“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
I really like that Title, Study! So do lots and lots of other Bible students. Awana’s programs all around the world, quote this verse weekly, a quick perusal of the Internet shows most people who site this verse keep the KJV rendering of the word Study, even if they change out all the Old English verbiage. Only problem is that it is incorrect. Sure if you have a King James Version Bible, you will see that word, Study! in 2 Timothy 2:15 (Won’t find it in any other version today!). However, after some lengthy study on the use of this word throughout history and the Bible, a better and more accurate interpretation would be, Be diligent! or Make every effort! the TDNT even makes the statement, “Any attempt to construe σπουδή as “study” or “teaching” is to be resisted. There is too little support for this in Greek (and especially contemporary) usage.” So why is it there? Not sure…Maybe we could ask King Jimmy!
This word is an Imperative, it’s a command!!! And then it is followed by this phrase which reveals why Paul is telling Timothy to Be diligent…to present yourself approved. But not to man, rather to God. I think we all can agree that we, especially me as a pastor often work very diligently to show ourselves approved to those in the congregation of the church. But Paul makes it clear we are to be diligent, make every effort, to present ourselves approved to God. Interesting how important this adjective approved, really is when we understand who it points us to. We can and often do look really good, and quite easily I might add, in man’s eyes. Today in this attention starved culture that feeds more and more off of self validation this just isn’t too hard to do!
But Paul goes on to feed us a little more detail about what we are to be diligent about, “a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” We are to be like “one who has caused no disgrace to God,” unashamed before the face of God, specifically in how we “handle rightly” the very word or words of God. The Greek word used here is where we get our term ortho as in ortho-dontist. It simply means to make straight (cf., Pr. 3:6). Furthermore, it is in the Present Active so for Paul he is telling Timothy, “Be diligent, make every effort to keep straight the word of truth as you study and then teach. And in doing so you will not dishonor God, regardless what man thinks.” The context prior to and especially after this passage helps us understand that there is a tendency to get off course if we are not cautious and don’t remember what we have been taught and learned.
Precisely, Paul goes on to tell Timothy in v. 18, ”Hymenaeus and Philetus… have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened.” Paul shows Timothy and us what a lack of diligence and study will lead to…making crooked the straight, perverting that which is absolute truth.
So all of this exegesis to get to this point…I have heard so many Christian laity make comments about how further and or even some theological training is of little to no value for men who are called to be pastors. The reasons are varied and span the whole field of pastoral work. Things like, “Seminary will just fill your mind with so much theology that you become difficult to understand in the pulpit.” Or, “learning all those biblical languages just keeps you from being relevant to us simple folk in the pew.” These vocalizations have become so loud and prolific that often those called into the ministry both young and old seem to struggle to hear clearly the call of God to seek wisdom and knowledge from Professor’s and teachers who have dedicated their lives to their respected studies and who now fill our six conservative Southern Baptist Seminaries.
Think about this…Why is it demanded that the person about to cut into our heart or our brain, to perform surgery in an attempt to SAVE our life, have as much schooling, training and internship as can possibly be done by one man or woman? Then they have to go back year after year and do continuing education so they can continue to seek to save lives, even though they still fail from time to time and people die.
But in our culture today it is absolutely OK that a pastor not have much more than passing knowledge of the Bible and then be allowed to stand in the pulpit, and be expected to proclaim with all Wisdom (Col. 1:28) and all Authority (Ti. 2:15) the very Gospel of Jesus Christ. Wielding the Word of God, which is sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow (Heb. 4:12). That which ALONE is the power of God for Salvation (Rm 1:16). That which when heard and believed will ALWAYS SAVE souls from an eternity separated from the Love of God.
Interesting perspective isn’t it! I grow tired of listening to those who choose of their own free will to neglect the deeper knowledge of God. Knowledge which only comes through study and effort, time spent in the Bible, yet they push their shallow mentality of what they believe a pastor should be upon those seeking to follow God’s call. If you are reading this and contemplating God’s call in your life to vocational ministry, and if God is opening doors for you to go to seminary, Go! At least start walking and God will direct and guide. I struggle to ever understand why God would say No to someone seeking to know more about Him. Often times I don’t think it is God saying NO! Rather, I think it is man thinking about all the sacrifices he will have to make, and then once his judgment is good and clouded by doubt, that man says no…the costs are just too much.
