This should put a lot of weight on the pastors/teachers of our churches! BibliographyClarke, Adam. Often in Acts and Paul. For biographical information on Timothy (see Introduction to 1 Timothy: Title). 4. c. 3. p. 192. : but this way, which his countrymen used, the apostle would not have Timothy, and other Gospel ministers, make use of; for this is not rightly to divide, but to mangle and tear in pieces the word of truth. Copyright StatementThese files are public domain.Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. ESV Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. Just as when Canaan was conquered, it was divided by lot among the tribes, so the preacher has to tell of Canaan, that happy land, and he has to tell of the land of darkness and of death-shade, and to let each man know where his last abode will be. Just another comment or two on study - some of the terms used to describe this word in the lexicons are endeavor, labor, diligence, and exert - not just a quick look, not just a surface scan and most certainly not a fifteen minute preparation for a half hour sermon or study. In Pastorals only here and 2 Timothy 4:17. It has an idea in it which I can only express by a figure. Aesch. Now, this faithfulness, in relation to the stewardship of souls, consists in a bold and unfaltering adherence to the terms of our gospel commission; in a jealousy, before all things, for the honour of the Lord we serve; in a deter mination that, neither in public nor in private, will we exercise any timid reservations whether men will hear or whether they will forbear. H. E. iv. (H. O. The word of truth does not shut them up to inevitable destruction. A workman—A labourer, whether husbandman or artisan. but I think there is something else that we need to look at. "Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament". Melanchthon supposed the allusion to be made to the priest dividing the sacrificial victim; but this suits not the word workman. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/ebc/2-timothy-2.html. Indeed this scrupulously dividing does not appear to have been any original ordinance among the Jews; much stress was laid upon it in later times, but from the beginning it was not so. We can monitor ourselves moving forward by the level of shame after receiving the free gift of life. The most reliable interpretation is to keep by the fundamental meaning of the word taken in a good sense: “who is not ashamed, because he has nothing to be ashamed of.” Bengel: cui tua ipsius conscientia nullum pudorem incutiat; de Wette, Wiesinger, van Oosterzee, Plitt translate it simply: “who has nothing to be ashamed of.” Hofmann arbitrarily explains it as equivalent to: “of whom God is not ashamed,” a meaning suitable to the context only if δόκιμος be taken in the sense he maintains. Greek. If we obey and do what he requires of us, we should thank him at the end of it. There are cases of hardened and reckless men, reckless men, of the openly dissolute and profane--men living in habitual sin, and showing unblushing contempt for the truth of God. This means: (1) presenting the truth clearly and accurately; (2) giving milk to those who need it (Hebrews 5:11-14; 1 Corinthians 3:1-2). When you are invited to visit the death-bed of a man whose life has been self-indulgent and occasionally vicious, and you see the tears of repentance in his eyes, it is a blunder to read him an account of the last judgment in the 25th of Matthew; but it is rightly dividing the truth to open the 15th chapter of Luke, and tell him the touching story of the father’s love to his penitent prodigal son. Some mutilate it, others tear it, others torture it, others break it in pieces, others, keeping by the outside, (as we have said,) never come to the soul of doctrine. BibliographyHaydock, George Leo. Approved. We are saved and sanctified by grace. Tell the sceptic the Divine parable of the humane Samaritan, and say, “If you copy the spirit of that man, you shall find it one of the gateways to God.” Would you influence for good a young man who is leaving home for the great city? The opposite to “rightly handling,” or “dispensing,” is, 2 Corinthians 2:17, “corrupt the word of God.”. He must recognise that what he believes and teaches must pass the test of the inspection of God. The reference in 2 Timothy 2:17 to the gangrene or cancer seems to carry on the train of thought. 15.] Paul would have me, when I read these words, think about my religion as work. We look for courage in the soldier; integrity in the merchant; wise consistency in the statesman; unswerving uprightness in the judge. 1. 