliance (CMA)
        • Church of Christ >
          • Church of Christ
          • United Church of Christ
        • Church of God >
          • Church of God - Anderson
          • Church of God - Cleveland
          • Church of God in Christ
          • Church of God of Prophecy
          • Worldwide Church of God
        • Disciples of Christ
        • Episcopal Church
        • Evangelical Free Church
        • Four Square Gospel Church
        • International Pentecostal Holiness Church
        • Lutheran Church >
          • Evangelical Lutheran
          • Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
        • Mennonites >
          • Amish Mennonites
          • Beachy Amish Mennonites
          • Conservative Mennonite Conference
          • General Conference Mennonites
          • Hutterites
          • Mennonite Church USA
          • Old Order Mennonites
          • Old Order Amish Mennonites
          • Reformed Mennonite Church
        • Methodists >
          • Free Methodists
          • United Methodists
        • Nazarenes
        • Presbyterian Church >
          • Bible Presbyterian Church
          • Orthodox Presbyterians
          • Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)
          • Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA)
        • Quakers
        • Reformed Churches >
          • Christian Reformed Church
          • Unitarian Universalists
          • Reformed Church in America
        • Roman Catholic Church
        • Wesleyans
      • Canaan
      • Charismatic Movement
      • Church
      • Creation
      • Cults >
        • Christadelphians
        • Church of Christ, Scientist
        • Free Masons
        • Jehovah's Witnesses
        • Mormons
        • Seventh Day Adventists
        • Scientology
        • Unity Church
      • Deacons
      • Discipleship
      • Dispensationalism
      • Doctrines of Grace
      • Easter
      • Easy Believism
      • Ecumenicism
      • Election >
        • Who are the Elect and Why?
      • Emergent/Emerging Church/Movement
      • Evolution
      • Foot washing
      • Foreknowledge
      • Gospel
      • Halloween
      • Hermeneutics
      • Holiness Movement
      • Homosexuality
      • House Churches
      • House of God
      • Humanism
      • Inerrancy (of the Bible)
      • Islam
      • Justification
      • Knowing God
      • Lord's Supper / Lord's Table
      • Lordship Salvation
      • Original Sin
      • Pentecostal Movement
      • Positive Confession Movement
      • Predestination
      • Prophecy
      • Prosperity Gospel Movement
      • Reformed Theology
      • Repentance
      • Replacement Theology
      • Roman Catholicism
      • Sabbath / Lord's Day / Sunday
      • Sacramentalism
      • Salvation
      • Sanctification >
        • Entire Sanctification
      • Sovereignty of God
      • Spiritual Gifts
      • Substitution
      • Tithing
      • Tongues
      • Tradition
      • Unity
      • Vineyard Movement
      • The Christian "Walk"
      • Will of God
      • Wine
      • Worship
  • About Us
  • Blogs
    • Blood of Christ
    • Christianity Lite ?
    • Christmas Expectancy
    • Chronicle of Defeat
    • Easy Faith ?
    • Eulogy
    • God's Name
    • Grow
    • Hiking
    • Hope
    • Identification With Christ
    • Jesus the tekton
    • Natural Disasters
    • Non-resistance
    • One Day
    • Perseverance
    • Pragmatism (Success)
    • Prayer
    • "Preach the Gospel - Use Words if Necessary"
    • Que sera, sera ?
    • Quotables
    • Resolutions
    • Seeing Jesus
    • Songs (Hymns) >
      • Site Theme Song
      • Songs - Recommended
      • Songs With Issues >
        • And Can It Be
        • I Know Whom I Have Believed
      • Songs Better Left Unsung >
        • Come, Thou Almighty King
        • Create in Me a Clean Heart
        • Faith of Our Fathers
        • Just a Little Talk with Jesus
        • The Old Rugged Cross
        • Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior
        • Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
    • Spiritual Authority
    • Spiritual "Lettuce"
    • Spiritual Strength
    • Substitution
    • The Fig Tree
    • The Four "Transes"
    • The Tongue
    • Thought Life - How is Yours?
    • Times Such as These
    • Do You Know What Time It Is?
