Quotes & Notes
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John Wesley's Notes:
A workman that needeth not to be ashamed-Either of
unfaithfulness or unskilfulness.
Rightly dividing the word of truth-Duly explaining and applying the
whole scripture, so as to give each hearer his due portion. But they
that give one part of the gospel to all (the promises and comforts to
unawakened, hardened, scoffing men) have real need to be ashamed.
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
* Study. Heb 4:11; 2Pe 1:10; 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
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Adam Clarke's Commentary:
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 oryotomein
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 oryotomein to kakwv odeuein, walking in a right way to
walking in a bad way. Thus, kainotomein signifies to walk in a new way,
and kateuyunein 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.
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Family Bible Notes:
Dividing the word of truth; communicating to each the portion suited to
his wants.
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People's New Testament Commentary:
Study to show thyself. To this end the utmost diligence
must be used.
Approved unto God. Such a preacher that his work will please the
Heavenly Father.
A workman that needeth not to be ashamed. Whose life and work are such
as to honor Christ and the gospel. This requires a pure life as well as
judicious work.
Rightly dividing the word of truth. The Revision reads, "Handling
aright." The Greek word [orthotomeo] means, literally, "cutting
straight." The thought, probably, is to present the truth clearly,
truthfully, without blunders, and with an exactness which cannot be
gainsaid.
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Robertson's Word Pictures:
Give diligence (spoudason). First aorist active imperative of
spoudazô, old word, as in 1Th 2:17; Ga 2:10. To present (parastêsai).
First aorist active infinitive of paristêmi as in Col 1:22,28. Approved
unto God (dokimon tôi theôi). Dative case theôi with dokimon, predicate
accusative, old adjective (from dechomai), for which see 1Co 11:19; 2Co
10:18. A workman (ergatên). See 2Co 11:3; Php 3:2. That needeth not to
be ashamed (anepaischunton). Late double compound verbal adjective (a
privative, epaischunô), in Josephus and here alone. Handling aright (orthotomounta).
Present active participle of orthotomeô, late and rare compound (orthotomos),
cutting straight, orthos and temnô), here only in N.T. It occurs in Pr
3:6; 11:5 for making straight paths (hodous) with which compare Heb
12:13 and "the Way" in Ac 9:2. Theodoret explains it to mean ploughing a
straight furrow. Parry argues that the metaphor is the stone mason
cutting the stones straight since temnô and orthos are so used. Since
Paul was a tent-maker and knew how to cut straight the rough camel-hair
cloth, why not let that be the metaphor? Certainly plenty of exegesis is
crooked enough (crazy-quilt patterns) to call for careful cutting to set
it straight.
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Albert Barnes' Commentary:
Study to show thyself approved unto God. Give diligence, 2Pe 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. See
Barnes for 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" 2Pe 1:10
{b} "rightly dividing" Mt 13:52
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Jamieson-Faussett Brown:
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 JFB for 2Ti 2:16). The opposite to "rightly handling," or
"dispensing," is, 2Co 2:17, "corrupt the word of God."
truth--Greek, "the truth" (compare 2 Ti 2:18).
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1599 Geneva Bible Notes:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to
be ashamed, (e) rightly dividing the word of truth.
(9) The fifth admonition: a minister must not be an idle disputer, but a
faithful steward in correctly dividing the word of truth, in so much
that he must stop the mouths of other vain babblers. (e) By adding
nothing to it, neither deleting anything, neither mangling it, nor
rending it apart, nor distorting it: but marking diligently what his
hearers are able to bear, and what is fit to edifying.
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Spurgeon Devotional Commentary:
(None on 2 Timothy 2:15)
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William Burkitt's Notes:
(None on 2 Timothy 2:15)
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Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:
(None on 2 Timothy 2:15)
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