PastoralEpistles.com

Nick Norelli responds to a query by someone named Brian about translation of 2Ti 2.15 [ESV].

Brian's query asks:

• parse and explain your translation for σπούδασον (why you chose the word you did).
• parse and explain your translation for παραστῆσαι (why you chose the word you did).
• parse and explain your translation for ὀρθοτομοῦντα (why you chose the word you did).

Nick translates thusly: "Make every effort to present yourself to God [as] an approved worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." See his post for further explanation.

I did a translation of the Pastoral Epistles four or five years ago. My translation of 2Ti 2.15 (actually, 2.14-18) is:

14 Remind them of these things, warning them before God not to fight about words, which is nothing useful and serves to ruin those who hear. 15 Take pains to present yourself approved of God, an unashamed worker, guiding the word of truth along a straight path. 16 But shun frivolous chatter and empty talk. These will lead to further ungodliness 17 and their word will spread like gangrene. Of whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who concerning the truth have strayed, saying the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.

On Brian's questions, I actually have notes online. Here are my notes on verbs, nouns and adjectives in 2Ti 2.15. Note that I've revisited portions of the translation since I wrote the notes (one of the reasons for writing the notes).