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What the Bible says about Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
(From Forerunner Commentary)

John 7:27

These people must have had a penchant for magic; they thought the Messiah would simply appear out of nowhere!

Their silly idea probably sprung from misinterpreting Malachi 3:1: "And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple. . . ." To them, "suddenly" implied that no one would know from where Christ came. Matthew 13:54-57 shows that many Galileans knew that He was the carpenter's son. They were familiar with His mother and family. Word got down from Galilee to the people of Jerusalem, and they, too, knew all about Him. How, they asked, could He be the Messiah?

We understand that Malachi 3:1 means that Christ will suddenly come to His temple, the church. But these citizens of Jerusalem, not "rightly dividing" the Scripture, did not realize that Christ would have two witnesses, two ministries. He would first come in "the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:7). The second time He would come "on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30) suddenly, quickly, when we do not expect Him, as many scriptures mention (Mark 13:32-37; I Thessalonians 5:2-3). Even then, those of God's people who are awake will know from where He comes.

Because Jesus did not just pop out of nowhere, these "magicians" refused to recognize Him as their Messiah.

Charles Whitaker
Recognizing the Second Witness

2 Timothy 2:15

He begins to describe two different kinds of workmen in their relationships to the gospel. Although the instruction specifically applies to a minister, in principle it applies to everyone as sons of God, having His Spirit. Whether minister or laymember, all work toward the Kingdom of God.

The phrase "rightly dividing the word of truth" is not inaccurate, but somewhat misleading. The word picture is of a work party cutting a road through an area that has no roads. A geometric law, "the shortest distance between two points is a straight line," gives a similar thought. Paul instructs Timothy, "Cut a straight line with your teaching. Avoid convoluted twists and turns that people cannot understand. Go right to the heart of a matter." Today, we would say, "Make it plain and true."

He illustrates this by saying, "But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some" (verses 16-18).

John W. Ritenbaugh
Guard the Truth!

2 Timothy 3:1-7

So, as Paul is preparing to die, he warns his protégé to take heed of certain seducers, not only that he might not be drawn away by them himself, but arm those who were under his charge against their seduction.

Matthew Henry comments on verse 6: “They crept into houses to insinuate themselves into the affections and good opinion of the people to draw them over to their way of thinking.” The apostle finishes in verse 7 by describing these seducers as seeming to learn new things all the time but actually never coming to a right understanding of the truth. He warns Timothy—and us—to turn away from such people!

It is our job as God's elect to pay attention at all times to what we are learning, and we should pray for God to help us build discernment to divide the Word of Truth properly (II Timothy 2:15). We need to be able to separate God's truth from what is false.

Ronny H. Graham
The Gift of Discernment and Godly Love


 




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