THE FOUNDATION · THE ORIGINAL STUDY, SET IN THE ANCIENT ORDER
Diligence — Foundational Biblical Doctrine
OPENING WORD
This is the foundation study, and it begins where the apostle begins: beside this, giving all diligence. Diligence is speed, earnest care, and eagerness. Scripture sets the diligent and the slothful side by side, so that we may look at their ways and grow wise. The hand of the diligent will bear rule; the slothful will be under tribute. But notice this: the thoughts of the diligent tend toward plenty. Diligence is not only in the hand; it is in the mind. Give all diligence to add to your faith virtue. Then the work turns inward: the mind is renewed, every thought is brought captive to the obedience of Christ, until we have the mind of Christ and are kept in perfect peace. He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Search it out.
THREE QUESTIONS THIS STUDY ANSWERS:
1. What is diligence, and how does Scripture set the diligent over against the slothful?
2. What is the diligent man found doing — and what does he look for — unto the end?
3. What does diligence add to faith, and how is the mind renewed until we have the mind of Christ?
(My personal thoughts — charuts (H2742, diligent) means diligent. It also means a sharp threshing tool, fine gold, and decision — the valley of decision, Joel 3:14. The substance of a diligent man is precious: the word itself is gold.)
1. GIVING ALL DILIGENCE — THE ANCHOR
1.2 Peter 1:5Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
GIVING ALL DILIGENCE → ADD TO YOUR FAITH VIRTUE.
2. THE DILIGENT AND THE SLOTHFUL
1.Proverbs 12:24Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
THE HAND OF THE DILIGENT SHALL BEAR RULE; THE SLOTHFUL SHALL BE UNDER TRIBUTE.
2.Proverbs 15:19Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
THE WAY OF THE SLOTHFUL = AN HEDGE OF THORNS; THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS IS MADE PLAIN.
3.Proverbs 18:9Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
SLOTHFUL IN HIS WORK = BROTHER TO A GREAT WASTER.
4.Proverbs 19:24Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
THE SLOTHFUL HIDETH HIS HAND IN HIS BOSOM → WILL NOT BRING IT TO HIS MOUTH AGAIN.
5.Proverbs 21:25Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. (26) He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
HIS HANDS REFUSE TO LABOUR → THE DESIRE OF THE SLOTHFUL KILLETH HIM.
6.Proverbs 24:30Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; (31) And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. (32) Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. (33) Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: (34) So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
THE FIELD OF THE SLOTHFUL → ALL GROWN OVER WITH THORNS + THE STONE WALL BROKEN DOWN → POVERTY AND WANT.
7.Ecclesiastes 10:18Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
MUCH SLOTHFULNESS → THE BUILDING DECAYETH; IDLENESS OF THE HANDS → THE HOUSE DROPPETH THROUGH.
8.Proverbs 19:15Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
SLOTHFULNESS → A DEEP SLEEP; AN IDLE SOUL SHALL SUFFER HUNGER.
9.Proverbs 6:6Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: (7) Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, (8) Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. (9) How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? (10) Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: (11) So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
GO TO THE ANT → CONSIDER HER WAYS, AND BE WISE.
(My personal thoughts — Proverbs 24 and Proverbs 6 use the same words twice: yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep. The words are given twice, so the warning is certain.)
10.Proverbs 26:13Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. (14) As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. (15) The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. (16) The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
THE SLOTHFUL SAITH, THERE IS A LION IN THE WAY → WISER IN HIS OWN CONCEIT THAN SEVEN MEN.
11.Proverbs 12:27Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
THE SUBSTANCE OF A DILIGENT MAN = PRECIOUS.
12.Proverbs 13:4Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
THE SLUGGARD DESIRETH, AND HATH NOTHING; THE SOUL OF THE DILIGENT SHALL BE MADE FAT.
13.Proverbs 21:5Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
THE THOUGHTS OF THE DILIGENT → PLENTEOUSNESS; THE HASTY → WANT.
(My personal thoughts — notice the word: the THOUGHTS of the diligent. Diligence is in the thoughts before it is in the hand. The study comes back to this at the renewing of the mind.)
14.Proverbs 11:27Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
DILIGENTLY SEEKETH GOOD → PROCURETH FAVOUR.
3. A REWARDER OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM
1.Hebrews 11:6Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
HE IS A REWARDER OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.
2.Acts 18:24Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. (25) This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
MIGHTY IN THE SCRIPTURES + FERVENT IN THE SPIRIT → TAUGHT DILIGENTLY THE THINGS OF THE LORD.
4. BE DILIGENT, THAT YE MAY BE FOUND OF HIM IN PEACE
1.2 Peter 3:14Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
BE DILIGENT → FOUND OF HIM IN PEACE, WITHOUT SPOT, AND BLAMELESS.
(My personal thoughts — seeing that you look for such things: look for what things? The verse just before this one shows what they are.)
2.2 Peter 3:10Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
LOOKING FOR + HASTING UNTO THE COMING OF THE DAY OF GOD → WHAT MANNER OF PERSONS OUGHT YE TO BE.
3.Hebrews 6:11Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: (12) That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
SHEW THE SAME DILIGENCE UNTO THE END → NOT SLOTHFUL, BUT FOLLOWERS OF THEM WHO INHERIT THE PROMISES.
4.Hebrews 12:15Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
LOOKING DILIGENTLY → LEST ANY MAN FAIL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.
