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`The apostle here alludes to that system of husbandry, according to
which the georgos, or tenant, who tilled the ground, was allowed to
participate with the landlord in the fruits of the soil, such as wine,
oil, corn -- and paid a portion to the landlord as rent (Matt. 21:34)
... according to his kopos (labour) so will his karpos (fruit) be'.
The structure of 2 Timothy as a whole has as its central members:
D
2:14 -26.
Approved
D
3:1 -9.
Disapproved
The fuller structure of 2:14-26 is as follows:
2 Timothy 2:14 26
The approved concerning the truth
A
a
14.
Strive not about words.
The Workman
b
15.
Study to show thyself approved.
and
c
15.
That he may be unashamed.
The Truth
B
16.
Exhortation. Shun. Increase ungodliness.
C
d 17,18. Teachers and doctrine.
A canker.
e
19.
God's foundation Sure.
Error
e
19. God's foundation
Seal.
And
d 20,21. Teachers and doctrine.
Truth
Great house and vessels.
B
22,23. Exhortation. Flee. Avoid. Gender strifes.
A
a
24.
Servant of the Lord must not strive.
The Servant
b
25.
Repentance.
And
c
26.
That he may be delivered.
The Truth
No one can read this epistle without sensing the apostle's anxiety for
Timothy. The days were dark; opposition was growing; evil doctrines within
the church menaced the faith; love was waxing cold. How could the apostle
best help Timothy and all who tread the path in after years? He calls up
memories of Timothy's home life; he reminds him of his gifts; he exhorts him
to possess a pattern of sound words; he uses the figures of the soldier,
athlete and husbandman; he refers to his own example; he encourages by
linking together enduring and reigning; he warns concerning subverting
heresies, and at last he gives his whole doctrine of perseverance in one
verse, 2:15. The verse divides naturally into three parts:
(1)
The Approval of God.
(2)
The Unashamed Workman.
(3)
The Essential Principle of Interpretation.
First of all, let us be clear as to the import of the command `study'.
The idea in the word is not that the person addressed is to be `studious'.
It is certain that he must have some acquaintance with language, for his
material is `the word of truth', but he is addressed rather as a `workman'
than a scholar. The word translated `study' is the Greek word spoudazo.
Speudo, from which spoudazo is derived, means `haste' (Luke 2:16; 19:5,6;
Acts 20:16; 22:18; 2 Pet. 3:12). Words have a tendency to degenerate, and
today `haste' has lost its primary meaning and taken on another. `More
haste, less speed' is a proverb of the world, but such `haste' is neither