The preacher should correctly handle the word like an approved, certified, skilled workman who is not ashamed of his workmanship[ Study G4704 σπουδάζω spoudazō 1) to hasten, make haste 2) to exert one’s self, endeavour, give diligence Be diligent to present NASB Put out every effort to present Barclay The word study has nothing to do with books and teachers. It means “to be diligent, be zealous.” Make it your priority goal… It is translated in this way in 2 Timothy 4:9, 21, and also in Titus 3:12. 2Ti 4:9 Make every effort to come to me soon; 2Ti 4:21 Make every effort to come before winter. … Tit 3:12 … make every effort to come to me … The emphasis in this paragraph is that the workman needs to be diligent in his labors so that he will not be ashamed when his work is inspected. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, Not for salvation, but rather for reward. You can literally earn reward – approval - by becoming a Bible student. Approved G1384 δόκιμος dokimos 1) accepted, particularly of coins and money. 2) accepted, pleasing, acceptable “ approved” means “one who has been tested and found acceptable.” Useful; genuine
No matter how appealing a preacher may be, if he does not preach the truth of God’s Word, he does not deserve our support. On radio and TV today, we have a great deal of “pseudo- Christianity” which is a mixture of psychology, success motivation, and personality cults, with a little bit of Bible thrown in to make it look religious. Beware! They practice what they preach (v. 10c). Paul’s “manner of life” backed up his messages. He did not preach sacrifice and live in luxury. He gave to others far more than he received from them. He stood up for the truth even when it meant losing friends and in the end, losing his life. Paul was a servant, not a celebrity. Their purpose is to glorify God (v. 10d). Paul wanted to do God’s will and finish the work God gave him to do (Acts 20:24; Phil. 1:21). The apostle Paul was a man of “faith” who trusted God to meet his needs. He was a man of “longsuffering” who bore up under people’s attacks. He was a man of love (“charity”) who willingly gave himself to serve others. The word patience at the end of 2 Timothy 3:10 means “consistency, “endurance” - the ability to stay in character when the going gets tough.” Paul tells Timothy to be a marathon runner, not sprinter. They are willing to suffer (vv. 11—12). 11] Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Titus was another of Paul's most faithful lieutenants. "My true child," Paul calls him (Tit.1:4). Titus was Paul’s close associate and, along with Timothy, a trusted “troubleshooter.” When the trouble with the Church at Corinth had been worrying him, Titus had been one of Paul's emissaries in the struggle to mend things (2Cor.2:13; 2Cor. 7:6,13; 2Cor. 12:18). Paul had left Titus in Crete to straighten out the problems in the churches there (Titus 1:5). Titus had met Paul at Nicopolis during that period between Paul’s arrests (Titus 3:12). Now Paul had summoned him to Rome and sent him to Dalmatia (our modern Yugoslavia). 11] Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. Luke, the physician is still with him even in spite of the horrors of Nero. "Luke alone is with me," he says. We know very little about Luke, and yet even from that little he emerges as one of the important characters in the New Testament for us. Luke was the “beloved physician” who traveled with Paul (Col. 4:14). He is author of the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. Paul probably dictated this letter (2 Tim.) to Luke. Being a doctor, Luke must have contributed to Paul’s reference to gangrene (2 Tim. 2:17 NIV). One thing we know by implication--Luke accompanied Paul on his last journey to Rome and to prison.