2 Timothy 2:15 Meaning and Explanation
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Give your honest effort to handle God's word faithfully, with His approval as the aim.
The Context of 2 Timothy 2:15
Paul writes to Timothy, who leads the church at Ephesus amid teachers twisting words and stirring up quarrels (verses 14, 16). Paul wants him to be a careful, trustworthy handler of the truth.
What Does 2 Timothy 2:15 Mean?
The old word 'study' here means to be diligent, to give earnest effort, the kind of labor that reaches well beyond reading at a desk. Paul pictures a 'workman,' someone whose hands do real labor and whose work can be inspected. The aim is to stand 'approved unto God,' to do the job so honestly that when God looks it over there is no cause for shame. And the work itself is 'rightly dividing the word of truth,' handling Scripture straight and true, cutting a clean path through it rather than bending it to win an argument.
The phrase carries the image of a craftsman making a straight cut, a road builder laying a level path. The word of truth points us to Christ Himself, who is the Truth (John 14:6), and handling it well means letting it lead us and others to Him. We labor as those already loved, working in a way that pleases the One we serve.
2 Timothy 2:15 in the Original Language
orthotomeo (ὀρθοτομέω), 'rightly dividing' -- to cut straight, to make a level path or a clean, true cut.
How to Apply 2 Timothy 2:15 Today
When we read or teach the Bible, this verse invites honest, careful effort rather than careless or self-serving handling. We can aim to please God with our work, treating His word straight and true so that it leads us, and others, toward Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Timothy 2:15
What does 2 Timothy 2:15 mean?
Give your honest effort to handle God's word faithfully, with His approval as the aim.
What is the context of 2 Timothy 2:15?
Paul writes to Timothy, who leads the church at Ephesus amid teachers twisting words and stirring up quarrels (verses 14, 16). Paul wants him to be a careful, trustworthy handler of the truth.
How can I apply 2 Timothy 2:15 today?
When we read or teach the Bible, this verse invites honest, careful effort rather than careless or self-serving handling. We can aim to please God with our work, treating His word straight and true so that it leads us, and others, toward Christ.