2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study [spoudazo] to shew [paristemi] thyself [seautou] approved [dokimos] unto God, [theos] a workman
[ergates] that needeth not to be ashamed, [anepaischuntos] rightly dividing [orthotomeo] the word [logos] of truth. [aletheia]KJV-Interlinear
15 Be
diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to
be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. NASB
Because God is the
highest authority and sovereign in all the universe and heaven, and because God
possesses an essence that demands absolute truth and righteousness, and because
God is the only access we have to legitimate knowledge and wisdom, than it is
essential that we learn from the foundation of His words, and not from the source
of our personal imagination or invention.
God has been here from
all of eternity. We have not. God designed everything that is. We have not.
His Word, which comes
to us through the scriptures is therefore the fundamental foundation of all
truth on every level, in every subject.
In order to see life
clearly, we then need a looking glass through which we may see clearly.
A simple case in
point. Without doctrine, one may presume
that the concepts of evolution are true.
However the Bible clearly states that every living thing was created by
God, and came out of its own kind – man to man, plants to plants, animals to
animals, fish to fish, birds to birds and so forth. There is no basis for even suspecting that
all living things came out of a single source of mush.
If mush were the case,
then the whole concept of the soul would be void, all law or principles of life
would be arbitrary. If man could achieve
perfection from his own accord then there would be no need for God.
We know that truth
extends from and is not exclusive to the content of the Bible. The principles in math, in science, in
chemistry, in physics, in engineering, in the various subjects that are
objective, were all designed by God. And
these many concepts help us in the invention of all the products and goods that
exist today.
But we know that these
things, are temporary at best, because we have a Bible that tells us that all
things will one day cease, and then be replaced in a new universe. The nature and design details of the new
universe we do not now know. Only that it
will be far better.
Concepts like math and
two plus two, are easy to learn.
Concepts like philosophy and the various conclusions they represent are
the source of endless debate, designed to confuse all.
Therefore, to know the
truth of a given matter, you need to know doctrine. Bible doctrine serves as an excellent filter
and sorter of truth, separating out the false from the good.
And so, we have
possibly the second most important verse in all of the bible. The first being, ‘Believe in Jesus Christ and
you will be saved.’
But this second verse,
which you should commit to memory, is the mandate for all of your life after
salvation.
Study, ‘spoudazo,’
means to be diligent, to be zealous, persistent, to concentrate, to focus on a
particular objective.
It is intended for an
instructor in teaching, such that his subject matter is clear, perspicuous,
unambiguous. A difficult matter made easy.
It is intended for a
student in learning such that they commit themselves to a subject in order to
master it, to own it, to possess it, to know it thoroughly and objectively.
These objectives do not
come from wishes or hopes or emotional highs, but only from a daily study.
The word of God is the
food of the soul, and food by example in the physical life, is consumed daily.
To show thyself
approved, ‘paristemi,’ means to present oneself before an examination. To stand before one who will examine,
inspect, scrutinize, as a master looks over the work of an apprentice, seeking
to find even the slightest flaw in the work.
Approved, ‘dokimos,’
means just that, approved, to pass an exam with the highest score possible, to
be declared worthy, to pass an extensive and excruciatingly tough trial or
ordeal.
God of course is the
one who performs the exam, and who approves or disapproves or grades the result
of your examination. And it is He, who
you must impress, not man, not angel, not even your own self. God makes the rules and God alone determines
your adherence and accomplishment.
A workman, ‘ergates,’
specifies a craftsman in any various field where the work must be done
correctly and with great care, and honesty, and dedication.
Ashamed, ‘anepaischuntos,’
is a subject we studied recently, which is the embarrassment of
non-preformance, when one had the opportunity but simply refused to pursue it.
Rightly dividing, ‘orthotomeo,’
means to cut straight. To cut as a
craftsman cutting a straight line, as a farmer plowing a straight row, as a
mason setting a straight line of bricks.
It means to do your work correctly, to discern or differentiate between
really good work as opposed to really poor work, to handle with a sacred trust.
The word of truth, is
of course the content of the scriptures.
Therefore, you have a
mandate to study objectively and accurately, with all due diligence and care as
though you were handling something with extreme value, such that you learn,
grow, and mature, for the purpose of being prepared for your ultimate
examination, the exam of all exams, that will determine your entire eternal
future.
That makes your attitude,
your concern, your dedication to the study of doctrine extremely important, and
the most important thing that you can do in your entire life, for it affects and
determines your entire eternal life.
You are a student
without portfolio. You have nothing to
offer God, and everything to gain.
You cannot define your
own self instructional course, you cannot learn or grow by means of osmosis,
emotion, sincerity or any other self defined approach, but must advance through
your spiritual growth process in accordance with Gods rules, not yours. You cannot pick and choose what you will
agree with or will not agree with, will obey or ignore.
‘Study to show yourself
approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth.’
E-Books, E-Book Reader
Your Comments
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Subscription Options
Unsubscribe:
(applies only to mailing list recipients)
%unsubscribe%
