Jesus detailed seven messages to seven churches in Asia Minor. As he spoke, John wrote. These messages are the same for us today and are as relevant as they were nearly two thousand years ago. We may have some fundamental problems with our understanding and we have to revisit some basic instruction in order for us to make sense of the prophecy of the scriptures. Many people want to know what other humans think in regards to the the Bible; scriptures in general or the end times. In the end it doesn’t matter what any human thinks it only matters what the Holy Spirit said. What we really should be asking each other is not what someone thinks but what does the Bible say. We are charged with the task of correctly dissecting the word of truth. We are told to labor in dividing aletheia. We are not to give our own opinions of revealed truth either. We are to labor in our effort to understand scripture.
Peter was an eyewitness of the coming of Jesus Christ. Peter says they have a more sure word of prophecy because no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. If it is not up to us to privately interpret scripture then the scripture must interpret itself. Why do we humans fall short in this very basic point? Because we have been conditioned to expect instant answers, instant knowledge, and instant wisdom. The study of these prophecies takes time, so we look for a short cut and then we fall short in the correct dissection of Gods word.
2 Peter 1:16-21 (KJV)
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Prophecy did not come because men willed it. Prophecy came because the Holy Spirit willed it. Prophecy came when the Holy Spirit found someone to bring forth the message. We are not inanimate objects in that the Holy Spirit forces us to speak. Conversely, the Holy Spirit is not an inanimate object that we can turn on and off at our will. This is a relationship between people and the Holy Spirit. Let’s explore.
2 Peter 1:20 G3778 This G4412 first G1097 knowing, G3754 that G3956 every G4394 prophecy G1124 of scripture G2398 [3by private G1955 4explanation G3756 1does not G1096 2take place].
4394LSJ Gloss: προφητεία the gift of interpreting the will of the gods
Dodson: προφητεία prophecy prophecy, prophesying; the gift of communicating and enforcing revealed truth.
Thayer:
1) prophecy
1a) a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; esp. by foretelling future events
1b) Used in the NT of the utterance of OT prophets
1b1) of the prediction of events relating to Christ's kingdom and its speedy triumph, together with the consolations and admonitions pertaining to it, the spirit of prophecy, the divine mind, to which the prophetic faculty is due
1b2) of the endowment and speech of the Christian teachers called prophets
1b3) the gifts and utterances of these prophets, esp. of the predictions of the works of which, set apart to teach the gospel, will accomplish for the kingdom of Christ
προφητεία
prophēteia prof-ay-ti'-ah From G4396 (“prophecy”); prediction (scriptural or other) KJV Usage: prophecy, prophesying.
1124 LSJ Gloss: γραφή representation by means of lines
Dodson: γραφή a writing, passage of scripture, the scriptures
(a) a writing, (b) a passage of scripture; plur: the scriptures.
Thayer:
1) a writing, thing written
2) the Scripture, used to denote either the book itself, or its contents
3) a certain portion or section of the Holy Scripture
γραφή
graphē graf-ay' From G1125; a document, that is, holy Writ (or its contents or a statement in it)
KJV Usage: scripture.
2398 LSJ Gloss: ἴδιος one's own, pertaining to oneself
Dodson: ἴδιος one's own, private, personal one's own, belonging to one, private, personal; one's own people, one's own family, home, property.
Thayer:
1) pertaining to one's self, one's own, belonging to one's self
ἴδιος
idios id'-ee-os Of uncertain affinity; pertaining to self, that is, one's own; by implication private or separate KJV Usage: X his acquaintance, when they were alone, apart, aside, due, his (own, proper, several), home, (her, our, thine, your) own (business), private (-ly), proper, severally, their (own).
1955LSJ Gloss:ἐπίλυσις release from
Dodson: ἐπίλυσις solution, explanation, interpretation solution, explanation, interpretation; release.
Thayer:
1) a loosening, unloosing
2) metaph. interpretation
ἐπίλυσις
epilusis ep-il'-oo-sis From G1956; explanation, that is, application KJV Usage: interpretation.
