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.
“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.