rightly dividing ?

[jefft]

2Timothy 2:15 says "rightly dividing the word of truth". Could I get an explanation of this? I feel it is telling me to use discernment whereas someone is telling me that is refers to that the bible is not written for all to apply to their life. Just looking for some feedback.

[ApologiaPhoenix]

I have seen your question. I will get to it as soon as I can. Might not be til tomorrow evening.

[ApologiaPhoenix]

I think your interpretation is right on. The idea of deciding which part belongs to which dispensation seems to be a more modern movement of mid-Acts dispensationalists and others and it doesn't seem like what the biblical writers had in mind. When they were writing, there wasn't a canon after all of NT literature.

I think it simply means what you say it means. You are to interpret the passage in its context, genre, etc. and come to a proper understanding.

Hope this helps!

[jefft]

Thanks for the input. I do not believe the bible should be used to support any doctorine or belief unless it can be supported by more than one verse, that is not taken out of its context.

[barley]

Thanks for the input. I do not believe the bible should be used to support any doctorine or belief unless it can be supported by more than one verse, that is not taken out of its context.

We need to let the Word of God speak for itself, it is itself its own best teacher. There are so many truths that explain itself right in the verse. For instance, Genesis 1:1. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to understand that. Likewise, John 3:16. But maybe the first thing that I should have brought forth is that God wants you to know His will. He will nourish those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. Matthew 6:33, Ephesians 1:18, I Timothy 2:4, John 5:39, John 8:31,32. Rightly dividing means a right cutting. Since we cannot teach the whole Bible, what we teach when we teach it, in the time frame we do have, we must choose what to teach.. That which we teach must be cut rightly. If a serve turkey, you request a thigh, (you are not getting the whole turkey), I must know what the thigh is, where it is, and how to cut it from the rest of the turkey. That is one aspect of rightly dividing. Take a Biblical example. You ask, "What is it to believe? " I must know enough scripture to let the scripture define what believing is, not allow my own interpretation of scripture to cloud my learning. II Peter 1:20. If there is yet confusion or uncertainty in my mind, then I am not ready to teach that yet. Furthermore, it is vital that the teacher not only know clearly what the scripture teaches, but must be a doer of the word, James 1:22. Of course, this varies with the subject, for instance, I cannot literally experience now the garden of Eden, however, I can from the scripture know enough about it to make sense of what is said, learn what lessons I can learn from it, utilize those lessons, thus be able to teach not only from book knowledge but from practical application. This will give you a few things to think about, there is plenty, plenty plenty more. Enjoy, don't forget to go to God about this. He will hear you. Be patient, the laborers are few.