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MOR-Bible, which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, peace to you and grace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Father, thank you for rewarding us that diligently seek you with all our, heart, soul, strength and with all our minds. Father, I pray that we can stand perfect and complete in all your will. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

In the July 2022 teaching, we started our review of 2 Timothy 2:15:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth [the Greek word aleethia].

We traced our English word "study" translated from the Greek word spoudason and tracked it as a form of spoudazo which is from the root word speudo. We, as God's children, are to endeavor to expend a diligent effort remembering to use our time prudently when studying God's Word! We redeem our time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). We study God's Word with haste, due diligence, earnestness, and zeal to show ourselves approved unto God!

In this month's teaching, we will review the word "approved" from 2 Timothy 2:15.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The word "approved" is the Greek word dokimos which means "assayed, examined, tested; hence generally of persons, approved, esteemed." There are seven occurrences of the Greek word dokimos. It is translated into "approved or examined and tested" five (5) times, "approved - tried" once (1), and "approved or which is approved" once (1) for a total of seven (7). The number seven in the Word of God stands for spiritual perfection.

The sources for all Greek-English words are The Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament Bullinger (1975) and Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible (1982).

The English word for dokimos will be bolded for identification in the verses.

Let's start with Romans 14:17-18:

For the kingdom of God [all seven administrations] is not meat and drink; but [in contrast] righteousness, and peace, and joy in [through] the Holy Ghost [holy spirit].

For he that in these things [righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost - holy spirit] serveth Christ is acceptable [well pleasing] to God, and approved [dokimos - examined and tested], of men.

Romans 16:10:

Salute [embrace and greet] Apelles approved [dokimos - examined and tested], in Christ [the now glorified one]. Salute [embrace and greet] them which are of Aristobulus' household.

We embrace and greet our brother and sisters approved in Christ the now glorified one!

Next, we will look at 1 Corinthians 11:19. Verses 17-18 are provided for context. Remember, Corinthians is a reproof Epistle; it corrected the practical errors for not adhering to the doctrine epistles of Romans which addressed the Church of the body. In these verses, Paul was correcting practical errors regarding the eating of the Lord's supper.

Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved [dokimos - which is approved], may be made manifest among you.

2 Corinthians 10:18 contains the next occurrences of dokimos. Verse 17 is provided for context and understanding.

But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

For not he that commendeth himself is approved [dokimos - examined and tested], but [in contrast] whom the Lord commendeth.

In 2 Corinthians 10:18, The word "commendeth" means "to place or set together; of persons, to introduce to one's acquaintance and favorable notice, hence, to commend, to represent as worthy." The Lord has approved, commended, and placed us together with Him. He represents us as worthy! 1 Corinthians 6:20 reminds us:

For ye are bought with a price [God's only begotten son Jesus Christ]: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

We the children of God are servants of God not men! 1 Corinthians 7:23 tells us:

Ye [we the children of God] are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

The next usage is in 2 Corinthians 13:7. We will look at 2 Corinthians 13:1-8 so we can better understand this usage.

Verse 1:

This is the third time I [Paul] am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

Paul quoted the word of God documented in Matthew 18:16:

That in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

2 Corinthians 13:2-5:

I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare.

Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

For though he [Jesus Christ] was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him [Jesus Christ], but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates [the Greek word adokimos]?

In verse 5 above, the Greek word adokimos is used for our English word "reprobates" which means "unapproved, unworthy; spurious, that will not stand proof." It is written in Colossians 1:27:

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

God's Word has made known to us that when we confessed Jesus as Lord and believed in our hearts that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9) we have Christ in us the hope of glory!

Back to 2 Corinthians 13:6-8:

But I [Paul] trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates [the Greek word adokimos - unapproved and unworthy].

Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved [dokimos - examined and tested], but [in contrast] that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates [the Greek word adokimos - unapproved and unworthy].

For we can do nothing against the truth [of God's Word], but for the truth.

The next usage appears in 2 Timothy 2:15. Verses 9-14 are provided for context and understanding.

Verses 9-15:

Wherein I [Paul] suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but [in contrast] the word of God is not bound.

Therefore [because the Word of God is not bound] I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation [the Greek word soteria - soundness, safety, preservation from danger or destruction] which is in Christ Jesus [the now glorified one that was once humble] with eternal glory.

It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him.

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.

If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but [in contrast] to the subverting of the hearers.

Study to shew thyself approved [dokimos - examined and tested] unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

James 1:12 has the last usage of dokimos. Verses 13-17 are provided for increased understanding.

Verses 12-17:

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried [dokimos - approved or tried], he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (See August 2019 for teaching on the Five Crowns)

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.

But [in contrast] every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Every good gift and every perfect gift are from whom? The Father of lights! Ephesians 5:8 reminds us:

For ye were sometimes darkness [before we were born-again of God's spirit], but [in contrast] now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.

In 1Thessalonians 5:5, God's Word says we are:

All the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

And 2 Corinthians 4:4 tells us:

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Everything that is not of the Father of lights comes from the father of darkness, the god of this world!

We reviewed the word "approved" from 2 Timothy 2:15. The word "approved" is the Greek word dokimos which means "assayed, examined, tested; hence generally of persons, approved, esteemed." We reviewed the seven occurrences of the Greek word dokimos. It is translated into "approved or examined and tested" five (5) times, "approved - tried" once (1), and "approved or which is approved" once (1) for a total of seven (7).

Father, I am so thankful and grateful for your Word that makes known your will for your children. Father, thank you for your children who walk in righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy spirit, by speaking in tongues in their daily lives. Thank you, Father, that as we do your Word, we are acceptable and well pleasing to you and approved in Christ. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

In next month's teaching, we will review the word "God" documented in 2 Timothy 2:15.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

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