Hasten, not Study, to Show yourself Approved

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jb

Senior Member
Feb 27, 2010
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#41
Another question might be: How can people study the word so much and still not know God?
The Pharisees managed it in the days of Our Lord!

Indeed, many of the Pharisees would have known the OT verbatim, and prayed 9 hours a day!

A real puzzle for you or is it! John 3v3, 1Cor 2v14.
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
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#42
That makes you the final authority on what God has said. No thank you.
Would King James or his committee be the 'final authority'?

How about we talk about doctrines and concepts that actually are taught in the Bible/

There is only one of two choices. It cannot be both.

1. One version is the preserved holy word of God, and only one.
2. We do not have available the preserved holy word of God.
Or we can actually use some reason here. The KJV and many other translations were translated from Hebrew, a bit of Aramaic and Greek. Copies of manuscripts in these languages still exist. The KJV is translation of the scriptures.

The Bible does not teach that there will be one perfect authentic English translation for all of history. Open your Bible, and you will find no place where Jesus or the apostles taught this. Moses didn't prophesy it, neither did the major or minor prophets.

The Bible says to contend for the __faith once delivered to the saints.___ KJV onlyism was not a part of that teaching.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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#43
The Bible says to contend for the __faith once delivered to the saints.___ KJV onlyism was not a part of that teaching.
It's really difficult to contend for the faith when you do not have a final authority, when you do not have a complete, 100% trustworthy word of God. Yes? I have dealt with this many times with unbelievers. They see it. They see all the bibles on the market that have different words and contain different truths.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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#44
That makes you the final authority on what God has said. No thank you.
No, it doesn't. It makes him a diligent student who thinks for himself.

There is only one of two choices. It cannot be both.

1. One version is the preserved holy word of God, and only one.
2. We do not have available the preserved holy word of God.
Your false dichotomy has been refuted repeatedly. That you continue to repeat it means you have chosen not to learn.
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
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#45
'Study' comes from an old French word that has to do with applying diligence or being zealous.

Paul actually told Timothy to hasten to show himself approved. When people read this in the KJV, they reinterpret 'study' from 1611 English to mean what it means in Late Modern English, to read and engage in academic learning. But if you look it up, there is a Greek word there that means hurry up or hasten.

This is a pretty good example of how misunderstanding Early Modern English has led to an inaccurate understanding of a passage.

Is there any other good passage that encourages either church ministers or Christians to study the Bible that you would like to share.
I have not read all the responses in this thread, but my question is.... has ANYONE ever translated/understood that word to mean "hasten" ? In other words.... EVERY Biblical scholar down through the years has translated and understood the word to mean just what it says... to study, not to hasten.

But to answer your question, I know of several scriptures that are now being "questioned" because somebody, somewhere "discovered" some obscure possible meaning for a word that changes the intent of the scripture... I prefer to go with the thousands of highly educated scholars that translate with the help of the Spirit... not some internet keyboard commando that thinks he "found" something...
No offense intended...
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
16,794
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#46
No, it doesn't. It makes him a diligent student who thinks for himself.


Your false dichotomy has been refuted repeatedly. That you continue to repeat it means you have chosen not to learn.
If I read several different versions, and then I decide which versions of words to believe, that makes me the final authority. People hate to give up final authority. That's why they despise KJV only people. Btw, it's not self righteousness to believe that God has given us his pure words preserved for today.
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
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#47
I have not read all the responses in this thread, but my question is.... has ANYONE ever translated/understood that word to mean "hasten" ? In other words.... EVERY Biblical scholar down through the years has translated and understood the word to mean just what it says... to study, not to hasten.
False. Did you bother to look up any other translations before making such an assertion?