I write all this in response to a Facebook post by a godly and devoted Christian brother of mine confronted with this very situation. So I close with this, I love you Brother…and I know you are an intelligent and capable pastor today and I would love to be a fraction of what you are in the pulpit, but I look at theological training as, we can ALWAYS be better, rather than it will make me too smart to be a good preacher! I mean, come on…it’s only Eternity that’s at stake, right?
Study to know Him,
Hi, I came by way of Cyle. The version I use is Amplified. It has “study”. Just thought you’d like to know. selahV
selahV, Thanks for your comment.
The Amplified Bible is most definitely unique. We need to note that for this one Greek word in the Amplified Bible, they actually render it, “Study and be eager and do your utmost.” Wow, three meanings…which is it?
This is what the Amplified Bible does, it doesn’t always work to render the English language’s “most likely” use of a Greek word, but like here, puts into the English, multiple possible words, which can be confusing and misleading. Each word in its context has “one” meaning, But here the Amplified is trying to say it can mean, “study” or “be eager” or “do your utmost.” The later two must be working to modify how one is to study???? I argue that to make this word even mean “study” is to miss Paul’s point. It isn’t about studying, but rather, Teaching, which is the true context seen in the surrounding verses.
Case in point one; Here in 2 Tim 2:15. Amplified renders this word first, as “study.” However, when we look to BDAG the Greek Lexicon for a good definition of σπουδάζω, we do not see that word in any of its lemma forms rendered as Study…ever.
As a matter of fact a lemma search of that word in the NA27 Greek Text, produces 11 hits, all of them translate (in context) the meaning of being eager, diligent. None of them in their context could possibly mean “study.” The KJV, Amplified, choose for some reason to make this word, used 11 times in the NT, mean for this one time “Study.” Even the prior context of 2 Timothy 2 leads us to view this word as Eager, diligent; v.3 enduring hardships, v.5 competing as an athlete, v.6 hardworking farmer, v.10 and v.12 enduring is used again. Then v.14 says, “keep reminding them of these things.” (by way of teaching). That phrase prepares the way for v.15 when Paul then says, “Be diligent, be eager,
There is a Greek word which Paul could have used which would be more likely to mean “study,” μανθάνω–”to gain knowledge or skill by instruction, learn.” That word is used many times in the NT, and always means to learn, or having studied as in John 7:15.
The Amplified Bible sought to keep the original, familiar wording from its base form the ASV of 1901. Interesting though, the ASV’s translation of 2 Tim 2:15 doesn’t use the word study either! “Give diligence…” So what familiar wording did Frances Siewert (the sole woman who compiled the Amplified) use back in the 1950′s??? KJV which would have been and still is, very, very familiar.
So why all this trouble…the point is, Paul is telling Timothy first and foremost that he is to be diligent to show himself approved, as he works in v.14 to “keep reminding them, and v.15 as he “correctly handles the word of truth.” Paul is saying be diligent when you TEACH to show yourself approved before God. The main point here is the work of correctly teaching. Implicitly yes, if you are diligent to study well, you “should” teach well….but…
Case in point two; Joel Osteen, can be diligent to “study” the word of God all day long, but when it comes down to actually “teaching” the truth…well that is another story. Often men can be swayed by the masses, and contrary to what they have studied, they can fail to be diligent and be like Hymenaeus and Philetus (v.17) who wandered away from the truth, and taught lies. Money and numbers pressure, tends to do that sometimes. This gets back to my original post, if we are seeking to please man, we are going to fail. We must, must, must be diligent to please God, by teaching (and studying) his word to the best of our abilities.
Thanks again for your comment!
AM,
Great word here. Thanks for the link. I do think it is a shame that some have given education a bad name. I think there a number of excuses people really have for not wanting to pay the sacrifice required to full-heartedly pursue theological education. It certainly sounds better to make seminary seem less spiritual, or only pride centered. Of course seminary is not for everyone, but for the man called to pastor a local church, I’m like you, I don’t really understand why they wouldn’t want as much “input” as possible. A quick survey of church history makes an easy case for the minister being well educated.
Take care my friend,
Dan
Well said, my brother.
Proverbs 18:15 reads, “The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”
Hosea 4:6 reads, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me …”
Jeremiah 3:15 reads, “Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.”
Well said, my brother.
Proverbs 18:15 reads, “The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”
Hosea 4:6 reads, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me …”
Jeremiah 3:15 reads, “Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.”
Best wishes on the journey. We miss you in Tennessee.
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good message