Prophecy of the written document does not belong to one’s private or personal explanation. This written document is revealing truth. The revealing of truth is not interpreted by men. In other words, men don’t bring about the revealing of truth on their own; but instead it is the Holy Spirit that brings about the revealing of truth.
2 Peter 1:21 G3756 For not G1063 G2307 by will G444 of man G5342 was [2borne G4218 3at some time or other G4394 1prophecy], G235 but G5259 by G4151 [2spirit G39 1holy] G5342 being borne G2980 [5spoke G3588 1the G39 2holy G2316 4of God G444 3men].
2307 LSJ Gloss: θέλημα will
Dodson: θέλημα will, wish, desire an act of will, will; plur: wishes, desires.
Thayer:
1) what one wishes or has determined shall be done
1a) of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ
1b) of what God wishes to be done by us
1b1) commands, precepts
2) will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure
θέλημα
thelēma thel'-ay-mah From the prolonged form of G2309; a determination (properly the thing), that is, (actively) choice (specifically purpose, decree; abstractly volition) or (passively) inclination KJV Usage: desire, pleasure, will.
4218LSJ Gloss: ποτέ at some time
Dodson: ποτέ at one time or other at one time or other, at some time, formerly.
Thayer:
1) once i.e. formerly, aforetime, at some time
ποτέ
pote pot-eh' From the base of G4225 and G5037; indefinite adverb, at some time, ever KJV Usage: afore- (any, some-) time (-s), at length (the last), (+ n-) ever, in the old time, in time past, once, when.
5342 LSJ Gloss: φέρω to bear
Dodson: φέρω I carry, bear, bring, lead I carry, bear, bring; I conduct, lead; perhaps: I make publicly known.
Thayer:
1) to carry
1a) to carry some burden
1a1) to bear with one's self
1b) to move by bearing; move or, to be conveyed or borne, with the suggestion of force or speed
1b1) of persons borne in a ship over the sea
1b2) of a gust of wind, to rush
1b3) of the mind, to be moved inwardly, prompted
1c) to bear up i.e. uphold (keep from falling)
1c1) of Christ, the preserver of the universe
2) to bear, i.e. endure, to endure the rigour of a thing, to bear patiently one's conduct, or spare one (abstain from punishing or destroying)
3) to bring, bring to, bring forward
3a) to move to, apply
3b) to bring in by announcing, to announce
3c) to bear i.e. bring forth, produce; to bring forward in a speech
3d) to lead, conduct
φέρω
pherō̄ fer'-o A primary verb (for which other and apparently not cognate ones are used in certain tenses only; namely οἴω oiō̄̄ and ἐνέγκω enegkō̄ to “bear” or carry (in a very wide application, literally and figuratively KJV Usage: be, bear, bring (forth), carry, come, + let her drive, be driven, endure, go on, lay, lead, move, reach, rushing, uphold.
2980 LSJ Gloss: λαλέω to talk, chat, prattle, babble
Dodson: λαλέω I speak, say (I talk, chatter in classical Greek, but in NT a more dignified word) I speak, say.
Thayer:
1) to utter a voice or emit a sound
2) to speak
2a) to use the tongue or the faculty of speech
2b) to utter articulate sounds
3) to talk
4) to utter, tell
5) to use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts
5a) to speak
λαλέω
laleō lal-eh'-o A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, that is, utter words KJV Usage: preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.
Men did not will, wish, or desire at some point in time to carry or bring forth prophecy. There is no such thing as prophecy on demand. We might have television on demand, but there is no forcing prophecy at a set or specific time. Men cannot decide when to prophesy, it is up to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit carried prophecy and holy men of God spoke it. Not at a time that the men willed it, but as the Holy Spirit willed.
There is a key here. We are never to speak or prophesy of our own mind, will, or desire. We are only to speak by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will carry revealed truth and the holy human will speak it forth. The prophecy of scripture, the revealed truth, is not of any private explanation. It is not of human explanation or interpretation. The Holy Spirit carried it to holy people who spoke it, that is all. Humans are the mouthpiece, not the base of the knowledge. If one wants the explanation or interpretation, one has to go to the Holy Spirit for the answers.
