I do not read the KJV of Scripture anymore. In it you can read: [b]2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) - “Study to show thyself approved unto G-d.”[/b] Well, I was all over that. Hey, I am a good student. Can I study? You bet I can study. “Study to show thyself approved unto G-d.” I am all over that. I am totally there. I look at people who are academically challenged because it is not their ministry. Their ministry is in ministries of mercy, ministries of compassion, ministries of art, or ministries of music. Maybe they are not as good at studying. Heaven forbid I should actually think they were not called to study all the time like I am. See, if I had a paradigm in my mind that study is the way to be approved unto G-d then it is real simple; and furthermore, it makes it real easy for me to critique other people. I can see whether they are studying or not and decide whether they are approved unto G-d. I did just that! I am glad that I moved on from there, but I lived in this paradigm of “study to show thyself approved…” Therefore, whether you were approved unto G-d or not had to do with how much you knew and whether your doctrine was right. The NIV reads: [b]2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV) \"Do your best to present yourself to G-d as one approved.\"[/b] [b]Another version says “Do all you can to present yourself to G-d as someone worthy of his approval”[/b] Wow, that is totally different than “study.” You see, the Greek word “[i]spudoso[/i]” does not mean “[i]study[/i].” It means “[i]to apply a diligent effort[/i].” You could say, “[i]Make a diligent effort to present yourself approved unto G-d[/i].” Why does the King James Version say the word study? It says that because in 1611 when only 10% of the population could read you studied by being a disciple. A silver smith in 1611 did not become a silver smith by reading books. They “[i]studied[/i],” that is to say that they apprenticed with a silver smith. He would have them first build the right kind of fire. They might spend a year learning how to build it right. Then, they learn to melt the silver to the right temperature. A period of study occurred that might have gone on for years. Today, sometimes we call that understudy. In 1611, it is very important that you understand that at that time “[i]study[/i]” did not mean “[i]read[/i].” It meant to understudy and make a diligent effort when you understudy the person. The translation here of “[i]do your best or make a diligent effort to present yourself to one as G-d approved[/i],” is what G-d is looking for us to do. In Revelation, it talks about wanting us hot or cold; He does not want us lukewarm. He wants us to make a diligent effort. You will not find G-d\'s approval by believing His word does not apply to you. He wants your best effort. Yes, His son paid the penalty for our failure but this will never mean \"[i]you cant so dont try[/i].\" The word fulfill in Greek is plhro/w, tranliteraed as Pleroo, and defined as: to fulfill, i.e. to cause G-d\'s will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be. Yeshua death paid the penalty for sin which is death. He did not die for man to contiue in sin. He lived to show us how and died so that we could.