Study

By

Shelby G. Floyd

 

 

The apostle Paul commanded his son in the gospel, Timothy, to “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.) Another translation puts it like this: “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.” (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV.)   From his childhood Timothy had enjoyed superior advantages, for his grandmother, Lois, and mother, Eunice, had taught him the Holy Scriptures. (2 Timothy 3:14-17.) Paul had also imparted to Timothy a miraculous gift which he was told to stir up, or use. (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6.) Notwithstanding all of this, however, Timothy still needed to study the Bible, God’s word.

 

Some critics of the Bible are deriding the use of the word study in 2 Timothy 2: 15. They say this passage does not teach that we should read, meditate upon and examine the Holy Scriptures. But is this criticism correct? The word from which study is trans­lated carries with it the idea of making haste, exert­ing oneself, endeavoring and giving diligence, which is exactly the meaning of the English word study. When one studies the Bible, one should give diligence, exert ones self and endeavor to understand what the will of God is. Therefore, the English word study in this context is an exact representation of the original language.

 

Study

 

This is not the only passage in the Bible which emphasizes the need for children of God to apply their minds to the study of God’s word. We are told that the Bereans “were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11.)

 

To fulfill the noble purpose for which man was created, we, like the Bereans, must search the scrip­tures daily. The word study therefore, does not mean just to read the Bible but to thoroughly search the scriptures to understand the truth.

 

The Psalmist described the man who is blessed: “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalms 1:2.) When we properly study the Bible, then, the meditations of our heart will be upon the scriptures day and night.

 

One reason so many Christians fall short in study­ing the Bible is because it does require effort, dili­gence and exertion of our energies. The Sage, Solomon, said, “And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” (Ecclesiastes 12:12.) After all these years there is still no end to the making of books, but the book that demands our all-engros­sing attention is the Bible, which is still the best seller; and we should count it a joy to have the priv­ilege to ponder God’ s word. And, like Job, we should esteem it more than our necessary food. (Job 23:12.)

 

According to the context, Timothy was to study the scriptures, for he was told to rightly divide the word of truth. The word of truth, then, was the ob­ject of his study, or giving diligence.

 

Approved of God

 

Timothy was told to study in order that he might be approved of God. To be approved means to be tried and tested. Paul said, “For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” (2 Corinthians 10:18.) He further said, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5.) The Bible also tells us to “prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21.) The way, then to be ap­proved of God is to examine ourselves and to prove all things; and this no one can do unless one studies God’s will.

 

The Holy Scriptures is a perfect standard for our worship and conduct toward God. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:3.) Since by this standard man will be judged, it is to this standard that we must go to study and understand what God expects of us. Jesus said, “There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.” (John 12:48.)

 

Not Ashamed

 

Timothy was commanded to study the word of truth in order to be a workman that might not be ashamed. The word ashamed means to blush or to pale. The teacher or preacher of God’s word should never have any cause to be ashamed of the gospel. Paul said to the Romans, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” (Romans 1:16-17.) But unless a person studies the Bible and understands it, he will certainly have cause to be ashamed when confronting unbelievers and those who are openly antagonistic to the cause of Christ.

 

The apostle Peter said, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15.) One who does not study the Bible will not always be ready to give an answer to those who ask of one’s hope and, therefore, would have cause to be ashamed.

 

Solomon admonished, “The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.”(Proverbs 15:28.)  He also said of the wicked, “for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.” (Proverbs 24:2.)

 

The Bible is like a mirror into which we look to see our appearance. If we do not look as we think we should, after having looked into the mirror, we should set ourselves to improve our appearance, lest we might be ashamed in public. So, in a figure of speech, a child of God must look into the mirror of God’s word by studying it and then be a doer of the word. The apostle James said, “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1: 23-25.)

 

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

 

Finally, Paul instructed Timothy to study in order to rightly divide the word of truth. The words rightly dividing translates a word which literally means to cut a straight furrow across a field. As it is used here, it simply means to teach the truth correctly and directly, or to handle it aright. Many who study the Bible do not properly divide it into its proper dispensations and covenants. The old covenant, which lasted for 1,500 years, has been nailed to the cross of Christ. (Colossians 2:14.) And, like a middle wall of partition, it has been broken down, (Ephesians 2: 13-16) and has been replaced by a better covenant which was established upon better promises. (Hebrews 8:6-13.) Therefore, in properly dividing the Bible, one must first divide it into its two great divisions. We live under the New Testament, which is further divided into the life of Christ, including Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These books are designed to create a faith in Jesus Christ as God’s son. (John 20:30-31.) The book of Acts is a history of the establishment and progress of the church of Christ and vividly portrays how men were converted to Christ in New Testa­ment times. The rest of the books are designed to edify and encourage the child of God. The last book, Revelation, is prophetic and, in signs, reveals the future destiny of the church until Christ shall come back again.

 

        May all of us spend more time in studying this blessed book? Let all of us, like the Thessalonians, receive it, not as the word of men, but as it is, in truth, the word of God. (1 Thessalonians 2:13.)  Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved