From this verse, one can justify sitting down, doing some meticulous, careful, diligent and thorough "study" (not very fast, mind you) and maybe, at some future time, putting some of that into action - if the exact action to be done can be determined from that study.

Are you too busy to study? No problem. There are many trained pastors who can teach you what you need to know. Or many books, commentaries, etc., from which you can learn through study. And, you might even want to try reading the Bible itself.

Consider the KJV (King James Version) translation above.

Would a "workman" present an abstract study of "words" to God? Or might a "workman" present "works" to God?

The words after "workman" do not appear to have any variant meaning of importance. So let us now look at the original words and various translations of the following words.

• "study"
• "shew"
• "approved"

We will then look at a series of verses where the relevant words are used and see which possible definitions fit better than other alternatives.

The word for "shew" is that of "presenting" as in a "presentation" or "performance" (meaning of the modern Greek word).

The modern Greek word "παράσταση" (pa-RA-sta-see) ≈ "performance, presentation, representation".

The ancient Greek word "παρίστημι" ≈ "place beside, set before the mind".

The word for "approved" is that of "providing proof" as in "showing convincingly".

The ancient Greek word "σπεύδω" ≈ "be keen, make haste" in the sense of an urgent focused priority.

The modern Greek word "σπουδή" (spu-THEE) ≈ "study" with a secondary meaning of "eagerness" or "haste". This modern Greek word appears to be influenced by the translation of 2 Timothy 2:15 in the Middle Ages.

With that in mind, let us look at "study" and then some verses and see how their translations match the word meanings.

Whenever a Greek word in the GNT (Greek New Testament) is translated in many different ways into English, as in the KJV, it might be beneficial to investigate that word.

The Middle English word "bisili" ≈ "busy" as in "keeping busy". The primary definition of "study" appears to have been influenced by the way the verse 2 Timothy 2:15 was translated, especially during the middle ages.

Many times during the history of the Greek language, a conscious effort was made to bring back words of the ancient language, but, in this case, with a possible influence of translations of the Bible.

The opposite of the ancient Greek word for an urgent focused priority is the ancient Greek word "σχολή" ≈ "leisure, free time" and is the source of the English word "school" which started as something to do in leisure time. In ancient Greece, it became associated with spending leisure time listening to lectures, discussions, etc.

Let us look at other language translations for the word that in the KJV is translated as "study".

The Latin word "sollicite" ≈ "thoroughly moved, agitated or disturbed" and is the source of the English word "solicit". This Latin word comes from two other Latin words.

• The Latin word "sollus" ≈ "whole, entire" as in the English words "solitude", "solitaire", etc.
• The Latin word "cieo" ≈ "move, stir, shake" which is cognate to the modern Greek word "κινέω" (kee-NEH-o) ≈ "move, set in motion" as in "kinetic"

When one "solicits" one is thoroughly moved, agitated, or otherwise motivated to accomplish the desired goal.

A solicitor is similar to a peddler - both try to sell something to someone.

While riding my bicycle, I entered a small town with a sign that said "PEDDLING PROHIBITED". I decided to go through anyway and did not get in trouble. (Pun: I peddled my bicycle through). Interestingly ,the last definition (four of four) of this Latin word for "solicit" is "very careful", "concerned in", "punctilious", "particular about". Many times, when the last definition fits the Bible, it might be the case that this last definition was only added because theologians and translators decided to give that word this meaning sometime after the original text was written. This is a form of circular logic.

The Gothic word "usdaudei" ≈ "diligence, vigor, zeal" where "diligence" once meant being in an "urgent" but focused "hurry".

The Gothic translation was closer to the original Latin and still has that sense of urgency with vigor and zeal.

Today, in English, "diligence" means a careful and meticulous and sometimes slow progress to a goal involving perseverance and determination.

The English word is from the French word "diligence" ≈ "stage-coach" with associated attributes.

A stage-coach, as a dependable means of transportation, needs to be on-time, often in a hurry, meticulous, with an urgent and focused priority.

The Latin word "diligens" ≈ "diligent, careful, attentive".

This Latin word is not the Latin word used in many of the verses being investigated. When it is used, the original meaning of the verse in translations tends to change over time.

