Lord’s Day, Vol. 3 No. 6
Study to shew thyself approved unto God
The study of theology is most profitable to a man’s soul. In fact, every Christian should embark on a systematic study of God’s Word that will help him along the path of his spiritual growth. God’s Word is milk and meat to the soul. It nourishes and strengthens the inner man. How should a Christian approach the study of the Word of God?
He must study to show himself approved unto God. The Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
The word “study” has the meaning of “labour”. The sense of which can be seen in its use in Hebrews 4:11, “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” The word “study” also has the meaning of “giving diligence” as in 2 Peter 1:10, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”
The King James translators rightly used the word “study” to describe the essential work of dwelling in God’s Word. He is to spare no effort to “study”. He is to labour so that he may rightly divide the word of God, to correctly understand what God meant by what He has revealed to us. So, exactly what does it mean to rightly divide God’s Word? Simply, it is to correctly draw principles or doctrines from God’s Word leading a Christian to a God honouring life.
The late Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, pastor of London-based Westminster Chapel, made an insightful observation. He said, “We live in an age of specialist, and the specialist is almost invariably a man who is so lost in details that he often forgets principles. Most of the breakdown in life today is due to the fact that certain basic principles have been forgotten.”
It is from the doctrines or principles that we derive our practice. The people who go wrong in practice are always those who are not sure of their principles. Therefore, the Scripture teaches us what doctrines we must hold unto, concerning God’s revelation in all facets of life.
The Christian has the task of drawing biblical principles, with the help of the Holy Spirit. The responsibility of the Christian is not just to learn the doctrines but more importantly apply them as the Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:15-16, “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”
Dear readers, would we make an honest assessment of our lives and conclude that we are approved before God in all good conscience? We ought to because this is our holy responsibility before God – to know His will and to live it.
A workman is not ashamed because he has searched the Scriptures and ascertained the truth. He is careful not to add or subtract from God’s Word, saying what the text does not teach and not saying what the text does teach.
There is a grave indictment of God’s judgment for any who adds or subtracts from God’s Word. Revelation 22:18-19 carry this warning, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Therefore, the faithful workman would humble himself when confronted with a text that he does not understand, to seek God’s wisdom through prayer, compare scripture with scripture and to diligently research the counsel of godly men who may have written on the subject.
A Christian may study biblical customs and manners, and geography to understand the background in Bible times to aid his understanding of a text. He may go into systematic theology to ascertain what God’s Word says concerning a certain doctrine or topic by combing through relevant verses in the entire Bible. He may cover book by book, to know God’s revelation in its parts. He may learn the biblical languages – Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic to ascertain the meaning of words in their original languages, and learn the syntax and grammar to determine their right meaning. He may read Church History to trace God’s sovereign hand ruling over human history, drawing lessons for the church’s edification and admonition.
At the end of his study, he could emphatically declare with conviction, “Thus saith the Lord”. He orders his life as God would will it in His Word, all for the glory of God! Amen.
Yours lovingly in Christ,
Pr. Lek Aik Wee