Context of Diligent Study

2 Timothy 2:15 is not a verse in a vacuum. To apply it properly to my life I need to understand the context.

The letter was written by Paul to Timothy, a young man taking over some of the ministry of Paul. Paul commended Timothy for his genuine faith. He also exhorted Timothy in several matters in the chapter and a half before my verse:
- boldly use his spiritual gift
- don't be ashamed of the gospel of Christ or of Paul's imprisonment
- Hold fast the sound doctrine that he had been taught, though others have turned away
- Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
- Teach other faithful men the things that he had heard from Paul
- Endure hardship for Jesus who was raised from the dead, and God will grant life for death, and reigning with Him for endurance. But God will deny those who deny Him, even though His character mandates that He remains faithful always.
- Don't strive about words to no profit.

This last one is the verse before my verse. It is therefore the immediate context. Paul is probably referring to false teachers who took God's words out of context and twisted them to mean what they wanted them to mean.

So why should I study diligently? Because there are many today who also will make the words of the Bible mean whatever they wish. Because I must be careful that what I teach and counsel is from God and not from my own sin-cursed intellect. Because I am part of a battle and must work hard to prepare myself to endure well. Because God is so very faithful to me and deserves my best.

Time to Study

Spring and summer have come and gone since my last blog. Those months are always so wonderfully chaotic and fun in a teacher's household. As I now settle back into a normal school routine I realize that it is time to get back to work.

The work I'm talking about is that of doing real study in God's Word. Sure, I've spent plenty of time reading the Bible. I've read through several of the propehtic books of the Old Testament in the last few months and am currently well into Isaiah. But I have been lazy in my study. And I've been wrong.

God doesn't want my Christian life to be mindless or the haphazard result of casual reading. God has planned for His Word to have daily and increasing impact in my life. I'm told to "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."(2 Tim 2:15 NKJV)

I don't know that I'll blog every study. But by God's grace and in His strength I am committed to grow in knowledge and application of God's Word so that I can one day present myself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.