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.

2 Timothy 2:14-16 (DARBY) Of these things put in remembrance, testifying earnestly before the Lord not to have disputes of words, profitable for nothing, to the subversion of the hearers. Strive diligently to present thyself approved to God, a workman that has not to be ashamed, cutting in a straight line the word of truth. But profane, vain babblings shun, for they will advance to greater impiety,

I bring the Darby translation into play here with one specific purpose and that is related to the dividing spoken of in the KJV and other translations. Some translations indicate a correct teaching of the meaning of the truth. I agree, but if we are to be students first and teachers secondly, then let us, like Darby, delve a little deeper in the cutting of straight lines.

STRONGS NT 3718:

(cutting straight);

1. to cut straight: to cut straight ways, i. e. to proceed by straight paths, hold a straight course, equivalent to to do right , Proverbs 3:6; Proverbs 11:5.
2. dropping the idea of cutting, to make straight and smooth; Vulg.rectetracto, to handle aright: i. e. to teach the truth correctly and directly, 2 Timothy 2:15;  Eustathius, opuscc., p. 115, 41. (Not found elsewhere (except in ecclesiastical writings (Winer’s Grammar, 26); e. g. constt. apost. 7, 31; cf. Suicer ii. 508f). Cf. to cut new veins in mining; dropping the notion of cutting, to make something new, introduce new things, make innovations or changes, etc.)

Many translations drop the issue of cutting, but I would like to explore deeper the issue of the cut. If we take into account Paul’s deep understanding of the Old Testament, this cutting can easily be traced back to the dividing of the sacrifices by the priests.

Joshua 3:10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.

What does it mean to you to take possession of these lands? God has after all driven the occupants out before you. Maybe if you dig deeper into those people dispossessed you will discover things which God wants driven out of your new life as you take possession.

Canaanite: peddlers or merchants of astrology.

Hittites: fear, terror

Hivites: belonging to a village (think the opposite of sojourner here)

Perizzites: again belonging to a village, intractable, unmoved

Girgashites: dwelling in miry clay, those who fashion their own idols

Amorites: clairvoyant

Jebusites: a place trodden down

We often overlook what God has done for us in coming into His Kingdom. We should be careful not to take up once again those things which the Lord wants left behind, on the other side, in a former life. Perhaps the greatest example of a transformed life is that of the Jebusites. The most famous of the trodden down places in their possession became Temple Mount, the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Granted, I had to dig deep into the word, history and meanings to discover the deeper meanings here. I believe this is part of seeking God, His character, His ways, and His intentions for us, His children.

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.

That means you should investigate for yourself and not to leave the dividing up to others, not even me.