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.