Sunday, August 26, 2018 am
RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE
WORD OF TRUTH
2 Timothy 2:15
The
Bible is a book God has given us to guide us in this life as we prepare
for the next.
a.
Be diligent (study)
– the word in most translations.
IT means to be eager and to do something with intense effort.
We know what it means to be diligent.
In old English, the word “study” means this.: (archaic) Make an effort
to achieve (a result) or to take into account. (google dictionary,
study)
In our modern English the word study means to devote time and effort to
learning. You cannot
disassociate study from diligent effort.
Hence, in our text, because Paul is addressing how to properly
handle God’s word – the word “study” certainly applies here (though the
word means “be diligent”).
Everything we do as Christians is to be with diligence – Hebrews 4:11 –
be diligent to enter that rest; 2 Peter 1:10 – be even more diligent to
make your call and election sure;
2 Peter 3:14 – be diligent to be found by Him in peace.
b.
To present yourself
approved unto God
– in whatever we do, it ought to be with the desire to be pleasing to
Him – 2 Corinthians 5:9 – we make it our aim; 2 Corinthians 10:18 – it
is not about who commends himself, but whom the Lord commends; James
1:12 – blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been
approved, he will receive the crown of life…
c.
As a worker who is not ashamed – this describes us as workers (meaning we are busy and doing
our job). We are not ashamed
– because we have failed to properly discern His word, and ultimately
because we are prepared to stand before Him as His appearing – 1 John
2:28.
d.
Rightly dividing the
word of truth,
The phrase “rightly dividing” means to cut straight path.
A word associated with roads which were important in the Roman Empire as
they developed a highway system.
Perhaps you have heard the expression, “All roads lead to Rome”.
As I understand, the road system in the Empire was designed to
facilitate the quickest route for armies to head toward Rome. A straight
path is always best.
With the TRUTH of God’s word, we need to “cut a straight path”.
The NASB uses the expression, “Handling accurately” which
portrays the idea.
So
what are some ways that we can rightly divide the word of truth?
a.
We need to have a basic understanding of the Bible
– this includes its
divisions.
Some have asserted that our text is talking about making a distinction
between the Old Testament and New Testament.
That is not Paul’s point, BUT that is certainly an example.
How many today teach error because they fail to make this
distinction?
Furthermore, we must understand that there are three different
dispensations of time in the Bible (Patriarch, Mosaic and Christian).
We should know the boundaries.
Even more specific, there are 17 periods of Bible history.
To learn these, helps put passages in context.
But this is only ONE way we rightly divide the word of truth.
b.
Keep the text in its proper context.
When we think of this, we must seek to understand what was
intended when the message was written. Who
wrote it, to whom was it written, when & why?
What about the surrounding verses?
How does it fit in?
To cut straight – one
of the duties of a priest was to offer sacrifices.
We don’t think much about this, but it was a detailed process.
And different sacrifices had to be treated different ways.
Depending on the sacrifice – the blood was expected to be dealt with a
certain way, the meat, the hind parts, the entrails all had specific
instructions. (Leviticus
1-5, Exodus 29, etc.). Would
a priest just “hack and sling” the knife, or would he “cut straight” to
ensure the animal was properly sacrificed?
We must be careful to not take a text out of its context.
We must “cut straight” with God’s word.
As we use God’s word, we need to make sure we are keeping it in
proper context and defining and using words properly, etc.
Examples: James 1:27- in context is dealing with individuals and not
collective action. You see
that in the context.
Baptism is a word that clearly
means to be immersed (Romans 6:3-4, Acts 8:38-39, etc.).
Sometimes, context involves an understanding of what other passages
teach on the subject.
Because we approach the word of God with the understanding that it does
not contradict itself, we may need to reconcile passages of scripture or
themes. Many themes
(including salvation) appeal to multiple passages.
There is NO one passage that tells us everything we need to do to
be saved. We must put it all
together and rightly divide the word of truth.
Example: Ephesians 2:8-9 – we need to define what grace and faith are
and what they involve.
Without context all we have is a statement, which can easily be twisted
to justify one’s personal desires or beliefs.
