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
1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Ecclesiastes 12:12 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.
To understand the Bible takes diligent study, effort, and combating the flesh.
Take note in this articles main concern, 2 Timothy 2:15, that the injunction to study is a personal individual command. It is thyself, not yourselves, workman, not workmen. It is written to each and every believer not just to the elders, bishops, pastors. It is our responsibility, our duty, to read and diligently study God’s word.
We are given a reason and a purpose to study. The reason is to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen who need not be ashamed. It is a shame for us not to have the answers to questions we might be ask when we claim to hold so dear the word of God.
Most importantly, will we be ashamed at the Judgment Seat of Christ when it is show we put the things of the world: financial gain, entertainment, sports, hunting, fishing, Yoga, Soap Operas, before the reading and studying the Scriptures?
The reason to diligently study is so that we are able to rightly divide the words of truth. We must therefore acknowledge that the Bible contains divisions that if not properly comprehended will pervert the truth.
Take note also that it does not say to study the word of truth to rightly divide the word of truth, but to study. That is, it does not say what specifically to study so we are left with study everything that will guide you to rightly divide the Scriptures.
One of the most significate means of rightly dividing is to keep things in context. There is the adage, a text without context is a pretext. Here is a pithy little poem to guide us in dividing as we study:
I had six honest serving men,
They taught me all I knew,
Their names were
Where and What and When And Why
and How and Who.
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
English short-story writer, poet, and novelist
It will greatly help you to understand scripture if you note – not only what is spoken and written, but of whom and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goes before and what follows.
Introduction to the Coverdale Bible translation (1535 ) Miles Coverdale (1488 – 1569)
Figure out the what, the where, the when, the why, the how, and the who of a passage of Scripture before assigning an interpretation.
Another crucial element that many a false teaching is derive due to the failure of it being upheld is grammar. Basic grammar must be maintained and applied to arrive at the correct interpretation. A sentence is the smallest unit of grammar that has definite meaning. To rip a clause, phrase, or group of words out of their sentence leaves them open to any meaning. This is how the Bible is twisted and wrested to make it mean anything. This is one way of creating a private interpretation.
For an example of failing to understand and use proper grammar see the verse insight for Ephesians 2:8-9.
We are not speaking of studying Hebrew and Greek, but the English of the Authorized Version of 1611 commonly called the King James Version.
One is grateful to have studied Hebrew and Greek, just to be able to tell others who have not that they do not require either to hearken to our Heavenly Father’s voice…. the Bible was not given to scholars, but to the people, and “hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born”
“How to Master the Bible”, Gray, J. M. (1906)
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