Ancient Greek had a word for "diligence" that appears in the GNT and LXX (Septuagint) but that word is not used in 2 Timothy 2:15.

For more information, see the following: 2 Timothy 2:15 Careful diligence on the words for careful diligence

The German word "befleißen" ≈ "endeavor, make an effort". Luther uses this word which appears to be influenced by the Latin Vulgate translation.

The Russian word "стараться" (ste-rats-ya) ≈ "try, attempt, endeavor, pursue".

I could not find a definition for the Old Church Slavonic word "Потщися" but it appears to be in line with the original Greek word of an urgent focused priority.

Latin does have a word for "study" which is not used in the above verse.

• The Middle English word "studie" ≈ "study".
• The Middle English word "stody" ≈ "study".

The Geneva Bible uses "endeuor" (modern English "endeavor").

It appears, from the original Greek, that one needs to work with and/or form one's mind, as in "conscience", which is not the same as exercising one's body.

The Spanish word "procura con diligencia" ≈ "procure with diligence" or "diligently seek".

It appears that in the case of the Greek word for "haste" as an urgent focused priority, the whisper game model fits well in the following pattern (which appears to happen many times with many words)

• The original Greek word is written.
• The Latin word has some of that meaning, but has some other meanings. Those other meanings start to take on more importance over time.
• The Latin word goes through French with some changes.
• During the Middle Ages, the Luther German and Wycliffe, Tyndale, and KJV rely more on Latin and other theologians than they do on the ancient Bible Greek.
• The English words, once in place, tend not to get the spelling changed, but the meaning changes over 500 years.
• A red flag is when Greek changes their definition to the newer definition or when they change a word in the Greek translation to a new Greek word when the original Greek word has not changed in meaning.

The word that the KJV translates as "study" in 2 Timothy 2:15 is often translated as "haste" in other places in the Bible.

In the following verses, try to substitute "study" for "haste".

It appears that she made it an "urgent focused and immediate priority" to make this request to the king.

The Old English word "geode" ≈ "went" as in "goed".

It appears that the Israelites made it an "urgent focused and immediate priority" to eat and be prepared to leave.

It appears that the Egyptians made it an "urgent focused and immediate priority" to get the Israelites out of Egypt.

It appears that the Nebuchadnezzar made it an "urgent focused and immediate priority" to find out what was happening in the fiery furnace.

It appears that the king made it an "urgent focused and immediate priority" to check on Daniel.

It appears that the Mary made it an "urgent focused and immediate priority" to go to a city of Juda.

It appears that they made it an "urgent focused and immediate priority" to find Jesus.

The modern Greek changed the ancient Greek word to match the modern translations.

Here, the KJV uses "frowardness" for the "urgent and focused priority".

Here, many translations favor the Latin over the original Greek.

Here, the KJV uses "exhortation" for the "urgent and focused priority".

The modern Greek changed the ancient Greek word to the Latin word.

Here, the KJV uses "carefully" for the "urgent and focused priority".

Is Paul saying that he did "diligence" (modern meaning) or he made it an "urgent focused and immediate priority"?

Is Paul saying do "diligence" (modern meaning) or make it an "urgent focused and immediate priority"?

Here, Wycliffe uses "haste" while Tyndale uses "study" and the Geneva Bible uses "studie".

Is Paul saying to "labour" (modern meaning) or make it an "urgent focused and immediate priority"?

Is Paul saying to use "diligence" (modern meaning) or make it an "urgent focused and immediate priority"?

Is Peter saying to use "diligence" (modern meaning) or make it an "urgent focused and immediate priority"?

The modern Greek changed the ancient Greek word to the Latin word.

Is Peter saying he will "endeavor" (modern meaning) or that he will make it an "urgent focused and immediate priority"?

The modern Greek changed the ancient Greek word to the Latin word rather than using the original Greek word.

The whisper game appears to be in effect in many of these verses involving what became "study".

The Latin, with words not exactly the same as the original Greek, appears to have influenced translations in the Middle Ages.

In some cases, the modern Greek has changed the translation to the (different) meaning adopted in the Middle Ages, even when the original Greek word has the same (or very similar) meaning today.