2 Timothy 2:15
New International Version
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

New Living Translation
Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

English Standard Version
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Berean Standard Bible
Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.

Berean Literal Bible
Hasten to present yourself approved to God, a workman not ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

King James Bible
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

New King James Version
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

New American Standard Bible
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

NASB 1995
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

NASB 1977
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.

Legacy Standard Bible
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

Amplified Bible
Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.

Christian Standard Bible
Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.

American Standard Version
Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And take care of yourself, that you present yourself perfectly before God, a laborer without shame, who preaches the word of truth straightforwardly.

Contemporary English Version
Do your best to win God's approval as a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed and who teaches only the true message.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Carefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

English Revised Version
Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Do your best to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker who isn't ashamed to teach the word of truth correctly.

Good News Translation
Do your best to win full approval in God's sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God's truth.

International Standard Version
Do your best to present yourself to God as an approved worker who has nothing to be ashamed of, handling the word of truth with precision.

Literal Standard Version
be diligent to present yourself approved to God—a workman not ashamed, straightly cutting the word of truth;

Majority Standard Bible
Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.

New American Bible
Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God, a workman who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without deviation.

NET Bible
Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.

New Revised Standard Version
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.

New Heart English Bible
Do your best to present yourself approved by God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, properly handling the word of truth.

Webster's Bible Translation
Study to show thyself approved to God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Weymouth New Testament
Earnestly seek to commend yourself to God as a servant who, because of his straightforward dealing with the word of truth, has no reason to feel any shame.

World English Bible
Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.

Young's Literal Translation
be diligent to present thyself approved to God -- a workman irreproachable, rightly dividing the word of the truth;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Lord's Approved Workman
14Remind the believers of these things, charging them before God to avoid quarreling over words, which succeeds only in leading the listeners to ruin. 15Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth. 16But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,…

Cross References
Romans 6:13
Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.

Ephesians 1:13
And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth--the gospel of your salvation--you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:18
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.


Treasury of Scripture

Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Study.

Hebrews 4:11
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

2 Peter 1:10,15
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: …

2 Peter 3:14
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

approved.

Acts 2:22
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

Romans 14:18
For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Romans 16:10
Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.

a workman.

Matthew 13:52
Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

2 Corinthians 3:6
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

2 Corinthians 6:3,4
Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: …

rightly.

Matthew 13:52
Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Mark 4:33
And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

Luke 12:42
And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

Jump to Previous
Approval Approved Aright Ashamed Best Care Commend Correctly Cutting Dealing Diligence Diligent Diligently Dividing Earnestly Feel Handles Handling Need Needeth Present Properly Reason Right Rightly Seek Servant Shame Shew Show Straight Straightforward Strive Study Thyself True. Truth Way Word Workman
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Approval Approved Aright Ashamed Best Care Commend Correctly Cutting Dealing Diligence Diligent Diligently Dividing Earnestly Feel Handles Handling Need Needeth Present Properly Reason Right Rightly Seek Servant Shame Shew Show Straight Straightforward Strive Study Thyself True. Truth Way Word Workman
2 Timothy 2
1. Timothy is exhorted again to constancy and perseverance.
17. Of Hymenaeus and Philetus.
19. The foundation of the Lord is sure.
22. He is taught whereof to beware, and what to follow after.














(15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.--Timothy, and those in the position of Timothy, were to show themselves approved unto God, by turning others, over whom they possessed influence, from the pursuit of vain and unprofitable things. Then their work would be the work of workmen tested by trial, and would be found to have stood the test. (Comp. here 1Corinthians 3:10-15, where the final testing of the work done by God's workmen, such as Timothy, is spoken of in very clear, heart-searching language.) His own words in the First Epistle to the Corinthians were evidently in St. Paul's mind when he wrote down this direction to Timothy.

Rightly dividing the word of truth.--Better rendered rightly laying out the word of truth. The Greek word translated in the English version "rightly dividing," literally signifies "cutting a straight line." It seems most correct to regard it as a metaphor from laying out a road (see Proverbs 3:6, in the LXX. rendering, where the word is so used), "or drawing a furrow, the merit of which consists in the straightness with which the work of cutting, or laying out, is performed. The word of truth is, as it were, a road which is to be laid out straightly and truly." So Ellicott. To affirm (see Alford and Huther-Meyer) that the notion of "cutting" had been gradually lost, and that the word already in the time of St. Paul signified simply "to manage rightly," "to treat truthfully without falsifying," and that the exact opposite is to corrupt or adulterate the Word of God (2Corinthians 2:17), seems premature. (Comp. Eur. Rhesus, 422, ed. Dindorf.)