5.2 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:
GIVE DILIGENCE TO MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE → YE SHALL NEVER FALL.
(My personal thoughts — if you do these things: what things? The things added to your faith. So the study turns now to the first one added: add to your faith virtue.)
5. ADD TO YOUR FAITH VIRTUE
1.2 Peter 1:3Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
HIS DIVINE POWER HATH GIVEN ALL THINGS → HE HATH CALLED US TO GLORY AND VIRTUE.
2.1 Peter 2:9Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
A CHOSEN GENERATION + A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD + AN HOLY NATION + A PECULIAR PEOPLE → SHEW FORTH THE PRAISES OF HIM.
(My personal thoughts — praises here is arete (G703, virtue), the same word as virtue. Those God has called show forth the virtues of him who called them out of darkness into his marvelous light.)
3.Philippians 4:8Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
IF THERE BE ANY VIRTUE → THINK ON THESE THINGS.
4.Philippians 4:6Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING → THE PEACE OF GOD SHALL KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS.
6. BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND
1.Romans 12:1Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD → TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND → PROVE THE GOOD, AND ACCEPTABLE, AND PERFECT, WILL OF GOD.
(My personal thoughts — the body is given, but the man is transformed by the renewing of the MIND. Here diligence turns inward: not the labor of the hands only, but the thoughts of the diligent.)
2.2 Corinthians 10:3Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS → BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST.
3.1 Corinthians 2:16Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST.
4.Philippians 2:5Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS → HE HUMBLED HIMSELF + BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH.
(My personal thoughts — Corinthians says we HAVE the mind of Christ; Philippians says LET this mind BE in you. What we have, we must let live in us.)
5.Romans 8:6Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
CARNALLY MINDED = DEATH; SPIRITUALLY MINDED = LIFE AND PEACE.
6.Isaiah 26:3Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
MIND STAYED ON THEE → THOU WILT KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE.
7.Ephesians 4:23Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND → PUT ON THE NEW MAN.
8.2 Timothy 1:7Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
NOT THE SPIRIT OF FEAR → POWER + LOVE + A SOUND MIND.
I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME.
10.1 Peter 1:13Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
GIRD UP THE LOINS OF YOUR MIND → HOPE TO THE END.
11.Philippians 4:8Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE TRUE + HONEST + JUST + PURE + LOVELY + OF GOOD REPORT → THINK ON THESE THINGS.
(My personal thoughts — the study comes back to where it began: giving all diligence. Diligence is not the labor of the hands only. It works inward, until the mind is renewed, brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and stayed on him in perfect peace.)
CLOSING
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:
IF YE DO THESE THINGS, YE SHALL NEVER FALL.
2 Peter 1:11Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For so an entrance shall be ministered 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. It begins with giving all diligence and ends with an entrance ministered to you abundantly. Between the two: diligence is set against the slothful. It is seen in seeking God and in looking for his day. Then it turns inward — adding virtue to faith, renewing the mind, bringing every thought captive to Christ — until the man is stayed on God in perfect peace, and shall never fall.)
GREEK KEYWORDS
These are the keywords for this study. Tap any dotted word in the verses above to see its meaning here.
“diligence” — G4710 spoude — haste, earnest care, diligence
the anchor word — giving all diligence (2 Peter 1:5); give diligence to make your calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10)
“slothful” — G3576 nothros — slow, dull
what the diligent must never be — be not slothful, but followers of them who inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12)
by much slothfulness the building decays (Ecclesiastes 10:18)
“diligently seeketh” — H7836 shachar — to seek early, to seek diligently
he that diligently seeks good procures favour (Proverbs 11:27)
“mind” — H3336 yetser — imagination, frame
whose mind is stayed on you (Isaiah 26:3)
“stayed” — H5564 samak — to stay, to lean, to uphold
you will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you (Isaiah 26:3)
PRACTICE QUIZ
1. 2 Peter 1:5 — Giving all diligence, add to your faith:
a) knowledge
b) virtue
c) patience
2. Proverbs 12:24 — The hand of the diligent shall:
a) bear rule
b) be under tribute
c) be made fat
3. Hebrews 11:6 — He is a rewarder of them that:
a) believe that he is
b) come to God
c) diligently seek him
4. 2 Peter 3:14 — Be diligent that ye may be found of him:
a) in peace, without spot, and blameless
b) in all holy conversation and godliness
c) with a great noise
5. Romans 12:2 — Be ye transformed by:
a) the mercies of God
b) your reasonable service
c) the renewing of your mind
6. Romans 8:6 — To be carnally minded is:
a) life and peace
b) death
c) perfect peace
7. Isaiah 26:3 — Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is:
a) stayed on thee
b) hasty
c) girded up
ANSWER KEY: 1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-a, 5-c, 6-b, 7-a
HOW THIS STUDY BRANCHES
→ How the study adds more: to virtue is added knowledge, and to knowledge, temperance (2 Peter 1:5-7). This is the next step in the chain, the whole ladder given with diligence.
→ How this reaches the end: the diligent follow them who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12). Diligence goes with faith and patience, even to the end.
→ How the words matter: charuts (H2742, diligent) is the word for diligent. It is also the word for fine gold and for the valley of decision — the diligent man is a decided man, and his substance is precious.
→ How this applies to you: the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2) is the inward work of diligence. Bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), and be kept in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).
→ What this means for eternity: give diligence, and you shall never fall. An entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom (2 Peter 1:10-11).