Look at Bible Hub. None of the translations listed there use study except the KJV. Translations include 'Hasten' in the Berean Literal Bible, 'Be diliigent', 'Do your best' and 'Make every effort' also used.

https://biblehub.com/2_timothy/2-15.htm

If you look elsewhere, you can see that 'study' was used in translations that predated the KJV like the Geneva and the Douay-Rheims from the Latin, but that is before the word changed from meaning to apply oneself diligently to the idea of seeking to learn from books, etc.

But to answer your question, I know of several scriptures that are now being "questioned" because somebody, somewhere "discovered" some obscure possible meaning for a word that changes the intent of the scripture...
This is not some new discovery. Look up the definitions in the Bible dictionary entries on this page.
https://biblehub.com/greek/4704.htm

You can also compare to this related word to see why a more literal dictionary would go with 'hasten.'.
https://www.billmounce.com/greek-dictionary/speudo

I prefer to go with the thousands of highly educated scholars that translate with the help of the Spirit...not some internet keyboard commando that thinks he "found" something...
Then you should do a bit of research into the topic before posting on it.
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
9,093
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#48
If I read several different versions, and then I decide which versions of words to believe, that makes me the final authority. People hate to give up final authority. That's why they despise KJV only people. Btw, it's not self righteousness to believe that God has given us his pure words preserved for today.
Why do you hold to a man-made 'final authority' doctrine? Where do you get your doctrine and these rules for it from the Bible?

Where does the Bible say that God will 'preserve His word'--- not with the actual writings of the prophets, apostles, etc. in the languages they wrote them in, but in Early MJodern English? Where does the Bible teach that one archaic-sounding English translation will be the 'final authority'?

If you guys get to make up a doctrine without any scripture to back it up, what is your 'final authority' really? Church tradition? Church preaching that passed down this ancient doctrine for a couple of hundrde years or so?
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
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#49
False. Did you bother to look up any other translations before making such an assertion?
I just looked up about 15 other translations, and NONE of them translated it as "hasten"
Most said to be diligent, make every effort, etc.... in other words, be studious about it.... nobody mentioned "haste" or "hasten"
Then you should do a bit of research into the topic before posting on it.
You seem to be holding me to a higher standard than you do yourself.....
meaning to apply oneself diligently
yes, that is the meaning.... nothing said about "hastening", which implies "hurrying".... be diligent about it.

It's all semantics, anyway... which is what you intended with this whole thread, I imagine.
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
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#50
I just looked up about 15 other translations, and NONE of them translated it as "hasten"
Most said to be diligent, make every effort, etc.... in other words, be studious about it.... nobody mentioned "haste" or "hasten"

You seem to be holding me to a higher standard than you do yourself.....
I looked it up before posting on it. like I pointed out in the last post, where I provided a link, the Berean Literal Bible says 'Hasten.'

yes, that is the meaning.... nothing said about "hastening", which implies "hurrying".... be diligent about it.

It comes from a word that comes from a word that means to physically 'hasten.' One translation went with that.

The Greek words do not mean 'academic study' which is what 'study' applies in Late Modern English, but apparently did not in the English of the Geneva Bible or the KJV.

It's all semantics, anyway... which is what you intended with this whole thread, I imagine.
I heard 'Study to show yourself approved...' a lot, as a prooftext for the need for a Christian, or a minister of the Gospel, to study the Bible, but the verse doesn't mean that.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
24,851
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#53
If I read several different versions, and then I decide which versions of words to believe, that makes me the final authority. People hate to give up final authority. That's why they despise KJV only people.
No, it's because KJV-only people spout asinine assertions as though you are magically capable of reading the thoughts of others. Just because I disagree with you doesn't mean I "hate" or "despise" anything... other than stupid arguments and people putting words in my mouth.

Btw, it's not self righteousness to believe that God has given us his pure words preserved for today.
But it is self-righteousness to be arrogant about it and to denigrate others when you (wrongly) assert that they don't agree with your conception of His pure words preserved for today.
 

fredoheaven

Senior Member
Nov 17, 2015
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#54
And why "haste" when it denotes carelessness and recklessness. As applied to 2 Tim 2: 15, I believe God does not approve careless or reckless hurrying
 

fredoheaven

Senior Member
Nov 17, 2015
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#55
False. Did you bother to look up any other translations before making such an assertion?

