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                    ||                       How beautiful on the mountains
                    ||                       are the feet of those ... who
                    ||                       proclaim salvation, who say to
                                             Zion, "Your God reigns!"
          Pastor RALPH & GENE ANN WOOD                  --Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)
          E-mail:  randg.wood@encode.com
          FRESH MANNA, 21/02/1998 ......................... 2 TIMOTHY 2:15c
             Be diligent to present yourself to God, "approved":-- a worker
          who has no need to be ashamed, cutting straight the word of truth.
                                                     --2 TIMOTHY 2:15 (RLW)
             This verse applies to Christians described by the Greek word
          "ERGATES", "a worker, workman, labourer".  Thus, Calvin comments,
          "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
          shall be seen".  But then, -who- does Paul address as "a worker"?
          In the context, this refers to Timothy, and, "in the person of
          Timothy", to other pastors and teachers.  Indeed, in 5 of the 6
          New Testament passages where "ERGATES" describes Christians, it
          refers to Church leaders, like Timothy, serving in the five-fold
          ministry established by Jesus Himself [see EPHESIANS 4:11-16].
          In MATTHEW 9:35-38, 10:1-10, and LUKE 10:1-7, "ERGATES" refers to
          missionary apostles and evangelists; in 2 TIMOTHY 2:15, pastors
          and teachers; and in 1 TIMOTHY 5:17-18, to senior elders.
             The sixth passage, MATTHEW 20:1-16, is directed to the twelve
          apostles, though it may indeed speak to all Christians generally.
          However that may be, at least we can see that "ERGATES" always
          involves some element of Paul's topic here-- teaching people the
          word of God from the Bible.  May we not infer, then, that every
          Christian whose ministries involve teaching people the word of
          God, is "a worker" in the Church?  If so, 2 TIMOTHY 2:15 speaks
          to more than just leaders, but also to:--  Fathers [see EPHESIANS
          6:1-4; PROVERBS 4:1-4, 13:1, 15:5]; fathers and mothers [PROVERBS
          1:8-9, 6:20-22, 23:22]; mothers and grandmothers [2 TIMOTHY 1:5,
          with 3:14-15]; in fact not just parents, but the whole Church as
          well [DEUTERONOMY 4:1-9, 6:1-9, 11:18-21; PSALM 78:1-8], teaching
          their children and grandchildren.  Husbands are to answer their
          wives' theological questions [1 CORINTHIANS 14:33-36]; a wife
          teaches her household [PROVERBS 31:26]; and older women are to
          train younger women [TITUS 2:1-5].
             Broader than that, Christians teach and admonish one another
          [COLOSSIANS 3:15-17]; and, when mature in the faith, are expected
          to become qualified teachers [HEBREWS 5:11-14].  Broadest of all,
          when we've received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Jesus says,
          "You will be My witnesses" [ACTS 1:4-5,8], teaching people how to
          become Christians.  So, in some respect, this verse speaks to all
          Christians!  And, so does Calvin's word of encouragement!   --RLW
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