Study: Be Diligent

Study: Be Diligent In this study we are primarily concerned not with a whole chapter or even a verse of Scripture, but with one specific word. The word examined is from a well-known verse used in the foundational class on Power for Abundant Living. II 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 “study” in the Greek is spoudason which can be elucidated and understood vividly by further research. Spoudason is a form of the word spoudazō . Using spoudazō we can trace other related Greek words to determine which are derivatives and which is the root word—the word from which all others are derived. This study demonstrates a basic principle of Biblical Greek research which can lead to greater understanding of the Word of God. Spoudazō , “study,” is a derivative of speudō which is the root form. Another term for “root word” could be the “least common denominator”—the word in its simplest form, that which is common to all other words derived from it. There is no word from which speudō was derived, and therefore it can be considered the least common denominator, the root. Let us first examine all the verses of Scripture where the word speudō is used to see the foundation upon which the related words or derivatives are built. Luke 2:16: And they came with haste [ speudō ], and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. When the angels informed the shepherds that they should go to Bethlehem, the shepherds didn’t let any grass grow under their feet. They went immediately, right away, pronto. Time was involved. That is the essence of the word speudō . Time and the brevity of the time involved is emphasized in the usage of speudō . To hasten or hurry requires some effort. But the emphasis is on speed or time. Luke 19:5, 6: And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up [into a tree], and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste [ speudō ], and come down; for to