Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved! A worker who does not need to be ashamed! Who correctly handles the word of truth![2 Tim 2:15]
Certain guidance on how to read the Bible will ensure the words are rightly divided for your intake! In times you feel that the scriptures seemed to contradict with another scripture. But the reality is that none of the words in the Bible is contradicting with other scriptures, even though it seems so!
Before I came to know this precious principle , I used to get confused and in times feel like, “It’s all depends on Gods mood, what does He wants to say – which is directly correlated to our position or emotion of that particular time ” . I used to be choosy in reading the portion, and used to read the chapters which were good to hear! We all know that the Bible – or the Word of God is so powerful than that of a double edged sword [powerful than laser rays!]. As we know the sword is good if you know how to use it and when to use it. But its very dangerous if it’s handled improperly! So its very much mandatory to know how to handle the Word of God in all its true meaning. Thus Paul instructs his young disciple Timothy about this requirement of handling the word of God in its true meaning with respect to your study and practical application. God loves me so much so, that He pour light into my areas of concerns regarding this Bible contradictions and dangerous side of its outlook and taught me in big way that how you need to rightly divide the Word of God and the way it’s supposed to be read. It makes my Bible reading quite enjoyable! Some of those nuggets I am sharing with you all.
- Know! God is talking to whom??
- Learn to divide the word of God Rightly?
- Know – the purpose of its writing!
- Use the Bible to Interpret the Bible!
- Use the “Law Of First Mention”!
A.Know! God is talking to whom??
The first and the foremost reality considering the Bible is that, it’s been addressed to all categories of people in the planet earth! When God looks at the human race, He sees three category of people and the Bible is speaking to all 3 segments of people, giving none offence!
“Give none offense, neither to the Jews ,nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God “[1 Cor 10: 32)
Bible is a book manual about the human race and for the human race from the Almighty God written by Holy Spirit. Everything pertaining to the humans is mentioned in the Bible. A book from the original design manufacturer – Who is God – to His most precious creation – Mankind! So the single book contains information for ALL categories of people under sun! But the Bible categories the entire mankind into in 3 buckets – Gentiles, Jews and Church of Jesus Christ.
God’s dealing towards all these 3 segment of peoples are different and unique in its message and instructions! So its very much important for us to identify ourselves to see in which category we belongs to in connection with Jesus Christ! Why did I say in connection with Jesus Christ is because – He is the center of all of Gods dealing. All the creations are held together in Him.
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.[Colossians 117].
In Connection With Jesus Christ!! | |
Gentiles | Those who are yet to receive Jesus Christ as their personnel savior! Yet to hear and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ! |
Jews | Still under Mosaic law – Yet to receive Jesus Christ as their savior as Promised Messiah- Yet to believe in Gods New Covenant! |
Church[Believers] | The bride of Jesus Christ who has received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and is born again with Spirit of Christ in them. |
So the takeaway is that always distinguish the Word of God in right perspective that to whom God is talking from the given passage! Position yourself rightly before you take it inside!
B –Did you divide the Truth Rightly?
- Read the Bible in its context & Read through the lens of Cross!
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” [ 2 timothy 2:15]
I believe Paul used this phrase” rightly divide” from his job experience. Paul being a tent maker, he would have well understood the importance of rightly dividing or cutting the woods in order to place it in the perfect and accurate fitting without any gap and disorder. So he is advising his young disciple Timothy about the right way of dividing the word of God and given it as a scripture for you and me too. It means nothing but reading the Bible in the context of the finished work of cross, or the need of interpreting the scripture on basis of what Jesus has done.
- Read the Bible in its context – Always read the Bible in its context. Unless you divide it rightly in the light of the Finished Work of Jesus Christ, you can never extract the true meaning of the word of God! We need to consider the entire “W” and its implication while reading the “Word”. Also remember that when you take the text out of Context – it will be a CON!
