Study to Show Thyself . . . .

Scripture     with Notes:     by tkbrown

2 Timothy 2:15

(KJV) — “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

(NKJV) — “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

I grew up hearing, reading and studying the original King James Version (KJV) of 2 Timothy 2:15. The first section of the verse was stressed and impressed upon us. Thus, we should never take another person’s word for our own salvation. Anything presented to us in sermon or Bible study should be studied in private to ensure that no false message had been presented. The salvation of our own soul depended upon it!

As I have grown older, I have come to realize, with impunity, the importance of this lesson. Switch one word — or even one comma — to another position, and the whole section can hold some meaning totally averse to that presented in the KJV. This is how conflicting doctrines have developed. I quickly came to understand my preference for intensely personal, private study to ‘search the true meaning of the scripture in question.’

If we truly search the scriptures and study them, discerning the message God is delivering and to whom, we will never have need to be ashamed for our lack of understanding and knowledge. The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 2:12, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling . . . . “

In recent decades, I have paid much more attention to the latter part of the verse, ” . . . rightly dividing the word of truth.” Certain events occurred at specific times. In order to truly understand the overall message God presents in His Word, I must understand the dividing lines. I must not confuse the message given in the New Covenant (New Testament) as applying to the practices instructed in the Old Covenant (Old Testament).

~~ In another lesson, I will go more in-depth with regard to ‘rightly dividing the Word of Truth.’ For now, I present to you, Matthew 27:50, 51:

— 50 — “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and   yielded up the spirit.”

— 51 — “Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split . . . . “

These two scriptures tell us precisely when the Old Covenant ended, and the New Covenant began. When Jesus, ‘yielded up the Spirit,’ — at that exact instant — ‘the veil of the temple was rent into two pieces, thus exposing the Ark of the Covenant for all to see.’ As I said above, this will be addressed more in-depth at a later date but think on this!

In closing, I present the instance when Jesus was tempted by the devil in Matthew 4:1-4:

— 1 — “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

— 2 — “And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.”

— 3 — “Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.'”

— 4 — “But He answered and said, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’“

Notes:  Thus, Jesus tells us that we must study the Word of God in order to ‘have life.’ So, search the scriptures and find, for yourself, the message sent from God to man (or woman, or child). Even parents and other loved ones can lead us astray scripturally without even realizing it. Study the Scriptures. Search the time a message is given and to whom it applied/applies. The Old Testament is still important. I helps us to understand the will of God and why it was necessary to simplify things by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die as compensation for our sins — not His sins — our sins.