“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
“Rightly dividing” means to cut straight or right. It means to properly identify and set forth every part. It has to do with the proper appropriation of all scripture, without undue emphasis on some part, while neglecting or depreciating other parts.
“Rightly dividing” is not about the elimination of any scripture, but is about the understanding of it all. It is not about dividing up something of different or diverse teachings; but “rightly dividing the word of truth”: the = singular. Thus, it is about studying “all scripture” to see how it all comes together as one truth = “One Lord, one faith,” etc.
“Rightly dividing” is studying unto the discovery of the harmony, the infinite, unchangeable, infallible, eternal dimensions of “all scripture.” It is seeing how it all has the same principles and demonstrates the same things. It is discerning how the Old Testament was the foreshadowing of the New Testament, and how the N.T. is the fulfilling of the O.T. and in no way the destruction of it. It is about seeing the eternal dimensions of God’s Word, that it’s principles have not, nor will not ever pass away. It is about knowing that the truth of yesterday is still the truth of today, and the eternal standard of judgment for all.
“Rightly dividing” is about accepting God’s laws on the inspired Bible: that “all scripture is given by inspiration and is profitable (proper) for doctrine” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and that “no scripture is of any private interpretation.” 2 Peter 1:19-21
Man’s position towards the inspired scriptures is that people cannot properly understand the Bible without first subjecting it to man’s own rules of interpretation. Man’s rules of interpretation are not about “rightly dividing” the scripture, but always about elimination of obligation to accept “all scripture.”
When “all scripture” is studied unto “rightly dividing the word of truth,” you have a complete set of checks and balances to prove all things, unto understanding what the will of the Lord is. When or where all scripture is studied to rightly divide the word of truth, you will not find doctrinal error on salvation, baptism, the New Testament Church, separation, etc. But where “all scripture” is not studied to rightly divide the word of truth, you can have and do have a departure from every doctrine of the scriptures, beginning with the plan of salvation. For example, those who teach salvation through baptism, have first eliminated the baptism of John as being New Testament baptism. When man eliminates scriptures, he can justify anything– even women preachers and homosexuals. Think about it.
SHARING