  • Critical Questions
    • Is there really a God?
    • Who is God?
    • Can we really know God? >
      • The "Knowing God" Study >
        • God IS
        • GOD IS ABLE
        • God is AWESOME
        • God is COMPASSIONATE
        • God is a CONSUMING FIRE
        • God is My DEFENSE
        • God is My DELIVERER
        • God is FAITHFUL
        • God is FOR you !
        • God is GOOD
        • God is GRACIOUS
        • God is GREAT
        • God is my GUIDE
        • God is My HELPER
        • God is my HIGH TOWER
        • God is HOLY
        • God is JEALOUS
        • God is JUDGE
        • God is KIND
        • God is KING
        • God is LIFE
        • God is LIGHT
        • God is LONGSUFFERING
        • God is LOVE
        • God is MERCIFUL
        • God is MIGHTY
        • God is PERFECT
        • God is PRECIOUS
        • God is PURE
        • God is my REDEEMER
        • God is my REFUGE
        • God is my REWARDER
        • God is RIGHTEOUS
        • God is my ROCK
        • God is SALVATION
        • God is my SHEPHERD
        • God is my SHIELD
        • God is SLOW TO ANGER
        • God is my SONG
        • God is SPIRIT
        • God is my STRENGTH
        • God is a WARRIOR
        • God is WISE
        • God is WITH me
        • Jesus is the BREAD
        • Jesus is the DOOR
        • Jesus is the HEAD
        • Jesus is the LAMB
        • Jesus is the SHEPHERD
        • Jesus is the TRUTH
        • Jesus is the WAY
        • Jesus is WORTHY
        • Holy Spirit is COMFORTER
    • Who is Jesus?
    • What about the Bible?
    • Where did everything come from?
    • Who am I?
    • Why am I here?
    • How should I live?
    • What happens when I die?
  • Bible
    • Genesis
    • Exodus >
      • Exodus - Gleanings >
        • Making Excuses to God
        • Facing Compromise
        • Spared to Serve
        • Bitter Waters
        • Manna Lessons
        • God Uses People to Help Us
    • Leviticus
    • Numbers
    • Deuteronomy
    • Joshua
    • Judges >
      • Judges 6 - Gideon's Doubts; God's Assurances
      • Judges 6-8 Lessons From Gideon
    • Ruth
    • 1 Samuel
    • 2 Samuel
    • 1 Kings
    • 2 Kings >
      • 2 Kings 5
    • 1 Chronicles
    • 2 Chronicles
    • Ezra >
      • Ezra - Gleanings
      • Ezra 7:10
      • Ezra 9
    • Nehemiah
    • Esther
    • Job
    • Psalms
    • Proverbs
    • Ecclesiastes
    • Song of Solomon
    • Isaiah >
      • Isaiah 8:11-22
    • Jeremiah
    • Lamentations
    • Ezekiel
    • Daniel
    • Hosea
    • Joel
    • Amos >
      • Amos - Outline & Study Guide
    • Obadiah
    • Jonah >
      • Jonah 4:11
    • Micah
    • Nahum
    • Habakkuk
    • Zephaniah
    • Haggai
    • Zechariah
    • Malachi
    • Matthew >
      • Matthew 21:18-21
    • Mark
    • Luke
    • John >
      • John 5:21
      • John 6:44,65
      • John 15
    • Acts >
      • Acts - Overview
    • Romans >
      • Romans 3:9-12
    • 1 Corinthians >
      • 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
      • 1 Corinthians 11:17-23
    • 2 Corinthians
    • Galatians
    • Ephesians >
      • Ephesians 2:8
    • Philippians
    • Colossians
    • 1 Thessalonians
    • 2 Thessalonians
    • 1 Timothy
    • 2 Timothy >
      • 2 Timothy 2:15
    • Titus >
      • Titus - Outline and overview
    • Philemon
    • Hebrews >
      • Hebrews 10:25
    • James >
      • James - Overview
      • James 4:14
    • 1 Peter
    • 2 Peter
    • 1 John
    • 2 John
    • 3 John
    • Jude
    • Revelation >
      • Rev. 1:10
  • Contact Us