PART 2 · A NEW STUDY BUILT ON FOUNDATIONAL BIBLICAL DOCTRINE
Diligence — Foundational Biblical Doctrine
OPENING WORD
Every believer asks this question: how will I know I will stand at the last? God's answer is not a feeling, and it is not left in doubt. God has put the answer in a person's own hand, and he calls it diligence. It is not labor of the body alone, and it is not a mind that wanders. It is the whole heart set on one thing, adding grace to grace. No promise in the book is made to the slothful. The sluggard says the way is hard, and he lies down. But the diligent person rises early; he seeks, he keeps, he labors, he studies. In the old language, the diligent man and fine gold are called by one word, because gold is not found lying in the path — it is dug for. What you will not dig for, you do not yet want. What you dig for daily, God will make sure to you. He calls himself a rewarder — that is his own name for himself — and he has bound himself to the diligent: do these things, and you will never stumble; do these things, and the door opens wide. That is the God this study sets before you. Search it out.
THREE QUESTIONS THIS STUDY ANSWERS:
1. What are believers charged to give diligence to make sure — and what will the one who does these things never do?
2. What does the proverb say of the hand, the soul, and the thoughts of the diligent — and of the slothful?
3. Whom does God reward, and how will the diligent be found of him at his coming?
THE FOUNDATION ALREADY LAID — DILIGENCE
› DILIGENCE (SPOUDE) = SPEED + EARNESTNESS + EAGERNESS — SET AGAINST THE SLOTHFUL AND THE SLUGGARD (2 Peter 1:5; Proverbs 12:24; Proverbs 6:6-11).
› THE SLOTHFUL SHALL BE UNDER TRIBUTE + HIS FIELD IS GROWN OVER WITH THORNS (Proverbs 12:24; Proverbs 24:30-34).
› HE IS A REWARDER OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM (Hebrews 11:6).
› SHEW THE SAME DILIGENCE TO THE FULL ASSURANCE OF HOPE TO THE END (Hebrews 6:11-12).
› BE DILIGENT THAT YOU MAY BE FOUND OF HIM IN PEACE (2 Peter 3:14).
› GIVING ALL DILIGENCE, ADD TO YOUR FAITH --> NEITHER BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL (2 Peter 1:5-8).
› GIVE DILIGENCE TO MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE --> YOU SHALL NEVER FALL (2 Peter 1:10).
This Part 2 confirms the same truth from a fresh set of witnesses.
(My personal thoughts — the Spirit chose spoude (G4710, diligence), which means speed, not zelos (G2205), which means heat. A fire may burn hot on the hearth and never move. Speed goes. Diligence is not how hot the heart burns in the house — it is whether the feet go.)
OPENING ANCHOR
2 Peter 1:10Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall [G4417 ptaio]:
GIVE DILIGENCE → YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE → IF YE DO THESE THINGS, YE SHALL NEVER FALL.
(My personal thoughts — hear what the words mean: "give diligence" is spoudazo (G4704, give diligence), to use speed; "sure" is bebaios (G949, sure), firm and fast; "fall" is ptaio (G4417, fall), to stumble. Give speed, and the standing grows firm, and the foot will never stumble. The calling and the election are God's; the making of them sure is the diligence of the one called — this is the whole study in one line.)
1. THE CHARGE — STUDY, ENDEAVOR, WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY
1.2 Timothy 2:15Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman [G2040 ergates] that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [G3718 orthotomeo] the word of truth.
STUDY → APPROVED UNTO GOD → A WORKMAN NOT ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.
(My personal thoughts — "study" here does not mean books only. It is spoudazo (G4704, give diligence), the same word rendered "give diligence" and "be diligent" — to use speed, to make effort. The workman is approved because he was quick about the word of truth.)
ENDEAVOURING TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT → IN THE BOND OF PEACE.
3.Ephesians 5:15Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗See then that ye walk circumspectly [G199 akribos], not as fools, but as wise,
WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY → NOT AS FOOLS, BUT AS WISE.
(My personal thoughts — akribos (G199, diligently), rendered "circumspectly" here, means exactly, accurately — nothing slack. Diligence is not only speed; it is care taken with every step.)