In the third century, Clement of Alexandria (Stromata, 7), for instance, certainly uses the word in a sense in which the idea of "cutting" has been lost, when he writes orthotomia (a substantive) as an equivalent for orthodoxia--orthodoxy. It is not improbable that the use of the word here by St. Paul gave the word a fresh starting-point, and that gradually the original meaning passed out of sight.

Verse 15. - Give diligence to present for study to show, A.V.; handling aright for rightly dividing, A.V. Give diligence. The A.V. "study," if we give it its proper force, as in the Latin studeo, studium, studiosus, expresses the sense of σπούδασον exactly. Zeal, earnest desire, effort, and haste, are all implied in it (comp. 2 Timothy 4:9, 21; Titus 3:12; 2 Peter 1:10, 15; 2 Peter 3:14). To present thyself (παραστῆσαι, to present); as in Luke 2:22; Acts 1:3; Acts 9:41. In 1 Corinthians 8:8 it has the sense of "to commend," nearly the same as δόκιμον παραστῆσαι. The rendering, to show thyself, of the A.V. is a very good one, and is preserved in the R.V. of Acts 1:3. Approved (δόκιμον; Romans 16:10; 1 Corinthians 11:19, etc.); one that has been tried and tested and found to be sterling; properly of metals. This, with the two following qualifications, "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed," and "one that rightly handles the Word of truth," is the character which Timothy is exhorted to appear in before God. The dative τῷ Θεῷ is governed by παραστῆσαι, not by δόκιμον. A workman (ἐργάτην). How natural is such a figure in the mouth of Paul, who wrought at his trade with Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:3), and was working night and day at Thessalonica, that he might earn his own living! That needeth not to be ashamed (ἀνεπαισχυντον); not found anywhere else, either in the New Testament or in the LXX., or in classical Greek. Bengel hits the right force of the word when he renders it "non pudefactum," only that by the common use of the passive participial form (compare ἀνεξιχνίαστος ἀνεξερεύνητος ἀναρίβμητος, etc.), it means further "that cannot be put to shame." The workman whose work is skimped is put to shame when, upon its being tested, it is found to be bad, dishonest work; the workman whose work, like himself, is δόκιμος, honest, conscientious, good work, and moreover sound and skilful work, never has been, and never can be, put to shame. St. Paul shows how to secure its being good work, viz. by its being done for the eye of God. Handling aright the Word of truth (ὀρθοτομοῦντα τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας). The verb ὀρθοτομεῖν occurs only here in the New Testament. In the LXX., in Proverbs 3:6, it stands for "he shall direct [or 'make straight'] thy paths;" and so in Proverbs 11:5. The idea is the same as that in Hebrews 12:13, "Make straight paths for your feet (τροχιὰς ὀρθὰς ποιήσατε)." But this does not at all suit the context. We must look, therefore, at the etymology of the word. Ὀρθοτόμεω must mean "to cut straight," and, as the apostle is speaking of a good workman, he must be thinking of some work in which the workman's skill consists in cutting straight: why not his own trade, in which it was all-important to cut the pieces straight that were afterwards to be joined to each other (see ὀρθότομος and ὀρθοτομία)? Hence, by an easy metaphor, "divide rightly," or "handle rightly, the Word of truth," preserving the true measure of the different portions of Divine truth.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Make every effort
Σπούδασον (Spoudason)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4704: To hasten, be eager, be zealous. From spoude; to use speed, i.e. To make effort, be prompt or earnest.

to present
παραστῆσαι (parastēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 3936: Or prolonged paristano from para and histemi; to stand beside, i.e. to exhibit, proffer, recommend, substantiate; or to be at hand, aid.

yourself
σεαυτὸν (seauton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4572: Of yourself.

approved
δόκιμον (dokimon)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1384: Approved, acceptable, tried. From dokeo; properly, acceptable, i.e. Approved.

to God,
Θεῷ (Theō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

[an] unashamed
ἀνεπαίσχυντον (anepaischynton)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 422: Having no cause to be ashamed. Not ashamed, i.e. Irreprehensible.

workman
ἐργάτην (ergatēn)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2040: A field-laborer; then: a laborer, workman in general. From ergon; a toiler; figuratively, a teacher.

who accurately handles
ὀρθοτομοῦντα (orthotomounta)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3718: From a compound of orthos and the base of tomoteros, to make a straight cut, i.e. to dissect correctly.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

word
λόγον (logon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

of truth.
ἀληθείας (alētheias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 225: From alethes; truth.


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NT Letters: 2 Timothy 2:15 Give diligence to present yourself approved (2 Tim. 2Ti iiTi ii Tim)
2 Timothy 2:14
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