2 Timothy 2 · Verse 15

2 Timothy 2:15

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, King James Version

2 Timothy 2:15 in other translations

BSBMake every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
WEBGive diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.
ASVGive diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
YLTbe diligent to present thyself approved to God--a workman irreproachable, rightly dividing the word of the truth;
DARBYStrive diligently to present thyself approved to God, a workman that has not to be ashamed, cutting in a straight line the word of truth.
BBELet it be your care to get the approval of God, as a workman who has no cause for shame, giving the true word in the right way.
WebsterStudy to show thyself approved to God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

What does 2 Timothy 2:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. Study--Greek, "Be earnest," or "diligent." to show--Greek, "present," as in Ro 12:1. thyself--as distinguished from those whom Timothy was to charge (2Ti 2:14). approved--tested by trial: opposed to "reprobate" (Tit 1:16). workman--alluding to Mt 20:1, &c. not to be ashamed--by his work not being "approved" (Php 1:20). Contrast "deceitful workers" (2Co 11:13). rightly dividing--"rightly handling" [Vulgate]; "rightly administering" [Alford]; literally, cutting "straight" or "right": the metaphor being from a father or a steward (1Co 4:1) cutting and distributing bread among his children [Vitringa and Calvin], (Lu 12:42). The Septuagint, Pr 3:6; 11:5, use it of "making one's way": so Bengel here takes Paul to mean that Timothy may make ready a straight way for "the word of truth," and may himself walk straight forward according to this line, turning neither to the right nor to the left, "teaching no other doctrine" (1Ti 1:3). The same image of a way appears in the Greek for "increase" (see on 2Ti 2:16). The opposite to "rightly handling," or "dispensing," is, 2Co 2:17, "corrupt the word of God." truth--Greek, "the truth" (compare 2Ti 2:18).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. Study to show thyself approved unto God. Give diligence, 2Pet 1:10, or make an effort so to discharge-the duties of the ministerial office as to meet the Divine approbation. The object of the ministry is not to please men. Such doctrines should be preached, and such plans formed, and such a manner of life pursued, as God will approve. To do this demands study or care--for there are many temptations to the opposite course; there are many things the tendency of which is to lead a minister to seek popular favour rather than the Divine approval. If any man please God, it will be as the result of deliberate intention and a careful life.

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.

Rightly dividing the word of truth. The word here rendered "rightly dividing," occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means, properly, to cut straight, to divide right; and the allusion here may be to a steward who makes a proper distribution to each one under his care of such things as his office and their necessities require. Comp. Mt 13:52. Some have supposed that there is an allusion here to the Jewish priest cutting or dividing the sacrifice into proper parts; others, that the allusion is to the Scribes dividing the law into sections; others, to a carver distributing food to the guests at a feast. Robinson (Lex.) renders it, "rightly proceeding as to the word of truth;" that is, rightfully and skilfully teaching the word of truth. The idea seems to be, that the minister of the gospel is to make a proper distribution of that word, adapting his instructions to the circumstances and wants of his hearers, and giving to each that which will be fitted to nourish the soul for heaven.

(a) "Study" 2Pet 1:10 (b) "rightly dividing" Mt 13:52

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 Study to show thyself approved unto God - Endeavour so to cultivate and improve thy heart and mind, that thou mayest not be a reproach to him from whom thou professest to receive thy commission. Rightly dividing the word of truth - It is generally supposed that the apostle alludes here to the care taken to divide the sacrifices under the law; the priests studied, in dividing the victim down the spine, to do it so scrupulously that one half of the spinal marrow should be found on each side the backbone. Probably nothing was much farther from the apostle's thoughts than this view, which is now commonly taken of the subject. 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. The word ορθοτομειν signifies, 1. Simply to cut straight, or to rectify. 2. To walk in the right way; it is thus used by Gregory Nazianzen, who, in Orat. Apol. fugae, opposes ορθοτομειν to κακως ὁδευειν, walking in a right way to walking in a bad way. Thus, καινοτομειν signifies to walk in a new way, and κατευθυνειν to walk in a straight way. See Kypke. Therefore, by rightly dividing the word of truth, we are to understand his continuing in the true doctrine, and teaching that to every person; and, according to our Lord's simile, giving each his portion of meat in due season - milk to babes, strong meat to the full grown, comfort to the disconsolate, reproof to the irregular and careless; in a word, finding out the necessities of his hearers, and preaching so as to meet those necessities.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:14-21

Those disposed to strive, commonly strive about matters of small moment. But strifes of words destroy the things of God. The apostle mentions some who erred. They did not deny the resurrection, but they corrupted that true doctrine. Yet nothing can be so foolish or erroneous, but it will overturn the temporary faith of some professors. This foundation has two writings on it. One speaks our comfort. None can…

Read the full comment on 2 Timothy 2:14-21 →

2 Timothy 2:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

σπούδασονspoudasondo hastenG4704
σεαυτὸνseautonyourselfG4771
δόκιμονdokimonapprovedG1384
παραστῆσαιparastēsaito presentG3936
τῷtō<the>G3588
θεῷ,theōto GodG2316
ἐργάτηνergatēna workmanG2040
ἀνεπαίσχυντον,anepaischuntonnot ashamed,G422
ὀρθοτομοῦνταorthotomountaaccurately handlingG3718
τὸνtontheG3588
λόγονlogonwordG3056
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
ἀληθείας.¶alētheiasof truth.G225

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Timothy 2:15

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:4

    But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

  • 2 Peter 1:10

    Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

  • 1 Timothy 4:6

    If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:18

    For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:9

    Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

  • 1 Timothy 4:12-16

    Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. …

  • Galatians 1:10

    For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

  • 2 Peter 3:14

    Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:2

    But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

  • 2 Peter 1:15

    Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

  • Hebrews 5:11-14

    Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

  • Ephesians 1:13

    In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Study.
Heb 4:11; 2Pe 1:10,15; 3:14; *Gr:
approved.
Ac 2:22; Ro 14:18; 16:10; 2Co 5:9; 10:18; Ga 1:10; 1Th 2:4
a workman.
Mt 13:52; 2Co 3:6; 6:3,4; 1Ti 4:6,12-16
rightly.
Mt 13:52; Mr 4:33; Lu 12:42; Joh 21:15-17; Ac 20:27; 1Co 2:6; 3:1,2
2Co 4:2; 1Th 5:14; Heb 5:11-14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Timothy 2:14

    Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

  • 2 Timothy 2:15

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

  • 2 Timothy 2:16

    But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Read all of 2 Timothy 2

2 Timothy 2:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Procura con diligencia presentarte á Dios aprobado, como obrero que no tiene de qué avergonzarse, que traza bien la palabra de verdad.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Étudie-toi à te présenter approuvé à Dieu, ouvrier qui n’a pas à avoir honte, exposant justement la parole de la vérité;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Befleißige dich, dich selbst Gott bewährt darzustellen als einen Arbeiter, der sich nicht zu schämen hat, der das Wort der Wahrheit recht teilt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sollicite cura teipsum probabilem exhibere Deo, operarium inconfusibilem, recte tractantem verbum veritatis.