GOD’S WORD FOR YOU
2 TIMOTHY 2:15
15 Study to present yourself to God as one who is approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
First, I will not defend my translation of spoudason (σπούδασον, the aorist imperative of σπούδάζω). Usually, this means “Be eager” or “make every effort,” but the King James Version said “Study.” The Latin translation was sollicite, “Be worried about, be concerned.” Luther said Befleißige “Be diligent.” All of those probably come together well, but since many of our Lutheran writers after the time of Chemnitz (and the completion of the King James) used “Study,” I have fallen back to that word. Walther told his students, “The Apostle’s admonition to Timothy to ‘study’ indicates– does it not?– that dividing Law and Gospel properly is a great, difficult art.”
Luther said one evening at the dinner table, “The Word of God should be rightly divided, and with care, for people are of two kinds. On the one hand are the contrite, who need consolation. On the other hand are the rigid ones, to whom apply the law, threats, examples of wrath, the fire of Elijah, the waters of the flood, and the destruction of Jerusalem; these must be attacked at once and must be made to feel terror.” (LW 54:313).
An “approved” worker who “needs not be ashamed” calls to mind the atmosphere of a workshop, where a man who is no longer an apprentice but is a journeyman carpenter or blacksmith or what have you is confident in his work. He doesn’t need to look over his shoulder to see if the master is watching him or might correct what he is doing. He is using his tool correctly, and that tool is the word of God. But handling the word of God correctly is not just a matter of picking it up, reciting it, and saying whatever comes to mind. It means to “get it right, make it clear and straight” (see Proverbs 3:6 and 11:5 where the Greek translation uses the same word). Walther again says: “The term orthotomein (ὀρθοτομεῖν) of this text, which has been rendered by ‘rightly dividing,’ is derived from the action of priests when dividing the sacrificial offerings or from that of the head of a family when he apportions food and drink to the members of his household. The latter meaning seems to be the correct one; however, many of our theologians adopt the former.” When the head of a family gives out the food to his wife and children and guests who are present, he will give a generous helping to any guest, and then to his wife and to each child especially by age or other needs, with the youngest naturally getting smaller portions, or even different food entirely according to their needs. So it is with the minister handling the word of God. A children’s devotion cannot contain every single doctrine of the church because those children need to learn the very basic things of faith: Who God is, the Creation story, who Jesus is, the Ten Commandments (especially the Fourth), sin, the devil, the cross, the grace or pity of God, the love of God, how to pray, and the resurrection of the dead. When they have learned these things they are ready for deeper things. But remember that Paul told the Corinthians, “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready” (1 Corinthians 3:2). But our people need to learn which parts of the Bible proclaim the Law and God’s wrath over sin, and which parts show his love and forgiveness. Otherwise our preaching won’t produce any good results; it will only confuse people.
Walther said to his students in St. Louis: “During your present year at the Seminary this very thing, you know, is the subject of our study– the proper division of the Word of God, of Law and the Gospel. These two are the cardinal doctrines of all the Holy Scriptures, yes, any historical fact recorded in Scripture can be classified as belonging either to the Law or to the Gospel. No one should be permitted to graduate from a school of theology who is unable to determine whether a given passage of Scripture is Law or Gospel, or whether in any compound clause of Scripture the protasis is Law and the apodosis Gospel, or vice versa. It is your duty to become perfectly clear on this subject.”
He is really explaining this statement from the Formula of Concord: “The distinction between law and Gospel is an especially brilliant light which serves the purpose that the Word of God may be rightly divided and the writings of the holy prophets and apostles may be explained and understood correctly. We must therefore observe this distinction with particular diligence so that we won’t confuse the two doctrines and change the Gospel into law. This would darken the merit of Christ and rob consciences of the comfort which they would otherwise have in the holy Gospel when it is preached purely and without admixture, for by it Christians can support themselves in their greatest temptations against the terrors of the law” (Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration V:1).
For example, when Christ says, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4), is that law or gospel? It is law, first because his audience is Satan during his temptation, but also because it shows the sin of relying on created things for spiritual strengthening, when we must rely on the word of God for our spiritual strength, knowledge, and instruction.
When Christ preaches the Beatitudes in the next chapter, they are the pure gospel, encouraging all who suffer in many ways on the account of their faith. And later in the same chapter (Matthew 5:44), when he says “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” it can only be the law as a command, but it commands us to do works that will be the gospel for those who receive them. For the other side of “Love your enemy” is, “If you do not love your enemy, how will God love you?” But when we show love to our enemy, our enemy will wonder, “Why are they loving me?” and this may draw them to Christ. But when Christ finishes the chapter (Matthew 5:48) he proclaims only law, by saying, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” This is an explanation of Leviticus 19:2, “Be holy, because I the LORD your God, am holy.” It teaches us that holiness is not merely an outward act, but something that is also in the heart and in the intentions, the opinions and all of the inner and outer being of mankind; therefore we need a Savior, because we constantly fail and we are sinful through and through.
What is the reason that so many in our day live in uncertainty about their being true Chrsitians? The reason is that ministers, as a rule, confound Law and Gospel and do not heed Paul’s admonition: “Study to present yourself to God as one who is approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” “For,” Walther warns, “when the Gospel is preached with a mixture of Law, it is impossible for a hearer to attain to faith in the forgiveness of sins. On the other hand, when the Law is preached with a mixture of the Gospel, it is impossible for a hearer to arrive at the knowledge that he is a poor sinner in need of the forgiveness of sins.” Therefore “dividing law and gospel” is the key to “rightly handling the word of truth.”
This is key: The people who are already frightened by the wrath and judgment of God need to be encouraged. The obstinate who are firm in their sins and think that those aren’t sins at all need to hear the awful examples of God’s wrath. The fearful must hear the sweet words of comfort in the gospel. Those who have been humbled must be lifted up. Those who have exalted themselves must be crushed, which Mary teaches in her song (Luke 1:52). In our pews when the minister preaches, the fearful are unavoidably mingled with the smug. Therefore moderation is needed especially there, so that the obdurate will know that these terrible examples are aimed at them, but those who are already frightened and repentant will apply the words of comfort and promise to themselves.
Therefore let us study the Scriptures carefully, knowing their words, their summary, their context, their content, and all of the doctrines that they present to us. Then we will be able to read what Peter says at Pentecost, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet” (Acts 2:34-35) and know that for the Christian this is purely the Gospel. What else would the Father say to the Son? The enemies of Christ are not the people he came to save (and therefore the readers of the book of Acts), but his enemies are sin, death and the devil. The victory over these is the victory that means our eternal salvation, for we are loved by Christ and we put our faith in him.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Listen or watch Bible classes online. https://splnewulm.org/invisible-church/
Archives at St Paul’s Lutheran Church https://splnewulm.org/daily-devotions/ and Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel: www.wlchapel.org/connect-grow/ministries/adults/daily-devotions/gwfy-archive/2026
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Ulm, Minnesota
God’s Word for You – 2 Timothy 2:15 rightly dividing, correctly handling