2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV Strong's)
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Handle God’s Word Correctly!
Paul is outline for Timothy how to make sure he does not shipwreck his faith and ministry. In the above passage he tells Timothy to make sure he handles God’s Word, correctly. Someone in the past gave me the following steps to make sure we handle the Word of God correctly. I can’t remember where I found them. I added the finally three to make the following ten areas we should focus to handle the Word of God correctly:
How to rightly handle the Word correctly:
1. Understand the nature of the Book (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
2. Have the right goal in mine (What does the Bible say? vs What does it mean to me?)
3. Identify the genres of the text (what type of literature is it?). This means you apply different forms of interpretations for what you are study.
a. Historical particularity
4. Consider the context - word used. Context determines meaning. Like the word "ball". What does it mean? You don't know unless you have context: a thing for a game vs an event I went to.
5. Follow the argument. Look at the big picture.
6. Do your homework.
7. Put the Word into practice.
Over the years, I have added these three:
8. Let the Word Study you! Examine you!! (James 1:22-25; Hebrews 4:12-13)
9. Allow Holy Spirit to Guide you (John 16:12-14)
10. See Christ in every passage (John 16:13-14)
The one sure way to protect your faith and guard your ministry is to handle God’s Word correctly.
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