II Timothy 2:15

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

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The Approved Workers of God

II Timothy 2:15

 

“Spoudason seaton dokimon parasthsai tw qew,

Be eager yourself approved to present to God,

 

ergathn anepaiscunton, orqotomounta ton logon ths alhqeiaV.”

a worker unashamed, cutting straight the word of truth.

 

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” KJV

 

Though King James Version KJV will be used as reference, I’d rather choose to mention and use as cross-reference the New King James Version NKJV and the most important is to introduce the importance of using the original text in Greek which is the Majority Text.

 

There should be a proper way of studying and teaching the Scripture as the word of God. I’m going to show the “teacher of the word of God” the importance of using the original text and the significance of Paul’s writings why he chose that specific word.

 

I have chosen to use this text as my introduction for this is very important to us to have the biblical understanding of why Paul is trying to tell Timothy the importance of correct, right, true and biblical teaching for the time will come some workers will depart from the “truth”.

 

There is big difference between the history of the past as the reformers fought in the history of “true Christian Religion” and in our present time with respect to “the wiles of the devil” to twist, to contaminate, to manipulate, to divert from the truth as the word of God to make the people of God be misdirected from “truth” so that others will remain totally depraved under the influence of Satan.

 

There are things which in some respect that some doctrines are not really so important and so serious, as if, it is of none important that the effect is unrealized, it is being neglected and the final results is compromising!

 

Some topics to be tackled which is consider as the “last few centuries(y) before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ” doctrines of the devil are: In Christology- “Christ could be tempted”, “Carnal Christian”, “Christian Rock Music”, White Lies”, Speaking in Tongues”, Evangelistic Entertainment”, Ecumenical Gospel”.

Therefore, there is importance for us, as true followers of Christ to fight back, to refute, and to be an apologetics with these kind of false teachings.

 

There are 4-points that we have to consider in studying this text, I Timothy 2:15 according to its context:

1.We have to be in a hurry in studying the Scripture.

2.We have to make sure to present ourselves really approved to God.

3.We have to be ready and not ashamed of being a fighter of the “truth”.

4.and finally, we have to make sure that our study of the Scripture is truly in the right way and how.

 

The first word used in kjv is “Study” but the original word used is spoudason, aor active imperative second person singular of the word spoudazw, spoudadzo means, to hasten, to hurry, to bent upon, make haste. (to exert one’s self, endeavor, give diligence.) Paul is trying to tell Timothy to hurry up and make himself ready for “in the last days, perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” 2 Timothy 3:1-5a, “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” v.7. Because of these things enumerated by Paul, he said in v.7 “ever learning” means always learning but never, I repeat, never “able to come to the knowledge of the truth” but instead which is the opposite of the truth, which is pseudos-falsehood, resulting in false doctrines and teachings that makes the man compromising in his attitude with respect to truth. We have to be in a hurry (in our attitude) to study the Scripture for that time is already here, especially our time now, the 21’st century wherein lots of compromising teachings are spreading in the Christian community. “Go back to the Scripture!” “But, beloved remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles and of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Jude 17

Second word, which is dokimon, from the word dokimos, dokimos, proved, tried; approved after examination and trial as in Rom. 16:10 “Salute Apelles approved in Christ” and “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried (dokimos), he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12; by implications, “acceptable” as in Rom. 14:18. We have to be strong in our Christian graces, even to endure hardships and commit ourselves to remain faithful as of a “soldier”. “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” V. 3. We have to endure hardness, endure afflictions, suffer trouble but still remain a good soldier, still worthy to be a soldier of Christ. A champion of the cause of Christ.!!

To be approved unto God, we have to consider ourselves as the leader and commander of the people of God, as the shepherd of the flock of God thru Christ as the Chief Shepherd, the Commander-in-Chief, the Captain of our Salvation, whom the soldiers are willing to suffer and die for in this battles, fighting against sin, the world and Satan.

“Present ourselves approved unto God”

dokimon parasthsai tw qew. The language of Paul to Timothy as a teacher to student relationship signifies the importance of being ready to give himself even his life as a soldier to his commander, no matter what kind of affliction he has to encounter, we must be ready to die and serve for it.

To fight and ready to die in service to our Lord Jesus Christ!

ergathn anepaiscunton, a worker needed not to be ashamed, “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” Philippians 1:20

The most important of all, which gives the idea of how we have to make ourselves as a real soldier, a shepherd of the flock, ministering the Church that was bought with a price of the blood of Christ and was given towards the Elders or Bishop (episkopos) I Timothy 3:1, is “apt to teach”, didaktikos, which is able to teach.

 

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers (episkopous), to feed (poimainein) the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” Acts 20:28

 

orqotomounta ton logon ths alhqeiaV.

orthotomounta ton logon teis aleitheias.

Cutting straight the word of truth.