The Holy Spirit gave us prophetic scripture for a reason. While evil grows, Paul reminds Timothy to continue in the holy scripture which will make him wise unto salvation. Paul declares all scripture is God-breathed.
2 Timothy 3:12-17 (KJV)
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
There is profit to graphē, scripture. If scripture is beneficial then we certainly want to know what kind of benefits we can receive from this holy writ. If graphē is God breathed it holds an elevated status compared to any other documents that the Holy Spirit didn’t carry to holy men. Scripture is inspired of God; and prophecy (or revealed truth of scripture), is carried to holy people by the will of the Holy Spirit and not by the will or explanation of men. This inspired document is advantageous for three things which will make men perfect.
2 Timothy 3:16 G3956 Every G1124 scripture G2315 is God inspired, G2532 and G5624 beneficial G4314 for G1319 teaching, G4314 for G1650 reproof, G4314 for G1882 correction, G4314 for G3809 instruction-- G3588 the one G1722 in G1343 righteousness;
2315LSJ Gloss: θεόπνευστος inspired of God
Dodson: θεόπνευστος God-breathed, inspired by God God-breathed, inspired by God, due to the inspiration of God.
Thayer:
1) inspired by God
1a) the contents of the scriptures
θεόπνευστος
theopneustos theh-op'-nyoo-stos From G2316 and a presumed derivative of G4154; divinely breathed in KJV Usage: given by inspiration of God.
5624 LSJ Gloss: ὠφέλιμος helping, useful, serviceable, profitable, advantageous, beneficial
Dodson: ὠφέλιμος profitable, beneficial, useful.
Thayer:
1) profitable
ὠφέλιμος
ōphelimos o-fel'-ee-mos From a form of G3786; helpful or serviceable, that is, advantageous
KJV Usage: profit (-able).
God breathed and Holy Spirit carried scripture is beneficial for instruction, proving or convicting, and reformation. In other words, scripture is the guidance. When someone does something that seems contrary to what the guidance given by God suggests, then we prove it via scripture. Once scripture reveals what is contrary and is proved, we have the remedy which is correction or reformation.
1319 LSJ Gloss: διδασκαλία teaching, instruction, education
Dodson: διδασκαλία instruction, teaching.
Thayer:
1) teaching, instruction
2) teaching
2a) that which is taught, doctrine
2b) teachings, precepts
διδασκαλία
didaskalia did-as-kal-ee'-ah From G1320; instruction (the function or the information)
KJV Usage: doctrine, learning, teaching.
1650 LSJ Gloss:ἔλεγχος a cross-examining, testing a reproach, disgrace, dishonour
Dodson: ἔλεγχος a proof, persuasion, reproof a proof, possibly: a persuasion; reproof.
Thayer:
1) a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested
2) conviction
ἔλεγχος
elegchos el'-eng-khos From G1651; proof, conviction KJV Usage: evidence, reproof.
1882 LSJ Gloss:ἐπανόρθωσις a correcting, revisal
Dodson: ἐπανόρθωσις correction, reformation correction, reformation, setting straight (right) again.
Thayer:
1) restoration to an upright or right state
2) correction, improvement of life or character
ἐπανόρθωσις
epanorthōsis ep-an-or'-tho-sis From a compound of G1909 and G461; a straightening up again, that is, (figuratively) rectification (reformation) KJV Usage: correction.
This formula of doctrine, reproof, and correction is for instruction in righteousness. It is the way we train ourselves and others who pursue salvation in right living. God breathed Holy Spirit carried scripture is how we educate, train, chasten, and nurture ourselves.
3809 LSJ Gloss: παιδεία the rearing of a child
Dodson: παιδεία discipline discipline; training and education of children, hence: instruction; chastisement, correction.
Thayer:
1) the whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment) It also includes the training and care of the body
2) whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, esp. by correcting mistakes and curbing passions.
