2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV)
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who
has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a
worker who has no need to be ashamed.” You would expect that what follows would
be a statement about obedience, or moral behavior, or not living in sin. But
that is not what follows. What follows is, “rightly handling the word of truth.”
When we hear “word of truth” we think of the Bible, the Scriptures, and that
would be an appropriate application, but that’s probably not what Paul has in
mind here. By “word of truth” he is probably thinking of the heart of the
gospel that he expressed in verses 11-13. We are not to quarrel about words
(verse 14), but we are to handle the word of truth accurately. Why does he talk
about approved workers rightly handling the word of truth? Why does he not talk
about approved workers living in obedience, or departing from sin? Because when
the gospel is twisted, how we live is also twisted. Obedience and departing
from sin result from a proper understanding of the gospel. Verse 19 talks about
departing from iniquity, but only after challenging Timothy to first handle the
gospel correctly. At the heart of the gospel is not only the idea of our forgiveness
and acceptance, but also our death and resurrection. We are crucified with
Christ. We are raised to new life. Obedience flowing out of fear and guilt only
goes so far. Obedience out of the new life we have in Christ is what produces
the life God calls us to. Mess with the gospel and you mess with obedience from
the heart. A worker who lives right is first a worker who handles the word of
truth well.
Comments
Post a Comment