Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on 2 Timothy 2:15

15. Study--Greek, "Be earnest," or "diligent."

to show--Greek, "present," as in Ro 12:1.

thyself--as distinguished from those whom Timothy was to charge (2Ti 2:14).

approved--tested by trial: opposed to "reprobate" (Tit 1:16).

workman--alluding to Mt 20:1, &c.

not to be ashamed--by his work not being "approved" (Php 1:20). Contrast "deceitful workers" (2Co 11:13).

rightly dividing--"rightly handling" [Vulgate]; "rightly administering" [Alford]; literally, cutting "straight" or "right": the metaphor being from a father or a steward (1Co 4:1) cutting and distributing bread among his children [Vitringa and Calvin], (Lu 12:42). The Septuagint, Pr 3:6; 11:5, use it of "making one's way": so Bengel here takes Paul to mean that Timothy may make ready a straight way for "the word of truth," and may himself walk straight forward according to this line, turning neither to the right nor to the left, "teaching no other doctrine" (1Ti 1:3). The same image of a way appears in the Greek for "increase" (see on 2Ti 2:16). The opposite to "rightly handling," or "dispensing," is, 2Co 2:17, "corrupt the word of God."

truth--Greek, "the truth" (compare 2Ti 2:18).