2a) instruction which aims at increasing virtue
2b) chastisement, chastening, (of the evils with which God visits men for their amendment)
παιδεία
paideia pahee-di'-ah From G3811; tutorage, that is, education or training; by implication disciplinary correction KJV Usage: chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.
1343 LSJ Gloss: δικαιοσύνη righteousness, justice
Dodson: δικαιοσύνη justice, justness, righteousness (usually if not always in a Jewish atmosphere), justice, justness, righteousness, righteousness of which God is the source or author, but practically: a divine righteousness.
Thayer:
1) in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God
1a) the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God
1b) integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting
2) in a narrower sense, justice or the virtue which gives each his due
δικαιοσύνη
dikaiosunē dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay From G1342; equity (of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification KJV Usage: righteousness.
Scripture is for our training so that we become more virtuous; with integrity and purity. We train our mind, we control our emotions, and we take authority over our behaviors. This God breathed Spirit carried scripture is for our own learning of righteousness so that we can become perfect and accomplished in good works.
2 Timothy 3:17 G2443 that G739 [5complete G1510.3 4should be G3588 1the G3588 G2316 3of God G444 2man] G4314 for G3956 [2every G2041 4work G18 3good G1822 1accomplishing]
739 LSJ Gloss: ἄρτιος complete, perfect of its kind, suitable, exactly fitted
Dodson: ἄρτιος perfect, complete perfect, complete, fitted, ready.
Thayer:
1) fitted
2) complete, perfect
2a) having reference apparently to "special aptitude for given uses"
ἄρτιος
artios ar'-tee-os From G737; fresh, that is, (by implication) complete KJV Usage: perfect.
If Paul tells Timothy the God breathed scriptures are given so that we can become perfect or complete, then it is safe to say it is possible to become perfect and/or complete. The questions we should ask ourselves is “am I perfect?” or “am I complete?” This is what scripture is for.
Jesus authored some scripture for us. We looked at this a few weeks ago. The Father gave this knowledge to Jesus, Jesus then told John, John wrote it down for us. Jesus gave us seven epistles to seven churches. The simple message from each church gives us a model for our own churches. Keeping in mind God breathed and Holy Spirit carried revealed truth, written as scripture, is beneficial for all of us to become perfect and complete. Jesus gives us doctrine, reproof, and correction, which is instruction in righteousness, so that we can become perfect. Let’s single out the doctrine in these church messages.
We have to keep in mind the religious culture of the times. After the seventy two copies of each book or letter were scribed in the temple of Nehemiah as commissioned by Ptolemy, and the originals were stored in the library of Alexandria, the scriptures were passed around to all the synagogue’s throughout Israel. This was the way people learned the prophecies, the God breathed, Holy Spirit carried, revealed truth. The synagogues all shared the scripture scrolls and this practice continued into the first three centuries after Christ came. When people traveled, delivering the scrolls, it was assumed that those individuals had knowledge and information to share with the synagogues and churches. But sometimes those who were traveling attempted to dominate or usurp authority over those churches. Some of these people tried to gather churches under their own authority, expecting financial aid as well. This was not the intent of Jesus for his churches and he addresses these traveling dominators of the laity.
The Ephesus church found some people claiming to be apostles were instead impostors and liars. They used the method or pattern of doctrine, reproof, and correction, for instruction in righteousness. Yet Ephesus was told not to forget their first love, Jesus. They were busy doing works for the Lord but forgot this one thing.
Ephesus
Revelation 2:4 (AMP)
4 But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love].
5 Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent.
5 Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent.
The instruction in righteousness is for the church to repent and come back to their first love.
Smyrna
Revelation 2:10 (AMP)
10 Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. [Dismiss your dread and your fears!] Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and proved and critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life.
The Smyrna church was to lay down their lives and take up their cross. They were a persecuted church. Why were Jews so interested in persecuting churches? Why didn’t they simply teach among their own synagogues? Was it necessary for Jews to travel to churches and attack the people in Asia Minor? The teaching here is to be obedient to death.
Pergamum
Revelation 2:14-15 (AMP)
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: you have some people there who are clinging to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to set a trap and a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, [to entice them] to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols and to practice lewdness [giving themselves up to sexual vice].