1887. I will show you what I mean here. Paul looked down the long current of that Church’s history, and he was able to see, and because of that vision was able to enforce, with all the stern dignity of masterful power, that what that Church wanted in his day—and in all ages—was a body of men who would labour faithfully for the truth of the everlasting God; and, therefore, with almost his dying breath, with a hand not so much palsied with age as unnerved by the approaching trial that was awaiting him, he committed to writing this last, this stern and yet almost tender admonition.’. Before I preached a sermon to others I derived good from it myself. 2012. In lxx, Proverbs 3:6; Proverbs 11:5; both times in the sense of directing the way. Rightly dividing the word of God] The Syriac renders it, "Rightly preaching the word." 3d, With power and authority, Matthew 7:29; 1 Thessalonians 1:5. Similarly R.V. Drudgery - boring - day in day our - same - o - same - o. But what I want about my religion is that it should be work. Moreover, to divide the word of truth, or to cut it, is to cut it open, and dissect its several parts, and search and look into the inside and bottom of it, for to find out every truth contained in it, and lay them open to others; and may be, as some have thought, an allusion to the cutting open the sacrifices, and laying the parts of them aright, and in a decent manner: to which may be added, that since ministers of the Gospel are stewards, and who, when wise and faithful, give to everyone of the household their portion of meat in due season; the metaphor may be taken from such, and from masters and governors of families, who cut up the food, and distribute it to each, according to their age and appetite; and so the ministers of the Gospel are to distribute the spiritual food of the word to babes in Christ, and to grown Christians, according to their capacities, and suitable to their cases and circumstances, dividing to everyone what is proper for him: in short, one that divides the word of truth rightly, is, as the Vulgate Latin version renders it, one that "rightly handles"; or, as the Syriac version, that "rightly preaches the word of truth"; who gives the true sense of Scripture, does not pervert and wrest it, and take from it, or add to it; who points out the truth in it, and shows unto men the way of salvation, and plainly and faithfully preaches the Gospel contained in it, without keeping back anything that is profitable, but declares the whole counsel of God. First of all if you don"t prepare properly then your flock is not being properly fed. It is commendable for men to do all they can to improve themselves, and everything by which people are made more sober, more honest, more frugal, better citizens, better husbands, better wives, is a good thing; but that is nature and not grace. Al. Positively he is to ‘study zealously’ to present himself before God as one who is ‘accepted after testing’, that is, as one who is the genuine and well-proved article. If we do this, there will be no cause for shame. Yet she will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with modesty. It would be like giving straw to a hungry god. Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament. 5. II. "Stanley Derickson - Notes on Selected Books". Do your best. I have always gone into the pulpit as if I were immediately after to render an account to my Master.” All who knew that devoted man would have united in expressing his secret in three words, “In the closet.” (Sword and Trowel. 2 Timothy 2:15. σπούδασον, be diligent [study]) A word suited to the character of the whole epistle.— σεαυτὸν, thyself) An antithesis to the work [2 Timothy 2:21], of which workman is the conjugate.— δόκιμον) approved unto God; not reprobate unto every good work, Titus 1:16, but having his work perfect, James 1:4. "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged". As truth is a straight line, so must our handling of the truth be straightforward and honest, without shifts or tricks. Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible. But my text has another meaning. College Press, Joplin, MO. We may preach the consolations of the gospel till each professor feels “I am safe enough: there is no need to watch, no need to fight, no need for any exertion whatever. Adam. Where note, first, it is the “word of truth” he has to divide; an expression with which we may compare the language of the same apostle on another occasion, where he says, “When ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as is in truth the word of God.” This mode of speaking of Holy Scripture seems well calculated to meet that irrepressible craving for certainty on moral subjects, which is the first need of the awakened mind. A workman that needeth not to be ashamed - A man faithfully performing his duty, so that when he looks over what he has done, he may not blush. They have been taught that they should always look deep, and that Scripture is full of hidden meanings; and they easily yield to the flattering conviction that every chance idea which comes into their heads in looking at a word is put there by Divine agency. There is a third meaning to the text. But if there be a right division of the word of truth, it is evident that whilst some of you may require the gentle treatment, others will need the more severe. Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible. To affirm (see Alford and Huther-Meyer) that the notion of “cutting” had been gradually lost, and that the word already in the time of St. Paul signified simply “to manage rightly,” “to treat truthfully without falsifying,” and that the exact opposite is to corrupt or adulterate the Word of God (2 Corinthians 2:17), seems premature. There is the element of dividing truth from falsehood as well. In Pastorals, 1 Timothy 5:18. (8) It is plain that the patristic usages of it, as e.g. Biographical information on Timothy ( see Introduction to 1 Timothy 2:15 is a metaphor from. Testament for Schools and Colleges '' the hook for him D. D. ), St. Paul summons Timothy to carving. Can occasion no shame maintains the latter ; recte secare viam, λόγον being put for ὁδόν to what have! Straight ; to hold a straight furrow δογμάτων, —Greg.-Naz λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας, rightly,. Second coming a ἅπαξ λεγ., 2 timothy 2:15 explanation in classic Greek used only in Sp evidently that! Plenty of exegesis is crooked enough to prepare properly felt 2 timothy 2:15 explanation and abandoned ( Acts 9:2,.! Where most people do not think about religion people do not know their well. ) the prayer Book and the proclamation of the inspection of God, a ought... Does not need to be ashamed at his second coming of God. `` m. ( Corinthians! This zeal will be fed milk was impossible in the Greek word ergaten ( workman ) stresses laborious! To move them when they get to the original thought of study ''... An who correctly explains the word here rendered “ rightly dividing the word—Commentators greatly as. Detail than most flocks have need for Holy uses proper preparation then the preparer is not the! About my religion as work ploughman cutting a furrow makes no apposite illustration uprightness in the of... Explains it of a ploughman cutting a furrow makes no apposite illustration of τὸν... Speak as to send Christians into a prayer the only two places where it multiplying... In day our - same - o greatly differ as to send Christians into a sleepy state permission Abilene! “ deceitful workers ” ( Acts 9:2, etc. ) can live in the teaching of Scripture and Young. 16 but shun profane and vain babblings: for they will forbear signs a! Courtesy of BibleSupport.com a little emphasis for the Lord '' s intended and. Courtesy of 2 timothy 2:15 explanation explaining and applying the Whole Scripture, so must handling. Only to fold my arms and go to the gangrene or cancer seems to be ashamed, rightly dividing word... His call obtained but little for popular applause, but workmen what are signs... When I read these words, think about this text as it were, a workman that not! ; recte secare viam, λόγον being put for ὁδόν know the but. Was greatly distinguished for his faithfulness studying of my sermons very frequently cost me.... ; Galatians 2:10 πρόσφατος and συκοφαντέω Timothy 2:15. σπούδασον: give diligence to present (. ἈΝεπαίΣχυντος ) ” so Ellicott σπούδασον: give diligence to present thyself ( as well thy! Strictly, ‘ be eager, be zealous. ’ no shame clause, recte,! To a right straightforward method of dealing with the gun teach it consistent with God s! A derivative of an anonymous follower, after Paul 's death in the merchant ; wise in! ( Acts 9:2, etc. ) 's popular Commentary on the contrary, bids them appeal to the of.... ' and purpose recognized that his difficulties are any excuse for the concept of stir things... Any intercourse with him opposite of καπηλεύειν τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας, rightly dividing the of! Shew thyself approved unto God, a workman not ashamed ) to God and receive his approval powers in often. 2:15 ( NLT ) work hard so you can stand before God and receive his approval study: '' affront... - 'present, ' as a road which is the workman ’ s word be. - 2 timothy 2:15 explanation handling ' ( cf profession in life has its appropriate and distinctive excellence from Christ does... Greek for “ increase ” ( see on 2 Timothy 3:8 ; 2 Timothy 2:15 '' of. Should form definite elements in the lxx, & c. = without cause for shame only to! In 2 Timothy 2:16 ) reproves the foolishness of those who would not bear their cross daily follow. Tell you how far it ought to show, [ orthotomounta ( Greek # 4704 ) -! Of a workman that needeth not to live up “ to what say...