Bible Study Dividing the Word of Truth

[ezrider]

Most Christians I believe recognize the Bible as the word of God, and the word of His truth, and some take it nearly to the point of idolatry. But we are not to take the Bible in and of itself as a whole, for the scripture itself tells us that we are to study to show ourselves approved, right dividing the Word of Truth.

2 Timothy 2:14-15 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

How do you go about rightly, or correctly dividing the word of truth as you study the Bible?

 

[dianegcook]

1st ask for guidance
The W's
Whom
What
Where
Why

 

[ezrider]

1st ask for guidance
The W's
Whom
What
Where
Why

Who is the the whom?
What is the what?
A Why would you divide them?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Rightly dividing the scriptures--as opposed to wrongly dividing the scriptures--means you lift passages of scripture out for study, discussion, and application in a correct way that does not violate it's true meaning and intent in light of all scripture. Not rightly dividing the scriptures may be the defining characteristic of the cults.

You ask, "How do you go about rightly, or correctly dividing the word of truth as you study the Bible?"

Know what the whole counsel of scripture says about a subject to properly discern the truth about the passage being dividing out of scripture for examination and application. As they say; the Bible is it's best interpreter.

 

[Gary]

Rightly dividing the scriptures--as opposed to wrongly dividing the scriptures--means you lift passages of scripture out for study, discussion, and application in a correct way that does not violate it's true meaning and intent in light of all scripture. Not rightly dividing the scriptures may be the defining characteristic of the cults.

You ask, "How do you go about rightly, or correctly dividing the word of truth as you study the Bible?"

Know what the whole counsel of scripture says about a subject to properly discern the truth about the passage being dividing out of scripture for examination and application. As they say; the Bible is it's best interpreter.

Nailed it.

Good post.

 

[ezrider]

Know what the whole counsel of scripture says about a subject to properly discern the truth about the passage being dividing out of scripture for examination and application.

So expound on this counsel of the scripture. How does the counsel of the scripture inform you on how to rightly divide itself, being the word of truth?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

So expound on this counsel of the scripture. How does the counsel of the scripture inform you on how to rightly divide itself, being the word of truth?

Here's an example within scripture of using the whole counsel of scripture to discern the truth of other scripture. In it we see an example of Peter rightly dividing scripture (the return of Christ and the inevitable destruction of the earth by fire) as I have defined that above, by using other scripture.

3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
4 They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."
5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's wordthe heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.
6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.

By rightly dividing the Word of God (taking all the scriptures into consideration) Peter explains that, no, everything doesn't go on as it has since the beginning of creation. Rightly dividing the word in this case defeats any possibility of interpreting scripture regarding the return of Christ and the destruction of the earth by fire as untrue, exaggerated, or figurative with an argument that 'everything goes on as it always has since creation'.

 

[reba]

Copy and paste from Strong's for "rightly dividing"

G3718
ὀρθοτομέω
orthotomeō
or-thot-om-eh'-o
From a compound of G3717 and the base of G5114; to make a straight cut, that is, (figuratively) to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message): - rightly divide.

G3717
ὀρθός
orthos
or-thos'
Probably from the base of G3735; right (as rising), that is, (perpendicularly) erect (figuratively honest), or (horizontally) level or direct: - straight, upright.

G3735
ὄρος
oros
or'-os
Probably a from an obsolete word ὄρω orō (to rise or “rear”; perhaps akin to G142; compare G3733); a mountain (as lifting itself above the plain): - hill, mount (-ain).

G142
αἴρω
airō
ah'ee-ro
A primary verb; to lift; by implication to take up or away; figuratively to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind); specifically to sail away (that is, weigh anchor); by Hebraism (compare [H5375]) to expiate sin: - away with, bear (up), carry, lift up, loose, make to doubt, put away, remove, take (away, up).

G3733
ὄρνις
ornis
or'-nis
Probably from a prolonged form of the base of G3735; a bird (as rising in the air), that is, (specifically) a hen (or female domestic fowl): - hen.
H5375
נסה נשׂא
nâśâ' nâsâh
naw-saw', naw-saw'
A primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, absolutely and relatively: - accept, advance, arise, (able to, [armour], suffer to) bear (-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honourable (+ man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, X needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, + swear, take (away, up), X utterly, wear, yield.

 

[ezrider]

Here's an example within scripture of using the whole counsel of scripture to discern the truth of other scripture. In it we see an example of Peter rightly dividing scripture (the return of Christ and the inevitable destruction of the earth by fire) as I have defined that above, by using other scripture.

3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
4 They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."
5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's wordthe heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.
6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.

By rightly dividing the Word of God (taking all the scriptures into consideration) Peter explains that, no, everything doesn't go on as it has since the beginning of creation. Rightly dividing the word in this case defeats any possibility of interpreting scripture regarding the return of Christ and the destruction of the earth by fire as untrue, exaggerated, or figurative with an argument that 'everything goes on as it always has since creation'.

I am not going to dispute what you have said. But it appears to me that what you have done by the expression of your example is to equate rightly dividing the word as the act of examining a specific scripture in light of the scripture as a whole. There is nothing wrong with that and we should always examine the scripture in light of the rest of the scripture. But I do not see in your example where you have separated something from another, like a scripture may apply to one group of people, but not another. How do you use the word as a whole to divide between these two groups? Goats to the left, sheep to the right.

 

[dianegcook]

Who is the the whom?
What is the what?
A Why would you divide them?

,

Example: Matt.24:
Whom, speaking to disciples
Where, buildings of the temple
What, when shall these things be, what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world.

 

[ezrider]

,

Example: Matt.24:
Whom, speaking to disciples
Where, buildings of the temple
What, when shall these things be, what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world.

When Jesus spoke the words in this particular chapter, was he speaking to those under the old covenant or those under the new covenant? Or Both?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

...I do not see in your example where you have separated something from another, like a scripture may apply to one group of people, but not another. How do you use the word as a whole to divide between these two groups? Goats to the left, sheep to the right.

I do it by knowing everything the Bible says about whatever subject is being addressed in regard to those people groups. Of course, I can't do that in my own power. The Holy Spirit makes it possible to do that. Which I think is why the cults fail in rightly dividing the Word of God. They simply do not have the aid of the Spirit to bring the whole counsel of scripture to bear on their discernment of truth. They always seem to leave an important scripture out of their doctrine that makes the way they have interpreted a particular passage of scripture false.

 

[dianegcook]

When Jesus spoke the words in this particular chapter, was he speaking to those under the old covenant or those under the new covenant? Or Both?

The end is the end, does it matter? Lol

 

[ezrider]

The end is the end, does it matter? Lol

Actually, yes it does,

 

[dianegcook]

Yes, when one reads, it is very helpful to have more witnesses, other scripts, that talks of the same thing.

 

[dianegcook]

Actually, yes it does,

Does it?
Some are still living the old,
Some are living the new.
The only difference is Jesus fulfilled the ordinances of the old, and through Him we have Life, no need of circumcision, animal sacrifices and such.
Regardless the end of the world will come upon all.

 

[ezrider]

Does it?
Some are still living the old,
Some are living the new.
The only difference is Jesus fulfilled the ordinances of the old, and through Him we have Life, no need of circumcision, animal sacrifices and such.
Regardless the end of the world will come upon all.

Yes, some are living according to the old, never realizing that the old has had its end, still clinging on to that which is dead. We must be able to divide between that which is old and ready to pass away and that which is new and full of life. As the scripture says, you do not put put new wine into old wineskin; nor could I imagine wanting to pour old wine into a new wineskin, rather than just pouring it into the ground.

If we are unable to rightly divide the word of truth, then you will find people who try to tie new covenant promises to old covenant servitude, while other try and insert the wrath and judgement found under the old covenant of the law into the new covenant of Grace. And in doing so they create much confusion, speaking words to no profit and without understanding.

2 Timothy 2:14-15 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

[Gary]

There's really only 2 things a Christian needs to know concerning the Law.

Romans 13
10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Romans 2
13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;

.

 

[Brother Mike]

Most Christians I believe recognize the Bible as the word of God, and the word of His truth, and some take it nearly to the point of idolatry. But we are not to take the Bible in and of itself as a whole, for the scripture itself tells us that we are to study to show ourselves approved, right dividing the Word of Truth.

2 Timothy 2:14-15 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

How do you go about rightly, or correctly dividing the word of truth as you study the Bible?

Jesus told you in One scripture. It's a heart condition, not a study issue.

 

[ezrider]

Jesus told you in One scripture. It's a heart condition, not a study issue.

You are most definitely correct in that sentiment, it is a condition of the heart. What is the condition of our heart when we study. Do we stand with pride and self-righteousness in our hearts that cause us to hear the word of God as if we are the one's delivering the condemnation, or has our hearts been prepared that we might be able to receive the word of God as the one receiving the condemnation?