2 Tim 2:15

“Be diligent VS Study” is arguable to be correctly translated on 2 Timothy 2:15. NKJV favors “Be diligent” over study on this passage. The KJV favors “study” over “Be diligent.”

However one question is to ask you, what God requires us to do with the Bible? Be diligent? Or Study? Study is a better word than “Be diligent.”

According to Billy Graham’s NKJV New Testament, it shows a hand holding the Bible. I looked at this – 5 things to do with the Bible. It listed:

• Hear
• Read
• Study
• Memorize
• Mediate

Look at 5 things in Billy Graham’s NKJV’s above!!!! It did not say, “Be diligent.” It contradicts each other.

Be diligent or Study? Billy Graham used a word, “study” for his comment on one paragraph, “What does study mean?” from the first sentence and “What does the Bible say about this subject?” from the last sentence. You see, what did he wrote about is one word, “STUDY.”

According to Salamander, he posted:

I strongly agree with him.

 

Does it?

How does the KJV usually translate the same Greek word?

What if the intended meaning of study when used by the KJV translators was the meaning indicated in old dictionaries? If the KJV translators used the word in that sense, it was used with the same meaning as "be diligent." If the KJV used the word "study" to mean "be diligent," the KJV does not necessarily favor "study" over "be diligent." By the way, the KJV translators would not have been opposed to the updating of their translating.


The 1755 Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language as well as the 1828 Webster's Dictionary gave as one meaning of the verb study: "to endeavour diligently."

Perhaps KJV-only advocates favor "study" because they may read a different meaning into the word than that intended by the KJV translators themselves.

 

They will have to 'study' on it !

 

Logos,

Your statement makes no sense at all. Had the KJV translators meant anything other than study, they would have written a different word than study

 

Actual evidence from the old English dictionaries such as the ones in 1755 and in 1828 indicate that the word "study" was once used to mean the same thing as "be diligent." The way that the pre-1611 English Bibles used the word "study" and the way that the Geneva and the KJV updated or revised it also confirm this point. The KJV translators may simply have kept the word "study" at 2 Timothy 2:15 from the pre-1611 English Bibles with the same meaning that the word often had in that day ["be diligent"]. The way that the KJV translators usually translated the same Greek word as found at 2 Timothy 2:15 also could suggest the same point.

The KJV translators mended an archaic use of "study" in Hebrews 4:11 in the earlier Bibles. "Study" at Acts 24:16 in Tyndale's, Coverdale's, Matthew's, Great, and Bishops' was changed to "endeavour" in Whittingham's and Geneva and to "exercise" in the KJV.

The old 1657 English translation of the Dutch Bible may also provide evidence concerning how the word study had been used and the meaning that it had had. The 1657 English translation of the authorized Dutch Bible began the text of 2 Timothy 2:15 as follows: "Give diligence."

The Spanish Bible may provide evidence that confirms the same point. KJV-only author Kent Rabe claimed that the Spanish Reina-Valera has "procure with diligence" at 2 Timothy 2:15 (Double Exposure, p. 29).

Since the KJV translators seem to have used the rendering "study" to mean the same thing as "be diligent," do KJV-only advocates have any valid basis for complaining about the use of a rendering that had the same meaning intended by the KJV translators?

 

No, NO, Sal...the AV men, living 400 years ago, were using 'study' in the vernacular of 400 years ago, when it also meant 'work diligently'. WE no longer use 'study' in that sense.

1 Thessalonians 4:11, KJV
"And that ye study to be quiet,...."

Are we to 'examine' being quiet 'with the purpose of learning', or are we to 'strive' to be quiet? The Greek word here is "philotimeomai"; you may check out its english definition for yourself.

For a modern Bible to use 'study' in 2 Tim. 2;15 is incorrect. To apply the 17th century meaning of 'study' TODAY as it's used in the KJV in 2 Timothy or 1 Thessalonians in the KJV is incorrect.

 

The English word "study" occurs just 2 times in the KJV New Testament. One occurrence is 2 Timothy 2:15 now under discussion --

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.​

As mentioned, the underlying Greek word here is spoudaz, which is defined as — 1) to hasten, make haste 2) to exert one's self, endeavour, give diligence. Notice that 'study' (the pursuit of knowledge by reading, observation, or research) is NOT among the possible definitions given. Otherwise the AV men rendered in their text as — "endeavour" 3 times, "do diligence" 2 times, "be diligent" 2 times, and "give diligence", "be forward", "labour" also just one time each. It is obvious that the king's revisors knew that in English 'diligence' was the approximate meaning of the Greek word, and by virtue of the overwhelming similarity of all their renderings the evidence is that 'diligence' is the meaning they intended with "study" at 2 Timothy 2:15.

The misunderstanding of "study" (in our modern sense) is exacerbated by the misunderstanding of "the word of truth" as some sort of written 'Bible' rather than as the spoken Gospel message. This passage describes nothing but verbalized or audible words (2 Tim. 2:14-18, KJV) --

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.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
But shun profane [and] vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.​

Clearly, "hearers" listen to spoken words, "babblings" are audible, and "saying" means verbalized speech. The evidence from the passage is that "their word" (spoken by Hymenaeus and Philetus) was not one of "truth", so Paul was admonishing Timothy to accurately preach ("rightly divide") the Gospel. "The truth" was that the resurrection was NOT yet past. The "word of truth" in Paul's context is not one which can be 'studied' (ie. read) in the contemporary sense. The "word of truth" is not the 'Bible' here. He isn't even referring to the Hebrew scriptures (of course, the NT wasn't even completely written yet). People have completely misinterpreted this verse by attempting to combine "study" with "word of truth" into something they want it to be, rather than what Paul actually wrote. However, 'diligence' will work in this context.

