Rightly Dividing The Bible

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hat is the greatest need of the human race? There may be various answers given to this question, but there is one answer that is the foundation for all others—to rightly divide the word of God and then obey it. When this is done, one will live his or her life following the will of God. There are those who seek to study and understand the Bible, but they fail because they do not rightly divide it.

Paul wrote: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). What are the results of diligently studying and rightly dividing the word of truth? Paul answers that this is the way to “present yourself approved to God!”

Let us begin looking at some examples where many fail to rightly divide the word of truth:

(1) By failing to divide the two covenants.

The Bible contains two covenants or two wills that God has made in the past. The first one is found in the Old Testament and was made with Israel, God’s chosen people. But many overlook the fact that God designed this first covenant to be temporary, and to be in effect ONLY until His Son, the Savior came. In fact, God directed His prophet Jeremiah to foretell the time that the old covenant would give way for a new one. At that time, God would make a new will or covenant. Here are the exact words of Jeremiah: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah--” (Jer. 31:31).

Well, that day came when Jesus appeared! And throughout His ministry He was busy fulfilling the old covenant so the new one could come into effect at His death (Mt. 5:18). Thus, when Jesus died, the old covenant was taken away and the new one came into effect. Paul taught this, “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Col. 2:14).

It is impossible to live under two wills or two covenants at the same time, and those who try to do so, do NOT rightly divide the word of God. In fact, trying to live under two covenants has brought many false teachings to the religious world. For example, those who teach salvation without baptism refer to one of the thieves who died with Jesus shortly before the old covenant ended. “And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise’” (Lk. 23:43). Since Jesus did not command baptism on this occasion, they teach salvation without baptism.

However, they do not take into consideration the fact that the thief died just before the old covenant was fulfilled when Jesus died on the cross. For after the new covenant came into effect, sinners were commanded to be baptized to be saved (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Pet. 3:21).

Another example involves worship. Some try to justify using a mechanical instrument in worship by saying that David played a harp. They go to the old covenant to make this argument. However, we must consider the teaching of the new covenant to rightly divide the word of God. The new covenant authorizes singing from the heart (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16), and never mentions a mechanical instrument.

Two weeks ago we began looking at the importance of rightly dividing the Bible. From 2 Timothy 2:15, we found that this is the way to be approved of God. We considered the problem of failing to divide the two covenants. In this article, may we consider mistake that many make.

(2) By failing to consider the context

Every text has a context and one cannot rightly divide God’s word of truth without considering this. Therefore, in each Scripture, we need to: (1) know who said it, (2) to whom was he speaking, (3) under what covenant does it apply, and (4) how it applies to Christians and the church today.

For example, God commanded His people Israel to offer animal sacrifices, but since we are under the law of Christ instead of the Law of Moses, we are NOT required to offer them. We have Jesus as our sacrificial Lamb. “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

God’s people under the first covenant were commanded to keep Saturday, the seventh day, as the Sabbath. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8). Some today apply this commandment to their religion today. But to do so is a failure to rightly divide the word of truth. This commandment was given under the old covenant, to the Jews only.

Today we are under the new covenant and the Jewish Sabbath is not enforced. Christians under the new covenant assembled and worshiped on Sunday, the first day of the week. Luke records. “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, ...” (Acts 20:7). Paul commanded, “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come” (1 Cor. 16:2). Sunday, the first day of the week, was the day of the resurrection (Mk. 16:9), and the day that the church of the Lord began (Acts 2:1). Thus, worshiping on the first day of the week is God’s will!

Another example of the importance of keeping a text within its context is found in Paul’s instruction to the church at Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul discussed their abuse of the Lord’s Supper: “Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you” (1 Cor. 11:20-22).

Some take these verses out of their context and teach that it is wrong for Christians to meet and have a fellowship meal together. However, the context of these verses is what they were doing wrong in an assembly of worship when they ate the Lord’s Supper! Their eating and drinking for food was to be done outside the worship service. For example, some churches of that day met in houses for worship (Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:19; Philemon 1:2). During the worship service, they were NOT to eat and drink the Lord’s Supper for food. However, after the worship, Paul would not condemn their eating and drinking together as long as they avoided the sin of gluttony and drunkenness.

Therefore, the context is vitally important to help us rightly divide the Bible. God wants us to study and give all diligence to understand and rightly divide His word (2 Tim. 2:15). —BBBristow