2Timothy 2:14-15 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. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

‘Rightly dividing the word of truth.’ [Greek: orthotomeo] Set straight; handle right. It means not only to give the true meaning but also the correct application to the various times and classes of people. (Mark 4:12; 20; 22-23). Truth must be divided dispensational, prophetically, historically, and concerning classes and subjects. The chief fundamental principle of interpretation is to gather from the Scriptures themselves the precise meaning the writers intended to convey. We must exercise common sense and reason, applying the same principles and grammatical rules to the Bible as we do to other books. One should take the Bible literally wherever it is at all possible. When the language cannot be taken literally, we know it is figurative. We should then get the literal truth conveyed by the figurative language.

2Corinthians 13:1 states the law of interpreting Scripture. Every doctrine must be proved by at least two or three scriptures to be accepted as truth and binding upon Christians. “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” (Deut. 19:15; Matt. 18:16). 

How to read the Bible: Frequently, daily (Jos. 1:8); not for controversy, but for profit (Pro. 3:1-35; 2Tim. 3:16-17); meditatively (Ps. 1:3); in love (Ps. 119:97-104); with a consciousness of need (Matt. 5:6; John 7:37-39; 2Pet. 1:1-10; 3:18); in faith (Rom. 10:17; Heb. 11:6); searchingly (John 5:39); openness to all of it (2Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 4:12; Jude 1:3); by comparing scripture with scripture (2Cor. 2:13); in the Spirit (John 14:16-17; 15:26; Gal. 5:16, 26); through, and over and over again (Matt. 5:18); in obedience (Rom. 1:5; 16:26).

To be continued…

2Timothy 2:14-15 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. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

‘Study to show thyself approved unto God.’ Among the guiding principles useful in detecting good and evil spirits, and their operations and doctrines, the outstanding ones are these (continues): [3] The Holy Spirit can be recognized in an individual’s life by the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance at all times in character and behaviour (Gal. 5:22-23). Six earmarks of a manifestation of the Holy Spirit: (1) A Christ-like spirit of love, patience, and faith in God. (2) Soberness and keenness of spiritual vision. (3) Deep humility of heart and meekness of spirit, with lion-like courage against sin, sickness, poverty, disease, discouragement, failure, and everything else causing defeat in the Christian life. (4) Absolute clearness of the mental faculties [no intoxication whatsoever in the form of alcohol or medication] and intelligent action in carrying out Biblical instructions concerning known duty and personal life as a Christian. (5) Freedom from faultfinding, surmising, whispering, and slander; and freedom from all the works of the flesh listed in Mark 7:19-21; Romans 1:24-32; 1Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21 and Colossians 3:5-10. (6) Freedom from any ignorance concerning the divine will. When one is moved upon to act quickly and urgently without knowing whether the act will glorify God or not, it is better to wait and pray until it is clear beyond all doubt that God approves such action. Always remember that 1John 4:1 commands: “Try the spirits whether they are of God.”

‘Approved’ [Greek: dokimos] is translated as “approved” (2:15; Rom. 14:18; 16:10; 1Cor. 11:9; 2Cor. 10:18; 13:7) and “tried” (Jas. 1:12). The opposite of adokimos

‘Workman’ [Greek: ergates] Translated “workman” (2Tim. 2:15; Matt. 10:10; Acts 19:25); “worker” (Luke 13:27; 2Cor. 11:13; Php. 3:2); and “labourer” (Matt. 9:37-38; 20:1-2, 8; Luke 10:2,  7; 1Tim. 5:18; Jas. 5:4).

To be continued…

2Timothy 2:14-15 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. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

‘Study to show thyself approved unto God.’ There are definite ways outlined in Scripture whereby one can detect what kind of spirit is seeking to control him. But if one neglects to study the Word he may fall prey to one of satan’s demons through ignorance. It must be realized that ignorance is no guarantee against the workings of evil spirits. One of the chief means by which satan and his forces try to control men is through ignorance. It accounts for their widespread success in getting men to accept their suggestions, doctrines, ideas, leadings, and guidance.

Among the guiding principles useful in detecting good and evil spirits, and their operations and doctrines, the outstanding ones are these: [1] Any doctrine that denies or causes doubt and unbelief concerning anything taught in Scripture is from satan and his demons (1Tim. 4:1-8). Any religion denying the inspiration of the Bible; the reality of God as a person; the virgin birth and divinity of Christ; His miraculous power and supernatural ministry; the death, burial, physical resurrection, and physical manifestation of Christ after His resurrection; the physical ascension to heaven and coming again of Jesus Christ, first at the rapture and then at the Second Coming to set up a kingdom in the world forever; the necessity of the new birth, cleansing from sin and living free from sin; and the numerous other experiences of the Bible – any religion denying these fundamental truths is yielding to “the spirit of error,” not “the spirit of truth” (1Jn. 4:1-6). [2] Any power, influence, or doctrine that causes one to become passive, inactive, submissive, and unresisting to the workings of supernatural spirits seeking to control his life contrary to the teachings of Scripture, is not of God. The Bible says, “Resist the devil” (Jas. 4:7; 1Pet. 5:8-9). An inclination to approve sin and ignore the necessity of repentance and holy living, and a tendency to remove the penalty for sin or doubt that hell is literal and eternal, is promoted by satan, not God. Just as God requires truth in the mind for the true working of the Holy Spirit in life, so the devil requires the believing of lies in the minds of men to hold them in bondage (1Cor. 6:9-11; 10:12-13; 2Cor. 11:3-15; Gal. 5:19-21; 6:7-8; Eph. 6:10-18; 1Tim. 4:1-9; Jas. 1:22; 2:10).

To be continued…

2Timothy 2:14-15 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. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

‘Charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.’ Four commands to Timothy: Remind men of the facts of 2Timothy 2:1-13. Charge men not to strive about words to no profit, which only subvert the hearers (2:14). Mere words have often been a source of contention among Christians. Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman unashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2:15). Shun profane and vain babblings (2:16). Christians can never strive or argue over Biblical truths, when someone adds to or take away the literal meaning of the gospel of Christ, they will carry the consequences of such a sin as clearly stated in Revelation 22:18-19.

‘Subverting’ [Greek: katastrophe] an overturning; overthrowing; catastrophe. Translated as “subverting” (2:14) and “overthrow” (2Pet. 2:6). It means here to overthrow the faith of men and cause their backsliding (2:18, 25-26).

‘Study to show thyself approved unto God.’ Without knowing the Word of God – rightly dividing the truth, not one’s own interpretation – there is no relationship with God. The greatest and most important work of satan among men now is to counterfeit the doctrines and experiences of God as revealed in Scripture, to deceive saints (2Cor. 11:14-15; Eph. 6:10-18; 1Tim. 4:1-7; Rev. 12:9-12). Men are commanded to prove and test all doctrines and experiences in the supernatural realm to see if they are of God or satan (1Cor. 2:12-16; Php. 1:9-10; 1Thess. 5:21-22; 1Jn. 4:1-6). Certainly, every religion, doctrine, and experience among men cannot be of God. We must, therefore, judge them by the written Word of God. The knowledge of truth is the first essential in warfare against demons and error. Great is the danger when believers accept anything and everything in the realm of the supernatural as being from the Lord. The fact that the believer is a child of God does not stop the devil from trying in every conceivable way to imitate God to deceive him. Believers are the ones satan concentrates on and wars against.

To be continued…