 

No, as quoted they define study as "to endeavour diligently", not just "be diligent".
Your citations bolster the OP's suspicion that the NKJV's be diligent seems to be missing something:

Johnson's Dictionary: study = to endeavour diligently
Webster's Dictionary: study = to endeavour diligently
Spanish 2 Tim. 2:15 procure with diligence


The KJV's study meant more than merely "being diligent".

 

The New Testament in 1526 said, “Study to show thyself…”

The New Testament in 1537 said, “Study to show thyself…”

The New Testament in 1557 said, “Study to show thyself…”

The New Testament in 1611 said, “Study to show thyself…”

The New Testament in 1769 said, “Study to show thyself…”

The NKJV changed to “Be diligent” Why not “Study”?

 

Amen, Askjo!

 

So Askjo and SFIC,

Is my Reina Valera, which was originally translated before the KJV wrong when the word for diligence was chosen and not the word for study?

Diligence actually shows with greater detail what Paul originally meant.

 

Snippets From The KJV

Romans 12:8 ... he that ruleth , with diligence .

Proverbs 12:24 : The hand of the diligent shall bear rule ...

Proverbs 12:27 : ... but the substance of a diligent man is precious .

Proverbs 13:4 ... but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat .

Proverbs 21:5 : The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness ...

 

Ho hummmm....
The same KJVO crowd is merely being true to the unsupportable belief that the KJV provides additional revelation not present in the original Greek.


Study [σπούδασον] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 AV 1873

Do thy diligence [σπούδασον] to come shortly unto me:
2 Timothy 4:9 AV 1873

Do thy diligence [σπούδασον] to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
2 Timothy 4:21 AV 1873

When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent [σπούδασον] to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.
Titus 3:12 AV 1873

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent [σπουδάσατε] that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2 Peter 3:14 AV 1873

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence [σπουδάσατε] to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2 Peter 1:10 AV 1873

Rob

 

Your objection is unclear: Do you believe the meaning of "study" intended by the translators of these versions was 'to be diligent', or 'to read, reflect, or research'? In other words, do you object the word 'diligent' itself, or do you object that the meaning of 'diligent' is what was intended here?

If your answer is that "study" has the same meaning in these English versions as 'be diligent', then will you please explain to us how exactly you find the word "s-t-u-d-y" to be a more virtuous word than "d-i-l-i-g-e-n-t"?

But if your answer is that "study" is 'to read, reflect, or reseach' (that is, a different meaning than 'be diligent') in these versions, then will you please explain to us how exactly Paul might have expected Timothy to "study" an accurately-spoken Gospel message?

 

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) STUDY: 1.application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge, as by reading, investigation, or reflection:


(under synonyms)
Study implies an attempt to obtain a grasp of something by methodical or exhaustive thought: to study a problem.
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The specific English word meaning "to exert one's self, endeavour, give diligence", in the context of thought, is study.

There is no obsolete or ancient meaning used in the definition of "study" as used in this verse. It is ordinary current usage. The KJV translation of this verse is perfectly correct and good ordinary modern English.

 

Oh yeah ? How many times in conversational English (unrelated to Bible texts from the KJV) have you employed the phraselogy -- "Study to show yourself" ? ( I assume you don't use the word 'thyself' in ordinary conversation .)

 

Are you trying to dodge the subject?

 

Let me see if I can make Rippon happy by amending my last sentence:

With respect to the word "study", the KJV translation of this verse is perfectly correct and good ordinary modern English.

 

I would like Askjo or SFCI to address my question to them in post 51.

They claim study is the best word to use since the KJV uses it. But my Reina Valera has the Spanish word for diligence and was translated originally before the KJV. So Is the RVR wrong? You guys are saying that the modern translations change the verse, but here is a translation in another language, older than the KJV, with which the modern versions agree.

 

According to 2 Timothy 2:15 and its immediate context, towards what object was the apostle telling the young pastor to apply his mind (for the acquisition of knowledge, as by reading, investigation, or reflection)? Despite the construction of sentence, most folks think "study" should be applied to "the word of truth".

It ought be obvious that "the word of truth" is not a reference to just one individual phoneme of truth. The phrase can be therefore understood as a 'body of truth', 'the entire message of truth', or even more simply 'the Truth' (the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth).

Certainly the vast majority of 'truth' in Timothy's possession was from Paul's verbal teaching. It makes little sense that Timothy was being instructed here to exert himself, endeavor, and give diligence of thought to past spoken doctrinal conversations they had between themselves. I find it less likely that Timothy is supposed to attempt to obtain a grasp of spoken instruction by methodical or exhaustive thought than the object of his 'diligence' was to be the proper execution of his office (doing all the Lord's work). God's 'approval' will be the reward of his efforts.

Of course, studying the Holy writ would be part of his duty. Timothy would have had (some of) the Hebrew scriptures, but as little as two letters from Paul may have been the extent of his NT hardcopy. Nonetheless, in light of the context of the passage (vain speech and outright heresy) written scripture is not primarily being addressed here. Therefore, "study" (in our contemporary sense) is logically not the intended meaning.