Look at Bible Hub. None of the translations listed there use study except the KJV. Translations include 'Hasten' in the Berean Literal Bible, 'Be diliigent', 'Do your best' and 'Make every effort' also used.

https://biblehub.com/2_timothy/2-15.htm

If you look elsewhere, you can see that 'study' was used in translations that predated the KJV like the Geneva and the Douay-Rheims from the Latin, but that is before the word changed from meaning to apply oneself diligently to the idea of seeking to learn from books, etc.



This is not some new discovery. Look up the definitions in the Bible dictionary entries on this page.
https://biblehub.com/greek/4704.htm

You can also compare to this related word to see why a more literal dictionary would go with 'hasten.'.
https://www.billmounce.com/greek-dictionary/speudo



Then you should do a bit of research into the topic before posting on it.
Bill Mounce is quite correct for spuedo, to make haste or speed, Even the kjb translators were also correct but spoudazo diifers, actalually, earlier Englush French Dictionary by John Palsgrave 1530 has something to do with the occupation of mind for the word study, later, around 1590 another English French dictionary now include deligence and others but not speed
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
9,093
1,756
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#56
And why "haste" when it denotes carelessness and recklessness. As applied to 2 Tim 2: 15, I believe God does not approve careless or reckless hurrying
I don't think that. If I hear 'hastily', I might think of shoddily done work, but not with the word 'hasten.'
 

fredoheaven

Senior Member
Nov 17, 2015
4,025
940
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#57
I don't think that. If I hear 'hastily', I might think of shoddily done work, but not with the word 'hasten.'
Well, you may sound correct, but the word, hastily, hasty, hasteful, hasten, hasting, hastif comes with their root word haste, meaning speed, quickness and such quikness of action may sometimes exclude consideration, care, uttered with anger. Haste connotes a negative idea which is not within the approval of the many.
I think, i made a quick responsed to you post the other day while riding bus and it seem you dissapprove it. I just hope, i just illustrated that Hasten is not a word specifically in 2 tim 2:15
 

Niki7

Well-known member
Feb 21, 2023
2,234
837
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#58
If I read several different versions, and then I decide which versions of words to believe, that makes me the final authority. People hate to give up final authority. That's why they despise KJV only people. Btw, it's not self righteousness to believe that God has given us his pure words preserved for today.
can't see the forest for the trees
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,735
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#59
Hasten is not a word specifically in 2 tim 2:15
Exactly. As you will note in my original response to presidente, not once did the KJB translators translate spoudazo as "hasten". It simply is not a valid meaning of that word.

The KJV translates Strong's G4704 in the following manner: endeavour (3x), do diligence (2x), be diligent (2x), give diligence (1x), be forward (1x), labour (1x), study (1x).

So when you combine those uses, you get diligent labor, and to labor in the Word and doctrine requires study (which cannot be done hastily).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon says that only Holtzmann's commentary gives the meaning as "hasten". And who was Holtzmann? According to Wikipedia "A moderately liberal theologian, he became best known as a New Testament critic and exegete..." And should anyone trust even moderately liberal theologians?
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,735
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#60
The Geneva Bible also says "study" and gives excellent footnotes to explain it.

15 [a]Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, dividing the word of truth [b]aright.

Footnotes
  1. 2 Timothy 2:15 The fifth admonition: A minister must not be an idle disputer, but a faithful steward in dividing aright the word of truth, insomuch that he must stop the mouths of other vain babblers.
  2. 2 Timothy 2:15 By adding nothing to it, neither overslipping anything, neither mangling it, nor renting it in sunder, nor wresting of it: but marking diligently what his hearers are able to hear, and what is fit to edifying.