2 Timothy 2:15 English Standard Version (ESV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,^{[after being tested]} a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Footnotes help us understand better the meaning behind some passages where there could be ambiguity. This testing however is not the same as being tested in school. It is being tested in how you manage truth by living out this Christian life.

Rightly handling has been expressed in other bible versions as rightly dividing, skillfully teaching, interpret, use the Word, and even cutting straight. Rightly dividing and cutting straight are two of the more colorful terms used in translation. It has been noted in the past by some as pointing to the daily sacrifices and how those sacrifices were prepared by the priest who were instructed to cut straight from the head down to the legs. Some would like to think this is exposing our daily sacrifices to see in truth what is inside. Some see direction, from the head, understanding, to the heart, exposing our intentions, all the way down to how we walk.

Here is what Matthew Henry said in his commentary on the subject: “The way of error is down-hill; one absurdity being granted or contended for, a thousand follow: Their word will eat as doth a canker, or gangrene; when errors or heresies come into the church, the infecting of one often proves the infecting of many, or the infecting of the same person with one error often proves the infecting of him with many errors.”

His descriptor for direction is down-hill, a leading away from the high places of worship. It is a slippery slope that makes it difficult if not impossible to attain to a true knowledge of our God, His promises and His plans for each of us.

Our testing demonstrates progress in living out His Word or are we just spinning our wheels.

1 Timothy 4:15 English Standard Version (ESV) Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,^{[be in them]} so that all may see your progress.