“This is a faithful saying: for if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself…”

“…Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness” (NKJV).

Paul does three things here… Presents “truth” (vss. 11-13). Urges Timothy to maintain

“truth” (15). Warns of danger of falsehood

(14, 16).Real Dangers: “Words to no profit” (vs. 14). “Profane and vain babblings”

(vs. 16).

There is such a thing as “truth.”

“Truth” must be properly discerned.

“Rightly Dividing”Gr. orthotomeo

orthos “right” + temno “to cut”

Lit. “to cut right”

In Greek OT (Septuagint)“In all your ways acknowledge Him

and He shall DIRECT your paths” (Prov. 3:6).

“Rightly Dividing”Gr. orthotomeo

orthos “right” + temno “to cut”Lit. “to cut right”

In Greek OT (Septuagint)“The righteousness of the blameless will

direct his way ARIGHT, but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness” (Prov.

11:5).

The opposite of this:

Galatians 2:14

“… they were not straightforward about the

truth of the gospel…”

To “Rightly Divide” the Word of Truth We Must…

I.Harmonize Scripture. All Scripture is Inspired of God (2

Tim. 3:16; Prov. 30:5; Psalm 19:7). We Must not Add to or Take Away

(Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18-19; 1 Cor. 8:5-6; Isaiah 45:21).

1 Corinthians 8:5b: “…There are many gods and

many lords…”Isaiah 45:21: “…There is no other God

besides Me…”1 Corinthians 8:5a: “so-called

gods.”1 Corinthians 8:6: “There is

only one God.”

To “Rightly Divide” the Word of Truth We Must…

II.Examine the Context.“The entire connected strucure of a

discourse or writing; the parts of a discourse or writing which precede or follow, and are directly connected with

a given passage or word” New Century Dictionary Vol. 1, p. 315

To “Rightly Divide” the Word of Truth We Must…

II.Examine the Context. To Whom is It Addressed? (Luke 18:22;

Matt. 19:21; Luke 18:18, 23; 1 Tim. 5:8; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 6:17-18).

When Was it Said? (Gen. 20:12; Lev. 20:17; Deut. 27:22; James 2:23; Gen. 17:7-12; Lev. 12:3; Acts 15:1-29; 1 Cor. 7:18-19; Gal. 6:2).

Genesis 20:12: Abraham’s wife Sarah’s was his ½ sister.

Leviticus 20:17 condemns marriage to a ½ sister. Punishment: “cut off in the sight of their people.” Deut. 27:22 “cursed.”

Yet, Abraham was called a “friend of God” (James. 2:33). Was he in sin?

Different laws at different times.

The Patriarchal Age

Genesis

Creation to the Israelites in Egypt

Genesis 17:7-12: Abraham was to circumcise all male children at 8 days.

Leviticus 12:3 – this was also part of the Law of Moses.

Acts 15:1-29 records the declaration by the Holy Spirit to the elders of Jerusalem that Gentile Christians need not be circumcised. Also 1 Cor. 7:18-19.

Different laws at different times.

The Patriarchal Age The Mosaic Age

Genesis Exodus-Malachi

Creation to the Israelites in Egypt

Exodus to Coming of Christ.

The Patriarchal Age The Mosaic Age The Age of Christ

Genesis Exodus-Malachi Matthew-Revelation

Creation to the Israelites in Egypt

Exodus to Coming of Chrst.

Pentecost to the Day of Judgment

To “Rightly Divide” the Word of Truth We Must…

III.Determine Style of Discourse.

Four Styles of Literature: Exposition, Argumentation, Description, Narrative

World Book Encyclopedia Vol. 12, p. 311

To “Rightly Divide” the Word of Truth We Must…

III.Determine Style of Discourse.

Exposition .“Answers a real or an imaginary question,

It is the writer’s way of presenting or explaining what a thing means.”

World Book Encyclopedia Vol. 12, p. 311

To “Rightly Divide” the Word of Truth We

Must…

III.Determine Style of Discourse.

Exposition .Exodus 20:12-15; Matthew 5:44

To “Rightly Divide” the Word of Truth We Must…

III.Determine Style of Discourse.

Argumentation.“Tries to convince the reader of an attitude or

to persuade him to share the writer’s attitude. A writer may try to change the reader’s mind by using arguments that appeals to the reader’s reason, emotions or both” (ibid.)

To “Rightly Divide” the Word of Truth We Must…

III.Determine Style of Discourse.

Argumentation.Acts 7:1-53; Acts 17:16-34 Description.“Is used to picture something that the

writer wants the reader to see” (ibid.)

To “Rightly Divide” the Word of Truth We Must…

III.Determine Style of Discourse.

Argumentation.Acts 7:1-53; Acts 17:16-34 Description.1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Thess. 5:1-4

Figurative: “…Representing one concept in terms of another that may be thought of as analogous with it…”

Webster’s New World Dictionary p. 520

Principles Regarding Figurative Language:

The Lord doesn’t use falsehood to communicate truth (Prov. 30:5).

Figurative language must be interpreted in light of literal language.

To “Rightly Divide” the Word of Truth We Must…

III.Determine Style of Discourse.

Narrative .“Gives an account of action or events. It

tells the reader what is happening”

World Book Encyclopedia Vol. 12, p. 311

To “Rightly Divide” the Word of Truth We

Must…

III.Determine Style of Discourse.

Narrative .Luke 4:16; Acts 20:7; 1 John 2:6; Phil.

4:9.

“And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”