15 You also have some who in a similar way are clinging to the teaching of the Nicolaitans [those corrupters of the people] which thing I hate.
Pergamum was holding fast to Jesus’ name and did not deny their faith in Jesus. However they let some teachers like Balaam and the Nicolaitans into the church. People who dominate the laity is something Jesus hates. The education in Pergamum is not to let dominators lead the church.
Thyatira
Revelation 2:20 (AMP)
20 But I have this against you: that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess [claiming to be inspired], and who is teaching and leading astray my servants and beguiling them into practicing sexual vice and eating food sacrificed to idols.
The Church at Thyatira was serving well in love and patience and they were growing in better works, but they allowed adultery into their church. The doctrine here is to not allow adultery.
Sardis
Revelation 3:2 (AMP)
2 Rouse yourselves and keep awake, and strengthen and invigorate what remains and is on the point of dying; for I have not found a thing that you have done [any work of yours] meeting the requirements of My God or perfect in His sight.
Sardis was a dead church because they did not meet the requirements of God, and they were not perfect in the Father’s sight. The one requirement is confessing Jesus as Lord. This is instruction in righteousness so that we can me made perfect.
Philadelphia
Revelation 3:8 (AMP)
8 I know your [record of] works and what you are doing. See! I have set before you a door wide open which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept My Word and guarded My message and have not renounced or denied My name.
The Philadelphian church was promised to be spared from the tribulation. They suffered persecutions but they stood firm. Jews were persecuting this church too, but they did not renounce or deny Jesus’ name. The Philadelphians were instructed to keep doing what they were doing.
Laodicea
Revelation 3:15-17 (AMP)
15 I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot!
16 So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!
17 For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
The church at Laodicea was unique in that they were living in a prosperous community and they had no great needs. No one was persecuting them, yet that made them lukewarm. They didn’t have a fervent love and they didn’t have fervent service. Instead they served themselves and took care of themselves. Jesus vomiting them out is a great correction for this church so that they can be made complete and perfect in righteousness.
Here is a recap of the seven messages.
- Do not forget your first love.
- Hold fast to the name of Jesus and to faith in Jesus. Do not allow leaders into the church who teach the doctrines of Balaam.
- Do not allow leaders into the church who dominate the laity like the Nicolaitans.
- Do not allow leaders into the church who teach adultery is acceptable and practice it.
- Do not forget the one requirement of the Father, confessing Jesus as Lord.
- Keep Jesus’ words, guard His message, do not renounce His name.
- Do not become ensnared by wealth allowing money to dominate your focus thereby taking an easy lukewarm approach to Jesus.
All of these messages are God breathed, Spirit carried, revealed truth, written for learning, cross examining, and convicting. Notice, that with all of the teaching, proving, and correcting, Jesus never tells any church to be like another church. Jesus never tells the people to pack up and go to different church. Jesus never says to move across town and plant a new church. Jesus is not micro-managing the churches, but instead simply giving us the prophecy of the scriptures. It is our job to rightly divide the truth.
Here is a recap of the condition of the seven churches:
- Two of the seven churches were dealing with the Nicolaitans, one church hated these laity dominators, one church tolerated them.
- Two churches were dealing with food sacrificed to idols and sexual sins.
- Three of the churches had allowed corrupted leaders to control the laity.
- Two of the churches had places where satan dwells. These are the same two churches that had people claiming to be Jews but were not.
- Five of the churches were being led astray and persecuted from within.
- Two were led astray by themselves, Sardis and Laodicea.
- Only one is promised to miss the tribulation.
When we look at this recap we see that they all struggled, some in the same areas, but they all had a fight that they were in. Even Laodicea had to fight against self-sufficiency and sleepiness. Sardis was simply doing it wrong, they were not teaching people to confess Jesus as Lord. Even with the problems these churches had, Jesus never told anyone to recruit people from one church to another.
