{"id":23362,"date":"2013-08-16T11:27:15","date_gmt":"2013-08-16T19:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/?p=23362"},"modified":"2013-08-16T12:08:33","modified_gmt":"2013-08-16T20:08:33","slug":"dont-study-to-show-thyself-approved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/dont-study-to-show-thyself-approved\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Study to Show Thyself Approved"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"study2 Timothy 2:15 is a popular verse among pastors, Bible students, Bible colleges, and seminaries. In the King James Version, Paul instructs Timothy to “Study to show thyself approved unto God.”<\/p>\n

Alan Knox wrote a great blog post<\/a>\u00a0the other day which shows that the translation “study to show thyself approved” is not the best translation… and is not even a possible<\/em> translation of 2 Timothy 2:15. Here is some of what he wrote:<\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s clear that in the cases above,\u00a0\u03c3\u03c0\u03bf\u03c5\u03b4\u03ac\u03b6\u03c9<\/em>\u00a0(spoudazo<\/em>) could not be translated \u201cstudy,\u201d but is more correctly translated \u201cbe diligent,\u201d \u201cbe eager,\u201d or \u201cmake an effort.\u201d Of course, this is similar to how the other translators (besides the KJV) rendered the term in 2 Timothy 2:15.<\/p>\n

But, also, we have to admit that the evidence above does not prove that \u03c3\u03c0\u03bf\u03c5\u03b4\u03ac\u03b6\u03c9<\/em>\u00a0(spoudazo<\/em>) cannot be translated \u201cstudy\u201d in 2 Timothy 2:15.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Go read the rest of Alan’s post here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Certain types of Christians (me among them) have often justified our addiction to books and to Scripture study by Paul apparent command here in 2 Timothy 2:15 for Timothy to “study to show thyself approved unto God.” Really only the KJV translates it this way, but since the KJV is what many of us grew up on, it has had a heavy influence on what many churches, ministries, and pastors focus on.<\/p>\n

As a result, we sometimes (I am speaking of me here) get so wrapped up in Scripture study, that we neglect the more important things in life, such as family, the poor and needy in our community, serving others in love, taking care of orphans and widows, and pretty much everything else that Jesus focused on in His ministry.<\/p>\n

\"study<\/p>\n

If Alan is right (and I think he is), Paul is not telling Timothy that we are approved by God when we study Scripture. Certainly, study is an act of worship, and we can seek to learn more about God through the study of Scripture, but\u00a0when Paul says “study to show thyself approved,” he is not saying that the study of Scripture will approve us before God.<\/p>\n

In a later post which summarizes his findings<\/a>, Alan writes this:<\/p>\n

So, the exhortation to Timothy \u2013 in the presence of those who live contrary to God\u2019s desire \u2013 is for the young man to do whatever it takes to continue down the path of the good news of Jesus Christ. As a person approved by God, an unashamed worker, and one who is already living according to the gospel\u2026 this is exhortation to continue down the road he is already walking, without letting others tempt him into a different manner of life.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While it is important to study Scripture, we do not “study to show thyself approved.” We are already approved in Jesus Christ, and no amount of Bible study will help us get approved or stay approved. Instead, Paul is urging Timothy to be diligent in living his life according to the Gospel. In this way, we will become useful for the Master, being prepared for every good work (2 Tim 2:21).<\/p>\n

I love to study the Scripture, and I think that Scripture study is one way of worshiping God, but I think I often used my misunderstanding of the statement “study to show thyself approved” as a way of neglecting the other critical elements of following Jesus, and especially that of loving other people around me.<\/p>\n

Scripture study, while important, is no substitute for serving others.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Paul tells Timothy to “study to show thyself approved” in 2 Timothy 2:15, does he means that Bible study helps approve us before God? No! 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