Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
A few weeks ago, I was afforded the joy and privilege of sharing a message with some really awesome college students. These “kids” are spending their summer spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Makes ya feel better about the future of the world, doesn’t it? A group of young adults who want to invest themselves in eternal things. That is some encouraging news right there! And before they headed out, another pretty awesome young man who leads the missions ministry at my church spent a lot of time equipping them to do what God has called them to do. I got to be part of that equipping. I am so very grateful!
I was asked to lead a session on “how to study God’s Word”. Best. Job. Ever! I don’t know what those college students got out of it but I had a blast. Preparing, practicing, presenting - it was all fun to me. The challenge for me with this subject is what to cut. (I guess I wasn’t surprised they could only give me an hour and 15 minutes but I could’ve used 3 days LOL!!!!)
So I covered what I could - mainly the “HOW”. That is glorious stuff and it is always good to remind myself of the principles and the process. I hope I get to teach that again soon.
But I found myself wishing I could’ve also shared the “WHY” of studying God’s Word. That is so precious to me. Rich truth. Transformative. Since I didn’t have time to tell them all this, I am sharing it with you. Because I just gotta get it all out :) Tks for reading.
Why should we study God’s Word? Isn’t it sufficient to read it most every day and listen to sermons at least on Sundays? Well, those are important for sure but we miss a real blessing if we don’t learn how, and then practice what we learn, to study God’s Word. The best synopsis of the “WHY” is found in 2 Timothy 2:15. Let’s unpack it together.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth
Be diligent - some translations say “study” here but I think “be diligent” better expresses what the Apostle Paul is instructing young Timothy…and us. To be diligent requires purpose, intentionality. Diligence as opposed to laziness or apathy. Studying God’s Word will cost us time and ease. It will stretch us, bring us to a place of initial frustration (and then unique joy when the light eventually breaks through!) Diligence also implies discipline, not haphazard effort. The “WHY” begins with diligence.
To present yourself approved - “approved” is the Greek word dokimos.This word that we translate “approved” does not mean that we work to get favor from God. It is not contradicting all the rest of Scripture and implying that we can earn salvation or right standing with God. This word came from the world of finance and is the key to understanding the verse. All money was coinage in those days and was originally valued by weight. Dishonest money-changers would shave some of the metal from the coins they handled, making them worth a little less than their face value. The little bit shaved from each coin was a hidden profit that over time could be used to make additional coins that cost them nothing. But some money changers were men of integrity, who would neither accept nor distribute lightweight coins; they were men of honor who put only genuine, full-weight money into circulation. These men were called dokimos. They were approved because they correctly handled the money entrusted to them. (Donald Grey Barnhouse, Romans: God’s Glory, p. 18.)
The apostle is telling us to study so as to understand - and be able to deliver - the full weight of God’s Word. To be a “dokimos”, a teacher of integrity who is able and willing to teach the truth, even when it is hard. To not leave out some parts that feel uncomfortable. To be a “dokimos” means we don’t learn or teach to please men but rather to please God. That way, we won’t be ashamed - we won’t shortchange or compromise the truth of God’s Word.
Rightly dividing - or handling accurately - the word of truth. The Greek word here is orthotomeo which literally means to make a straight and accurate cut. Some people have misinterpreted this as meaning to divide God’s word into parts but that particular meaning would have required a different word - diaireo. Orthotomeo was used by carpenters (to make a straight and accurate cut) or by civil engineers to convey that roads they were building went from one place to another by the shortest possible route. Or a farmer might use this word to describe plowing a field, seeking to cut straight furrows to plant rows of seed, looking at a point on the other side of the field and focusing on that point to ensure the line cut in the dirt was straight. Great imagery to help us understand what is being communicated here. When used metaphorically, the word means to proceed on straight paths, hold a straight course, equivalent to doing right. Elsewhere in Scripture, this word appears in Proverbs 3:6 -In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight (Orthotomeo). By using this word Paul was instructing Timothy to preach God’s word accurately, correctly, and with precision. To cut through all obstacles and get the word from the page to the hearts of God’s people (including our own heart!)
That is how I understand the “WHY”. Diligence gets us to the accuracy which enables us to be trustworthy - approval. Reading God’s Word is fine and of course it is better to “just read” than nothing at all. But the riches come from the studying. From the diligence. The development of spiritual integrity and courage. Approval.