Religions and denominations can be like restaurants in that when people find one they like they try to enlist others to join them. While it seems the exuberant individual is being helpful there is also an element of pride in this type of enlisting. There are no rewards given to those who encourage people to leave one church in lieu of another one. Instead, rewards are given to those who bring salvation to the unsaved. The problem with pride is that people tend to think that what they are doing is the best for everyone else. They also believe that they are the only church in the world doing things the right way, like the Philadelphians. What we see however is that even though Jesus is in charge of the churches, and he will extinguish some, vomit some, fight against some with the sword of his mouth, and punish some, he does not tell the laity to go to a different church.
Jesus does not tell his people to go into a broken church and take people out. Notice six out of seven churches are broken in the way they operate. The one which is not broken is heavily persecuted. No one would want to go to that persecuted church. In fact, if people went to a persecuted church today they would leave concluding that something must be wrong with the leadership. But Philadelphia did everything right, and they endured. The six churches that are broken didn’t even realize they were broken until Jesus told them. It is more likely that the Laodiceans would recruit church goers from other churches because it is easy and their church looks fat and happy. Who wouldn’t want to be fat and happy? The Laodiceans don’t have to get the unsaved saved, and they then get the benefits of tithes and offerings with little effort. Yet Jesus is going to vomit them up. We can see that in our modern age we do church all wrong. We like things easy, and to build our congregations we bring in the saved from other churches.
We are seeing that Jesus’ words for the church today are for education, cross examination, and reformation. We see that the prophecy of the scriptures are not interpreted by men but by the Holy Spirit. The scriptures are God breathed. We see many who strive in their denominations with those of other denominations about words that have no profit. Remember we are not getting rewards for taking saved people from one denomination and adding them to another denomination, we only get rewards for getting the unsaved saved. Another God breathed, Spirit carried truth is that we are to study scriptures.
2 Timothy 2:14-15 (KJV)
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
If the word of truth can be rightly divided, it can also be wrongly divided. Yet as a workman we are zealous to rightly divide the truth. God breathed this prophetic word for us so we must be capable of doing it. Therefore we are to labor in this.
2 Timothy 2:15 G4704 Hurry G4572 [2yourself G1384 3unadulterated G3936 1to present] G3588 G2316 to God! G2040 a worker G422 unashamed, G3718 cutting straight G3588 the G3056 word G3588 G225 of truth.
4704LSJ Gloss: σπουδάζω to make haste
Dodson: σπουδάζω I hasten I hasten, am eager, am zealous.
Thayer:
1) to hasten, make haste
2) to exert one's self, endeavour, give diligence
σπουδάζω
spoudazō spoo-dad'-zo From G4710; to use speed, that is, to make effort, be prompt or earnest KJV Usage: do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.
1384 LSJ Gloss: δόκιμος assayed, examined, tested
Dodson: δόκιμος approved, acceptable approved, acceptable, tried.
Thayer:
1) accepted, particularly of coins and money.
2) accepted, pleasing, acceptable
δόκιμος
dokimos dok'-ee-mos From G1380; properly acceptable (current after assayal), that is, approved KJV Usage: approved, tried.
3936 LSJ Gloss: παρίστημι to make to stand
Dodson: παρίστημι I bring, present, come up to and stand by I bring, present, prove, come up to and stand by, am present.
Thayer:
1) to place beside or near
1a) to set at hand
1a1) to present
1a2) to proffer
1a3) to provide
1a4) to place a person or thing at one's disposal
1a5) to present a person for another to see and question
1a6) to present or show
1a7) to bring to, bring near
1a8) metaph. i.e to bring into one's fellowship or intimacy
1b) to present (show) by argument, to prove
2) to stand beside, stand by or near, to be at hand, be present
2a) to stand by
2a1) to stand beside one, a bystander
2b) to appear
2c) to be at hand, stand ready
2d) to stand by to help, to succour
2e) to be present
2e1) to have come
2e2) of time
παρίστημι, παριστάνω
paristēmi paristanō par-is'-tay-mee, par-is-tan'-o From G3488 and G2476; to stand beside, that is, (transitively) to exhibit, proffer, (specifically) recommend, (figuratively) substantiate; or (intransitively) to be at hand (or ready), aid KJV Usage: assist, bring before, command, commend, give presently, present, prove, provide, shew, stand (before, by, here, up, with), yield.
