DE OFFICIO

He testified how much he had progressed in this doctrine. Therefore, in the second chapter of the second Epistle to Timothy, when he had shown, with an excellent and almost bipartite discussion, first what an evangelical herald ought to study and strive for, and then what he ought to beware of and avoid, he says in the place between either part of his discussion, as if proposing the sum and head of this entire office: Σπύδασον σεαυτὸν δόκιμον παραστῆσαι τῷ θεῷ ἐργάτην ἀνεπαίσχυντον, ὀρθοτομοῦντα τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. That is, as I interpret it, "Give effort that you may present yourself approved to God, you who are a workman not to be ashamed, who rightly cuts the word of truth." This is as if the Apostle had said: Since the Christian doctrine, which is proven by sufficiently firm arguments, must be retained uniquely, having set aside other cares and businesses, and since, once desires have been repressed and contention exploded, one must study justice, charity, hope, and other virtues of the same kind: the middle and straight path, which the evangelical herald should hold, will be that journey: that he may be most diligent in the study of promoting divine glory and public salvation: that he may show himself industrious and good in the work of the Lord: that he may teach the very word of God rightly and duly.