By Kerry Knight, Minister for the Emerald Beach Church of Christ
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.
II Timothy 2:15
In 1883, a school teacher named Priscilla Jane Owens wrote a hymn that would carry through the ages and bless not only little boys and girls in the classroom, but believers everywhere.
Who can forget the words, “Give me the Bible, star and gladness gleaming, to cheer the wanderer lone and tempest tossed; No storm can hide that radiance peaceful beaming, since Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Give me the Bible, Holy message shining; Thy light shall guide me in the narrow way.”
Priscilla also drew from the text of Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.”
When she exercised her more scholarly side she would do word studies such as spoudazo, rendering “study” as “be diligent” or “do your best.” The Greek word orthotomeo for “rightly dividing” was given a more complete meaning of “cutting a straight line” or “correctly teaching.”
All in all, she wanted to bless us with an honest message that the Bible was something to be explored and in the end to provide the light of truth.
RSS
