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"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth" (II Tim. 2: 15).
"Study" is the word endeavour. In the same epistle Paul urges Timothy to come to
him in his captivity:
"Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: for Demas hath forsaken me . . . . .
Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. Do thy diligence to come before winter"
(II Tim. 4: 9-21).
"Do diligence" is the word endeavour.
"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same
example of unbelief" (Heb. 4: 11).
"Let us labour" is the word endeavour.
It will be seen that the word used by the Apostle indicates active, watchful diligence.
This sacred trust is our concern. We jealously watch for any intrusion, any root of
bitterness, any faction or element of strife. We cannot put the responsibility off on to
another. Each one must share in the watch, each must honestly and truly endeavour to
keep this treasure.
There are many words translated "keep" in the Scripture.
Bosko
=
To keep as a shepherd.
Phulasso
=
To guard as a soldier.
Echo
=
To hold as the servant did the pound.
Poieo
=
To keep as the passover.
Not one of these words is used by Paul in Eph. 4: 3. The word used here is tereo,
which means to keep as one would a treasure; diatereo (Luke 2: 51) is used of Mary who
treasured up in her heart things spoken of her infant Son. It is used once more in the
prison epistles of Paul himself:
"I have kept the faith" (II Tim. 4: 7).
Here then is the sacred trust. We are to keep the unity of the Spirit as Paul kept the
faith. Through good report or evil report, through honour or dishonour, nothing must
turn away our attention; we must be ever diligent in our duty, ever studying to keep our
treasure intact, ever labouring to preserve this truth complete. Nevertheless, with all this
personal sense of responsibility must be the equally important sense of the Lord's greater
care. The same Apostle who so nobly kept the faith was persuaded that the Lord was
able to keep that which had been entrusted until that day. The unity of the Spirit may be
viewed as part of that good deposit which is so wonderfully spoken of in I Tim. 6: 20
and II Tim. 1: 12 & 14.