2040 LSJ Gloss: ἐργάτης a workman
Dodson: ἐργάτης a field-laborer, workman a field-laborer; then: a laborer, workman in general.
Thayer:
1) a workman, a labourer
1a) usually one who works for hire esp. an agricultural worker
2) one who does, a worker, perpetrator
ἐργάτης
ergatēs er-gat'-ace From G2041; a toiler; figuratively a teacher KJV Usage: labourer, worker (-men).
422 LSJ Gloss: ἀνεπαίσχυντος having no cause for shame
Dodson: ἀνεπαίσχυντος having no cause to be ashamed.
Thayer:
1) having no cause to be ashamed
ἀνεπαίσχυντος
anepaischuntos an-ep-ah'ee-skhoon-tos From G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of a compound of G1909 and G153; not ashamed, that is, (by implication) irreprehensible KJV Usage: that neededth not to be ashamed.
3718 LSJ Gloss: ὀρθοτομέω to cut in a straight line
Dodson: ὀρθοτομέω I cut straight, handle correctly I cut straight; met: I handle correctly, teach rightly.
Thayer:
1) to cut straight, to cut straight ways
1a) to proceed on straight paths, hold a straight course, equiv. to doing right
2) to make straight and smooth, to handle aright, to teach the truth directly and correctly
ὀρθοτομέω
orthotomeō or-thot-om-eh'-o From a compound of G3717 and the base of G5114; to make a straight cut, that is, (figuratively) to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message) KJV Usage: rightly divide.
3056 LSJ Gloss: λόγος the word
Dodson: λόγος a word, speech, divine utterance, analogy.
Thayer:
1) of speech
1a) a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea
1b) what someone has said
1b1) a word
1b2) the sayings of God
1b3) decree, mandate or order
1b4) of the moral precepts given by God
1b5) Old Testament prophecy given by the
λόγος
logos log'-os From G3004; something said (including the thought); by implication a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension a computation; specifically (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (that is, Christ) KJV Usage: account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say (-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.
225 LSJ Gloss: ἀλήθεια truth
Dodson: ἀλήθεια truth truth, but not merely truth as spoken; truth of idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, divine truth revealed to man, straightforwardness.
Thayer:
1) objectively
1a) what is true in any matter under consideration
1a1) truly, in truth, according to truth
1a2) of a truth, in reality, in fact, certainly
1b) what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth
1b1) in the greatest latitude
1b2) the true notions of God which are open to human reason without his supernatural intervention
1c) the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians
2) subjectively
2a) truth as a personal excellence
2a1) that candour of mind which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit
ἀλήθεια
alētheia al-ay'-thi-a From G227; truth KJV Usage: true, X truly, truth, verity.
Labor as people who are examined and tested, made to stand and presented to God as a laborer with no cause for shame, dissecting correctly the logos of aletheia. This is what we do, we take the God breathed, Holy Spirit carried, prophetic scriptures and correctly dissect them. They are not of our own explanations and interpretations. They are not for men to choose when these words will be given, instead the Holy Spirit will choose who to speak through. It is up to us to teach the messages we have been given.
2 Timothy 2:15 (AMP)
15 Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.
The Bible is for our learning, so that we can be made perfect. Jesus’ message for the church today is the same as it was nearly two thousand years ago. We have the prophecy of the scriptures, the God breathed, Spirit carried logos of truth to divide accurately and skillfully. If we are honest with ourselves we can find doctrine that will reprove and correct us within the written scriptures. We can then become complete and perfected as we change and grow. One key to allowing the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures is our relationship with the Holy Spirit. Another key is that we are to take a global approach to scripture and not a narrow view of this written prophetic truth. Meanwhile within the churches we should not look at persecutions as if there is something wrong but instead as if there is something right. We should avoid recruiting Christians from other churches but instead bring in the unsaved and teach them to confess Jesus as Lord and Christ. Then we instruct others on the right dissection of the word of truth.