2. THE DILIGENT AND THE SLOTHFUL — THE PROVERB'S FRESH WITNESS
1.Proverbs 10:4Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack [H7423 remiyyah] hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
A SLACK HAND → POOR + THE HAND OF THE DILIGENT MAKETH RICH.
2.Proverbs 22:29Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Seest thou a man diligent [H4106 mahir] in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
A MAN DILIGENT IN HIS BUSINESS → HE SHALL STAND BEFORE KINGS.
(My personal thoughts — here "diligent" is a second Hebrew word: mahir (H4106, diligent) — quick, ready, skilled. It is the word for the "ready writer" of the psalms. Charuts (H2742, diligent) is the sharp man; mahir is the ready man. The one word cuts in; the other moves fast — and both stand before kings.)
3.Proverbs 27:23Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Be thou diligent to know [H3045 yada] the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
BE THOU DILIGENT TO KNOW THE STATE OF THY FLOCKS → LOOK WELL TO THY HERDS.
3. NOT SLOTHFUL, BUT ABOUNDING — DILIGENCE UNTO THE END
1.Hebrews 6:19Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
AN ANCHOR OF THE SOUL, BOTH SURE AND STEDFAST.
2.Romans 12:8Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
HE THAT RULETH, WITH DILIGENCE.
3.Romans 12:11Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Not slothful [G3636 okneros] in business; fervent [G2204 zeo] in spirit; serving the Lord;
NOT SLOTHFUL IN BUSINESS + FERVENT IN SPIRIT + SERVING THE LORD.
(My personal thoughts — "business" here is the word spoude (G4710, diligence) itself: be not slothful in your diligence. This warning is not about trade. It is about the speed of the soul in serving the Lord.)
4.Jude 1:3Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
I GAVE ALL DILIGENCE TO WRITE → EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE FAITH.
5.2 Peter 1:19Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
A MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY → TAKE HEED, AS UNTO A LIGHT, UNTIL THE DAY DAWN.
4. THE REWARDER — OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM
1.Matthew 7:8Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh [G2212 zeteo] findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
EVERY ONE THAT ASKETH RECEIVETH + HE THAT SEEKETH FINDETH.
2.Isaiah 55:6Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
SEEK YE THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND → CALL YE UPON HIM WHILE HE IS NEAR.
3.Psalm 105:4Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Seek [H1245 baqash] the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
SEEK THE LORD, AND HIS STRENGTH → SEEK HIS FACE EVERMORE.
MOUTH OF TWO — THE KEEPING CHARGE, ESTABLISHED IN THE MOUTH OF TWO AND A THIRD
Deuteronomy 4:9Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;
Proverbs 4:23Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Keep [H5341 natsar] thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
KEEP THY HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE → OUT OF IT ARE THE ISSUES OF LIFE.
Jude 1:21Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Keep [G5083 tereo] yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD → LOOKING FOR MERCY UNTO ETERNAL LIFE.
(My personal thoughts — in the mouth of two witnesses the word is set; here a third mouth says it too: a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Moses says, keep your soul diligently; the proverb says, keep your heart with all diligence; Jude says, keep yourselves in the love of God. Three keepings, one diligence. Mark the languages: the old keeping is shamar (H8104) and natsar (H5341), a hedge and a watch; Jude's keeping is tereo (G5083), to guard as with the eye. Two languages, one charge: what God has given you, watch it.)
THE SHADOW AND THE FULFILLMENT
Think of a shadow lying on the ground. You can see its shape, but the shape alone will not tell you what is casting it — it could be one thing, it could be another thing about the same size, and as long as you only look at the shadow, you can only guess. The shadow stays a mystery until the true light shows you the object itself. Then you look back at the shadow and see it was that object's shape all along. That is what the Old Testament pictures are. They are real shadows, truly shaped by a real body — "a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ" (Colossians 2:17). But a shadow is "not the very image" (Hebrews 10:1), so no one could read the whole truth from the shadow alone. When Christ came, the light showed the body — and now we look back at the shadow and see whose shape it carried all along.
4.Deuteronomy 6:17Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.
