John Calvin Commentary 2 Timothy 2:15

"Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth." — 2 Timothy 2:15 (ASV)

Study to show yourself to be approved by God. Since all disputes about doctrine arise from this source—that people are eager to make a boast of their ingenuity before the world—Paul here applies the best and most excellent remedy when he commands Timothy to keep his eyes fixed on God, as if he had said: “Some aim at the applause of a crowded assembly, but you study to approve yourself and your ministry to God.” And indeed, nothing tends more to check a foolish eagerness for display than to reflect that we have to deal with God.

A workman that does not blush. Erasmus translates ἀνεπαίσχυντον as “that ought not to blush.” I do not find fault with that rendering but prefer to explain it actively, “that does not blush,” both because that is the more ordinary meaning of the word as used by Greek writers and because I consider it to agree better with the present passage. There is an implied contrast. Those who disturb the Church by contentions break out into such fierceness because they are ashamed of being overcome and because they consider it disgraceful that there should be anything they do not know. Paul, on the contrary, bids them appeal to the judgment of God.

And first, he bids them not be lazy disputants, but workmen. By this term, he indirectly reproves the foolishness of those who so greatly torment themselves by doing nothing. Let us therefore be “workmen” in building the Church, and let us be employed in the work of God in such a manner that some fruit will be seen; then we will have no cause to “blush.”

For, although in debating we are not equal to talkative boasters, yet it will be enough that we excel them in the desire for edification, in industry, in courage, and in the efficacy of doctrine. In short, he bids Timothy labor diligently, so that he may not be ashamed before God, whereas ambitious men dread only this kind of shame: to lose nothing of their reputation for acuteness or profound knowledge.

Dividing aright the word of truth. This is a beautiful metaphor, and one that skillfully expresses the chief design of teaching. “Since we ought to be satisfied with the word of God alone, what purpose is served by having sermons every day, or even by the office of pastors? Does not every person have an opportunity of reading the Bible?” But Paul assigns to teachers the duty of dividing or cutting, as if a father, in giving food to his children, were dividing the bread by cutting it into small pieces.

He advises Timothy to “cut aright,” so that when he is employed in cutting the surface, as unskillful people are accustomed to do, he does not leave the pith and marrow untouched. Yet by this term I understand, generally, an allotment of the word that is judicious and well suited to the benefit of the hearers.

Some mutilate it, others tear it, others torture it, others break it in pieces; others, keeping to the surface (as we have said), never reach the soul of doctrine. To all these faults he contrasts the term “dividing aright”—that is, the manner of explaining which is adapted to edification, for that is the rule by which we must test all interpretation of Scripture.