- Read through the Lens of Cross – Another important fact to be considered while reading the word of God is to use the Lens of the finished work of Jesus Christ to know the current status of that particular verse to have its rightly divide for your intake! When you have the lens of cross in your eyes you will be able to understand, that “What does this passage means in the light of the FINISHED WORK of Christ” – especially while reading the Old Testament and trying to derive the substance [Jesus Christ] from the shadows hidden in the passages..
C.Know – the purpose of its writing!
2 Tim 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for Teaching, Rebuking, Correcting and training in Righteousness”
The Holy Spirit has arrayed the Word of God in a perfect sequence and in a divine order with a specific purpose. If you can understand the very purpose of it, the appropriate usage of the same can be done. So in the above verse again Paul is advising His young disciple Timothy that the Word of God is useful for – Teaching, Rebuking and correcting in the Righteousness!
The New Testament | Categorized Arrangement |
1st Category | The Gospel + Acts of the Apostle |
2nd Category | Epistles written to Gentile Christians by Paul [The Apostle of Gentiles] |
3rd Category | Books written by James, peter& John to Jewish Christians |
4th Category | Pastoral letter to Timothy [Personal Letter by Paul] |
Let us consider the 3rd category of the books in the New Testament which Paul wrote to the Gentile Christians and its divine arrangement with respect to the Word of God and its purpose of writing. The below table will show you, how the words were rightly divided in its order, addressing the right category of audience in the context of teaching, rebuking and correcting in righteousness.
| Book-Epistle Written to | Category | Purpose | |
Romans | Doctrine | Teaching of Righteousness | |
1 Corinthians | Reproof | Of Wrong conduct | |
2 Corinthians | Reproof | Of Wrong conduct | |
Galatians | Correction | Of Wrong conduct | |
Ephesians | Doctrine | Walking Uprightly | |
Philippians | Reproof | Of Wrong conduct | |
Colossians | Correction | Of Wrong conduct | |
1 Thessalonians | Doctrine | Of Rapture – teaching | |
2 Thessalonians | Doctrine | Of Rapture – teaching | |
D. Use the Bible itself to interpret the Bible!
We know that Bible is God’s word and His word is true, the Bible will never contradict itself in any angle! Due to the same reason you can use the clear passages from the Bible pertaining to the subject to interpret the difficult passages which is may be in a concern or in confusion some time!
For example, there are clear passages which ensure the eternal security pertaining to our salvation, that once a person is truly saved, he or she cannot lose the salvation![John 5:Rom8]
But when you read Hebrews 6, you may feel a conflict, but when you read it in its context and referring that, to whom which it’s addressed and use the clear passage, you can escape the error in understanding!
Also use the New Testament to help interpret the Old Testament, This will recognize you the progressive nature of revelation, that is the Bible is giving more revelation on topics over time.
E. Use the “Law of First Mention”
There is another principle used in the Bible is “The Law of First Mention” Its like, if you are stuck on a particular word or concept , try to find out when was that word first time used in the Bible and what was the meaning and concept of that word and use the same meaning to interpret the same again!
• Example, the first time the word Healing appeared in the Bible was about Abraham praying for a gentile family [Abimelech] for having child and God heard Abrahams prayer and opened the wombs to have them children. It’s about a person who is righteous in the eyes of God by Faith and Gods faithfulness on hearing the prayer of His righteous and answering the prayer! [Righteousness apart from work-law] .. The New Testament Righteousness is righteousness by faith!
If you are confused on whether God will hear your prayer or not, look How God answered Abraham’s prayer, who was lived before the law was given!
Summary
“It’s the glory of God to conceal the matter “”To search out a matter is the glory of the kings “[Proverbs 25:2]
You are the Kings and Priest of God in Christ Jesus! Always remember – God doesn’t want you to lost in the dark when you study the Scriptures! He already has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us. Always use the ” Finished Work on the Cross” as a thumb rule. Because the Bible can be one of the most dangerous books in the world, if not read through the lenses of the finished work of the cross. There is a death and life difference before the cross & after the cross!! Read the Bible to find Jesus!! THE LIFE! Following the above principles can help you to read the Word from Gods perspective. God Loves you and bless you all! Hei Hei Forever!
