Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

In this short study I’m going to give a couple examples of how to “rightly divide” the Word of God.

Many of these truths are rarely taught in today’s churches. It would seem most churches today only care about teaching salvation and baptism. Now salvation is THE most important thing for a Christian to learn and understand.
But once someone is saved, it is then time to move on from the “milk” and get into the “meat” (i.e. deep truths) contained in the Word. Most Churches talk about getting in and studying the Word but most never quite get around to it. Most pastors will read one or two verses and that is it.

Most pastors, ministers and clergy seem more interested in talking about whatever various topics THEY want to talk about such as their dog, their uncle or some various story. God’s Word is the only thing that will stick with us when times get rough. It is the written word given by God Himself through his prophets and apostles that convey God’s wisdom and emotions to us. The words of man (this man or any other) are far inferior. Nothing can compare to the true Word taught chapter by chapter and verse by verse. Like a friend recently pointed out, nearly ALL churches claim to be “Bible-based” churches, but how many of them are truly “Bible teaching” churches. They are far, few and in-between in this final generation. It is much later in the day than most people think.

With that having been said, let’s begin our study in II Timothy 2:15:

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth”

Here the Greek word for “study” is Strong’s Concordance number 4704. It is spoudazo which means “to use speed, to make effort, to be prompt or earnest”.

**When studying God’s written Word we need to pray for understanding and “make effort” to uncover the truths the Lord has contained in the Word. The Word is pregnant. It grows every time people make an honest effort to study it, especially for those sincere students who continue to pray for knowledge and understanding.**

The Greek word for “dividing” in this verse comes from Strong’s number 3718. It is orthotomeo. It means “to make straight, cut, dissect (expound) correctly”

**So when diligently studying God’s Word we are to make sure we are “dissecting” things correctly to their proper dispensation (period) of time. More on this later.**

Let’s turn to the Gospel of Luke chapter 4 for a notable example of how our
Lord Jesus Christ rightly divided the Scripture.

Jesus had just been tempted in the wilderness by the Devil 40 days early on in this chapter. Satan showed how he craftily twisted the Scriptures. Of course Jesus Christ did not fall for it for one second. Knowing the Scripture and then properly “dividing”and “dissecting” it will prevent us also from falling and worshipping when Satan arrives in the near future claiming to be “God” (II Thessalonians 2). That’s a different topic for a different time but the most vital for this end generation to know and understand.

Let’s pick it up at verse 14:

v. 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee
and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

v. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

v.16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

v.17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias (Isaiah). And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

v.18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

v.19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

v.20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

v.21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

**This is a notable example of how to “rightly divide” the Scriptures. This is a direct quote from Isaiah 61:1-2. However, Jesus cut off the last part of the verse here. Here’s the entire Scriptural quote from Isaiah 61:1, 2:

v.1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

v.2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

**In Luke 4, Jesus closes the book after the words “to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” because it referred to His then mission on earth.
The remaining words “and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn” is a reference to the future time of Christ’s 2nd Advent—the Day of God’s vengeance on all of His enemies. The book of Revelation goes into great detail explaining that coming day of Judgement.
Since the Judgement Day was not coming for that generation the Lord was born into, the Lord shut up the book and declared the message that was given for that dispensation of time. The Lord declares His arrival in verse 21
“This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

This is a very noteworthy example of correctly dividing the Word of truth**

For those learned in the Scriptures of the time, their minds should’ve recalled the two verses in Zechariah 9 where it mentions the Messiah’s 1st Advent and in the next verse mentions His 2nd (future) Advent.

Let’s go to Zechariah 9:9,10—

v.9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

**This very accurately describes Jesus Christ at His 1st Advent. He came as a babe born in Bethlehem to die for the sins of the world. Upon His entry into Jerusalem (described in Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:8-10; Luke 19:36-40; John 12:12-19), He entered into the city riding upon an “ass” (donkey).

The word “lowly” here is the Hebrew word 6041 and means “depressed (in circumstances), gently and humble” (Strong’s 6041 and 6035).
Christ came as a servant, was poor by earthly standards, and humbly followed God’s determined plan of salvation.

The suffering and affliction Christ felt was described in Psalms 22 (Written almost 1000 years ahead of its time)!! Isaiah 53 also goes into great detail prophesying Christ’s sufferings He endured on the Cross of Calvary **. Those who deny and still deny Him are without excuse for their own Scriptures testify against them.

Let’s go back to Zechariah 9 and read verse 10 which describes Christ’s future 2nd Advent:

v. 10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

**This accurately describes the coming 2nd Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. The people of Jesus day were awaiting the kingdom of God to come in their own lifetimes. God had other plans in mind. The “he” in this verse can only describe the Messiah Himself. Jesus Christ is coming back to this earth in the future (the signs of the times are upon us daily). He will have a physical kingdom which shall have no end. True justice and righteousness will reign supreme on the earth. It is hard to imagine that to be possible in this present evil day of bribery, payoffs, lies and crooked judgment.

The time is nearer than most people think. The signs in the earth and in the heavens declare things are getting interesting.

Ephraim was the largest of all the tribes of Israel. His being mentioned here in verse 10 in connection with “chariots, horses and bows” is a reference to war. When the Lord returns and sets up His kingdom, the people will not learn war anymore.
This is a reference to Micah 4:3 and Isaiah 2:4 which reads:

"And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more".

It will be a great time of peace, especially after the Great White Throne judgment occurs. This is described in detail in Revelation chapter 20**

In closing, some good “sister” verses to Zechariah 9:10 are found in Daniel chapter 7:13, 14—

v.13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

v.14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Hope you enjoyed this study. Always remember the words of Timothy in
II Timothy 2:15. They are the Words to live by.

God Bless you in your studies.
In His service,