What does it mean to be approved?
- Tony and Kim Martino
- Jun 4, 2018
- 3 min read
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
A dear sister in the Lord came up to me (Tony) last week and asked a good question about 2 Timothy 2:15 where it says to “study to show yourself approved.” She knows we have spoken many times at Restoration Life Fellowship about how we do not need to work for God’s approval because, being the good Father that He is, He loves us and approves of us no matter our behavior. We continue to love Him, seek after Him, grow and do our best and He loves us right where we are.
So, why do we need to work (study) for approval according to this scripture? It was a good question and one we thought would be beneficial to explain openly, not just share the information with one sister and leave it at that. As humans we too easily fall into the performance trap and we do not want to see a scripture from the Word of God be used to snare any of us because of a lack of understanding of it’s meaning. (Coincidentally, this act right here, of studying and explaining the scripture is precisely the meaning of the scripture, as you will see.)
First, please go and read the entire chapter of 2 Timothy 2. You always want to read the context of scripture to get a full picture of what the entire thought is. Single verses can lose their meaning or get twisted when taken out of their full context.
This letter was Paul writing to Timothy as Timothy’s spiritual father and instructing him to be careful to study and teach accurate gospel not to spread counterfeit gospel like others were doing. Others were teaching false doctrine and Paul was admonishing Timothy to be informed and TRUE to the gospel and teach truth accurately - which requires the diligent study of the Word. It’s not all about God’s calling on your life, it’s what you do and how you handle God’s calling on your life. Your job is to study and be diligent. This is what Paul was encouraging his spiritual son Timothy in (see 2 Timothy chapter 2).
Matthew Henry’s commentary says this about 2 Timothy 2:15:
Study to show thyself such a one, a workman that needs not be ashamed. Ministers must be workmen; they have work to do, and they must take pains in it. Workmen that are unskilful, or unfaithful, or lazy, have need to be ashamed; but those who mind their business, and keep to their work, are workmen that need not be ashamed. And what is their work? It is rightly to divide the word of truth. Not to invent a new gospel, but rightly to divide the gospel that is committed to their trust.
Observe here, 1. The word which ministers preach is the word of truth, for the author of it is the God of truth. 2. It requires great wisdom, study, and care, to divide this word of truth rightly; Timothy must study in order to do this well.
The definition of approved beautifully clarifies the entire verse. The Greek word for approved here is dokimos, defined as: what passes the necessary test (scrutiny); hence acceptable because genuine (validated, verified). Used for the proving (testing) of coins, i.e. confirming they were genuine (not counterfeit, corrupted). Accepted, particularly of coins and metals, hence, universally, proved, tried: one who is of tried faith and integrity. http://biblehub.com/greek/1384.htm
Now read that verse again. Do you see how this is actually worded? It doesn’t make sure God approves you, it says to “present yourself approved to God.” You are presenting yourself as the genuine and pure. YOU have proven to be genuine by dividing the Word and studying faithfully in order to know the truth. So, like the coin, we have gone through the testing process to ensure we are the genuine. At that point, we present ourselves to God as genuine and pure (as approved). This is how we are to be faithful to the gifts God entrusts us with.
We hope this gives clearer understanding and helps you grow in the Lord.