In kjv “rightly dividing the word of truth”

 

Orthotomounta is the most significant and important word of study for us to understand what Paul meant in this text:

orqotomounta, orqotomew, orthotomeow, to cut straight: to proceed by straight paths, hold a straight course or to do right. To set forth truthfully, without perversion or distortion as in Hebrew 12:13; teach correctly. Compound word orqoV, straight and the verb tomew, to cut.

What does it meant by “rightly dividing the word of truth” in kjv or “cutting straight the word of truth”?

I prefer to use as the correct rendering of the word “cutting straight”.

This is the illustration, if you were given a 4” x 8” piece of paper, how are going to cut it in half? There are several ways of cutting the paper: first, fold it in half and then ripped it in half, but the edges are rough. Second, cut it with scissors though the edges are clean and not rough, it is crooked. Thirdly, by using a blade as cutter and a ruler or by using a “paper cutter” which the results is, straight and clean.

Now, what Paul meant to cut straight the word of truth, is there should be a right way of studying and teaching the scripture which is the word of God, the word of truth. It should be approved and tried like the way the reformers did long time ago.

How can we do that? Some wrong teachings are the results of “twisting the truth” to make it seems right but actually is wrong, perverting the truth which comes the results of our attitude between the truth and the “falsehood” is “compromising”, instead of “cutting straight the word of truth”. The attitude of “compromising” between the truth and falsehood is the most neglected topic of arguments among the brethren in Christ, especially those who are really involve in the ministry whether an Elder, Bishop, or a Pastor that “shepherds” the flock of God.

 

 

It is either “black or white” and there is no such thing as “gray”!

It is either God or Satan and there is no in-between!

It is either good or evil, to be righteous or sinful and to be biblical or not.

I’m presenting the “cutting straight the word word of truth”, which is the original word in Greek, “orthotomounta” as the way I’ve known in right way of studying the scripture, which is the Bible as the word of God.

There is a great purpose of God of why he had chosen the language of Hebrew of the Old Testament and the language of Greek in the New Testament. To be precise, specific and direct in meaning according to its context is the very important thing to observe in this study of the word, according to its purpose and the meaning of it according to God.

Oh well, I’m going to repeatedly say the word “orthotomounta” in our study to show you what Paul meant in this text.

 

In getting to know some applications to have proper understanding of this text, we must continue the reading of the scripture according to its context.

It will be short, direct and concise in its nature of presentation and pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us and direct us to the truth according to the grace of God.

 

1.Avoid wicked, stupid or profane language and fruitless discussion. “Vain babblings” came from a compound word in Greek, kenoV, kenos, a primary word means – empty and the word fonh, phonei, noise, sound or voice, which kenofonia, kenophonia, means – “empty word” empty sounding, fruitless discussion. This will only lead to increase wickedness, impiety or ungodliness. It will profit them nothing but “unfruitfulness”. Verse 16. Also in verse 22, such as foolish and stupid questions that will only lead to a fight.

2.We have to be “instant in season” II Tim 4:2, to be at hand and ready to defend the word of truth instantly, because if we will be idle for a time, it will lead to be spreading into the Church wrong teaching like a cancer. The following verse 17, Paul use the word gaggraina, gangraina, where the English word gangrene came from, it is a cancerous disease by which any part of the body suffering from inflammation becomes so corrupted that, the evil continually spreads, attacks other parts of the flesh until it reaches the bone structure. This will results in spreading the wrong teaching like a gangrene until it reaches the main structure of the ekleisia, which is the church, the mystical body of Christ, to topple down the people of God. This will lead to some who separates themselves from the wrong teaching, some churches will experience “splits” and some sheeps will be gone astray! Like Philetus and Hymenaeus teaching that the resurrection is past already to overthrow the faith of some. Verse 18

3.The right attitude after performing “orthotomounta” as servant of the Lord, verse 22, is “not strive” kjv, from the word macomai, machomai, those who fight in hand-to-hand combat, so we don’t entertain foolish questions that will only lead to a fight. But we have to be gentle, able to teach, patient, in meekness, giving good instructions to those who oppose us. Verse 24 and 25.

4.The purpose as we impart the truth in gentle and humble manner is to rely in the sovereignty of God by the intervention of the work of Holy Spirit that these people will turn to repentance, to the knowledge of the truth, to recover them from “the snare of the devil” who are still in captive or became captive, trapped, seduced by the arts of Satan or maybe still totally depraved according to their own will. Verse 25 and 26. Note: I mentioned the words “or maybe still totally depraved” for two reasons: One, there are some people who are totally depraved and works under the influence of Satan coming into the church “in sheep’s clothing”. And second, in verse 26, the Greek word, kai ananhywsin en thV tou diabolou pagidoV, and the word ananeipsowsin, which is first aorist active subjunctive of the verb ananhfw, ananeifow, means to return to soberness, to be sober again. Since it is in the active voice and subjunctive mood, there is a connotation that these brethren might be recovered again to their consciousness that they have to repent of their wrong teachings. This will be our biblical and right attitude with other believers in defending the word and presenting the “orthotomounta”, cutting straight the word of truth.

 

Done