Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
This verse taken from Paul’s second letter to Timothy is one that I’ve heard quoted by Christians for many years.
It is often used to inspire bible study, which for my thinking is one of the most essential parts of our walk with God.
In fact, I would go as far as to say that our salvation depends on it because there are differences of opinion as to what constitutes salvation. Our eternal destination could actually depend on whether or not we have rightly divided the word of truth.
When you examine the writings about the first-century church, it is evident that there was a constant attack on the truth that was being taught by Paul and the other apostles.
The apostates (teachers of false doctrine) would waste no time in trying to spread false doctrine in the newly established churches.
Second Timothy was written by Paul near to the end of his life while he was in prison and had a sense of urgency about it.
Paul aimed to inspire and encourage Timothy for the work that was ahead of him, “do the work of an evangelist” as Paul wrote in Second Timothy chapter 4 verse 5
So it was of great importance that Timothy armed himself with the facts of the subjects that he was about to teach.
We are told that Timothy already had sincere faith in the Lord that had been instilled in him by his mother and grandmother from a young age, as well as being schooled in the scriptures by the apostle Paul himself.
And still, Paul encourages Timothy to continue to study with earnest diligence, to dissect the divine message correctly so that he may clarify the meaning in a learned way.
Likewise, we too need to adopt this attitude to our bible study and treat it with earnest diligence ensuring that we approach our studies without preconceived ideas looking to prove what we already believe, but with an attitude to find the root meaning of scripture by digging deep and referencing the English words we read with the original Hebrew and Greek text.
If you have been a Christian for some time then by biblical standards you should be skilled in the word of righteousness and no longer in need of the milk of the word. The bible says that “strong meat belongs to them that are of full age”. This means that as you grow in the Lord you should already be well versed in basic bible teachings and be now ready to tackle some of the more challenging subjects and be able to teach others.
I encourage you to make bible study a routine part of your life and structure your time and habits around it because by doing this you will……..
2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2Ti 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
2Ti 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
(Scripture taken from 2Timothy 2:22-25)
Written by
Pastor Donovan