When we twist the truth, we are promoting error which will lead
one down the WRONG path.
c.
Be balanced in our
studies and teaching.
We need to consider our audience.
There needs to be an understanding of the audience.
Some people require milk, while others require meat.
Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 even noted this.
But consider also Hebrews 5:12-6:1 which notes the need for
meat.
Some are to be taught in gentleness, while others require a stronger
approach (Jude 22-23).
2 Timothy 4:2-3 – there is a time for reproof (conviction), a time for
rebuke and a time for exhortation.
And sometimes, all 3 are needed.
Acts 2 vs. Acts 17 -
As Christians, and especially preachers and teachers, we are described
as servants and stewards. (1
Corinthians 4:1-2, 1 Peter 4:10, 2 Timothy 2:24- a servant of the Lord…)
A steward was a trusted servant who would take care of the resources of
his master. That would
involve distributing what was needed to whom it was needed.
As handlers of God’s word, we are stewards and we need to distribute it
properly as needed.
d.
Teach it all.
There are some who will teach the truth, but they do not teach
the WHOLE truth. They avoid certain parts of God’s word – typically
those parts that are most needed, controversial or hard to accept.
There are some who deal with certain subjects to the neglect of
others. They are
obsessed with a subject and everything they say is with that in mind.
Often it is an agenda one intends to advance.
In this, again, other areas are neglected.
Also, we cannot let it be opinion or man-made doctrines, but deal
with what it says – 1 Corinthians 2:1-2.
Rightly dividing God’s
word also means that we need to teach it all.
We must be careful to ensure that we don’t pick and choose what
parts we like and don’t like.
One who is cutting a straight path keeps cutting until he completes his
task. A farmer, plows a
straight row to the end of a field, a road-cutter needs to go somewhere
(he doesn’t stop in the middle of nowhere).
We need to declare the “whole counsel of God” (cf. Acts 20:27), even the
unpleasant parts.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that ALL inspired scripture is profitable.
Don’t avoid some of it.
There is something to be said about planned and systematic preaching.
Our themes that have been presented the past few years, were
ordered and developed (both the various themes and each theme – God,
Jesus, basics, going on to perfection, the church).
Within each year, there was
often a direction. It’s like
a building where you lay the foundation and build on it (1 Corinthians
3:5-11).
We have studied through books from beginning to end without leaving out
the difficult sections.
e.
Involves purpose. When we study
God’s word we need to approach it with a proper attitude.
We need to believe we can understand it and we want to get out of it
what it actually says, even if that means we need to change.
We also need to approach Bible study intending to accept it and
obey it. When Cornelius met
Peter, he told him, Now therefore,
we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by
God.” (Acts 10:33)
Yet, how many approach the word of God with improper motives?
- To justify themselves – some study looking to find
justification for behavior they intend to keep doing, even though it has
been scripturally challenged.
Some of the Pharisees Jesus rebuked did this – Luke 16:13 – He
said, “You are those who justify
yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts.”
- With prejudice – similar to the above, some have made up their
mind about what they want to believe and nothing is going to change
that. When Bible study
contradicts their beliefs, they criticize it, reject it or twist it to
make their behavior acceptable (to themselves).
Jesus talked about being blind to the truth as He spoke about why
He taught in parables – Matthew 13:14-15
I think of the homosexual agenda, advocates of women preachers and
elders, etc. They have made
up their mind that such is acceptable, and will find away around clear
passages that condemn their behaviors.
- MANY other improper motives could be added to these – Tradition
– “this is the way I was taught this passage and I cannot be wrong;
Worldly wisdom – to let the wisdom of men guide your interpretation
(e.g. the “day-age theory”); Personal opinions – “I know what it
says, but I think…”
And
thus we have some things associated with rightly dividing the word of
truth. If we want to rightly
divide the word of truth, we will seek a general understanding of its
composition. Then when we
study and teach, we will strive to keep it in context, be balanced in
our teaching and teach all of it.
So how are you doing with your studies?
As you seek to better understanding His word, is it in a manner
that He is pleased? Think
about it!