YE SHALL DILIGENTLY KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD YOUR GOD.
5.Titus 3:8Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful [G5431 phrontizo] to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
CAREFUL TO MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS → GOOD AND PROFITABLE UNTO MEN.
(My personal thoughts — it is the same diligence, turned. Under Moses it kept a hedge about commandments written in stone. In Christ it is careful to maintain good works that flow from a faith already believed. Diligence was never done away; it was fulfilled. Keeping the law has become maintaining the works of a living faith.)
CLOSING
Isaiah 40:31Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗But they that wait [H6960 qavah] upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH → RUN, AND NOT BE WEARY.
2 Peter 1:11Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For so an entrance shall be ministered [G2023 epichoregeo] unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
AN ENTRANCE MINISTERED UNTO YOU ABUNDANTLY INTO THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM.
(My personal thoughts — here is the whole study in one breath. God has not left a person to wonder whether he will stand. He has put the matter into that person's own hand and called it diligence. Give diligence, and the calling is made sure, and the foot will never stumble. Slack the hand, and the soul desires and has nothing. The diligent hand bears rule; the diligent soul is made fat; the diligent person stands before kings. And above all this, God names himself the rewarder of them that seek him out. So keep your heart, keep your soul, keep yourself. Study, contend, walk circumspectly. Be not weary, for the season of reaping is set. The same God who calls you to run has promised to renew your strength for the running, until the entrance opens wide into the everlasting kingdom.)
GREEK KEYWORDS
These are the keywords for this study. Tap any dotted word in the verses above to see its meaning here.
the very word rendered "with all thy might" — diligence is love at full strength
“seek early” — H7836 shachar — to be up early at a task, to seek early, as at the dawn
the diligent seeker rises with the dawn; he seeks first, not last
“keep” — H8104 shamar — to hedge about as with thorns, to guard, to attend to
to keep diligently is to plant a hedge of thorns about the thing God spoke, so that nothing steals it
PRACTICE QUIZ
1. 2 Peter 1:10 — give diligence to make your calling and election:
a) stedfast
b) sure
c) plenteous
2. Proverbs 10:4 — the hand of the diligent:
a) is precious
b) shall bear rule
c) maketh rich
3. Ephesians 5:15 — see then that ye walk:
a) circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise
b) worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing
c) in the Spirit
4. 2 Timothy 2:15 — Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing:
a) the word of life
b) the word of promise
c) the word of truth
5. Matthew 7:8 — every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh:
a) shall find rest
b) findeth
c) shall be filled
6. Proverbs 4:23 — keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it:
a) proceed evil thoughts
b) is a wellspring of life
c) are the issues of life
7. Isaiah 40:31 — they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall:
a) mount up with wings as eagles
b) stand before kings
c) never fall
ANSWER KEY: 1-b, 2-c, 3-a, 4-c, 5-b, 6-c, 7-a
HOW THIS STUDY BRANCHES
→ How the shadow brings light: the diligence once bent on tables of stone (Deuteronomy 6:17) is bent now on maintaining good works that flow from a living faith (Titus 3:8). The commandment kept becomes the good work maintained.
→ How the new covenant opens it: "give diligence" is opened by its own family of charges — study (2 Timothy 2:15), endeavor (Ephesians 4:3), walk circumspectly (Ephesians 5:15). One word, spoudazo (G4704, give diligence), spoken several ways.
→ How the words matter: the Hebrew word for diligent (charuts, H2742, diligent) also means fine gold, sharp, and decision. The Greek word for diligence (spoude, G4710, diligence) means speed. The diligent man is a decided man who moves.
→ How this applies to you: keep your heart with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23). Be not slothful in business (Romans 12:11). Seek the LORD while he may be found (Isaiah 55:6). Diligence begins today, in the thing your hand finds to do.
→ What this means for eternity: an entrance shall be ministered abundantly into the everlasting kingdom (2 Peter 1:11). Diligence is not for this life only; it is the making sure of the next.
→ Rabbit trail: "give diligence" (spoudazo, G4704) is also the word behind "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit" (Ephesians 4:3) — chase the family of this one word and see what diligence is spent on across the epistles.
