Study With Diligence So You Can Be Useful In The Work Of God

II Timothy 2: 15-16, 21

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

But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.



study (spoudazo - pronounced spoo-dad-zo)

to use speed, to make effort, be prompt or earnest, be diligent

shew (paristemi, paristano - pronounced par-is-tay-mee, par-is-tan-o)

to stand beside, exhibit, proffer, recommend, to be at hand

approved (dokimos - pronounced dok-ee-mos)

properly acceptable, tried

workman (ergates - pronounced er-gat-ace)

toiler, teacher, labourer

rightly dividing (orthotomeo - pronounced or-thot-om-eh-o)

to make a straight cut, to dissect correctly (the divine message)



shun (periistemi - pronounced per-ee-is-tay-mee)

to stand all around, that is, to be a bystander, or to keep away from

profane (bebelos - pronounced beb-ay-los)

a threshold; accessible (as by crossing the door way), (by implication of Jewish notions) heathenish, wicked

babbling (kenophonia - pronounced ken-of-o-nee-ah)

empty sounding, fruitless discussion

increase (prokopto - pronounced prok-op-to)

to drive forward as if by beating; to advance in amount, to grow; in time, to be well along



purge (ekkathairo - pronounced ek-kath-ahee-ro)

to cleanse thoroughly; purge out

vessel (skeuos - pronounced skyoo-os)

implement, equipment or apparatus, literally or figuratively

honour (time - pronounced tee-may)

esteem (especially of the highest degree), dignity, a value or valuables

sanctified (hagiazo - pronounced hag-ee-ad-zo)

to make holy, purify or consecrate, mentally to venerate, hallow

meet (euchrestos - pronounced yoo-khrays-tos)

easily used, useful, profitable, meet for use

master (despotes - Pronounced des-pot-ace)

an absolute ruler, Lord

work (ergon - pronounced er-gon)

toil, as an effort or occupation; by implication an act; deed, doing, labour



This passage was authored by Paul and written to Timothy right before he was to take over the leadership of the church. He was a young man, and Paul was giving him good instruction as to what kind of leader he should be.

It also has much to say to the Christian today. When you desire earnestly to know the truth of the Bible, it truly will change your life. It will cut a path of truth directly to your heart and start to make changes there for the better.

God wants you to purge all the things out of your life that might keep you from be able to do useful things for His Kingdom.

Please study the above verses carefully. God wants you to stay away from things that will drag you down and concentrate only on the things that will build you up. Fruitless conversation will never help you accomplish anything great for Him.

From Study With Diligence back to Blueprint for Victorious Christian Living