Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15 "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." It is necessary that we know how to accurately use the scripture if we are to please God.
Initially, we must understand the difference between the Old & New Testaments. These two major sections of the Bible contain two different sets of divine law. The question is: which law are we under? Many people today want to hold to the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). However, these commandments as well as the rest of the Law of Moses were part of a covenant (or agreement) God made with Israel, and with no other people (Deuteronomy 5:2-3). The New Testament teaches that these old laws were taken out of the way (Colossians 2:14).
Secondly, we must see how the scripture presents the authority of God:
- Commands - a direct command or order given by God. Jesus commanded the apostles to "Go and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).
- Example - an approved way of doing something; because God approved of someone else doing it, therefore I must do the same thing in the same way to gain God's approval. The early Christians partook of the Lord's supper on the first day of every week (Acts 20:7). I must do the same.
- Necessary Conclusion - a conclusion one necessarily arrives at when considering a command. Hebrews 10:25 commands Christians to assemble together. That, then, necessarily commands a place to assemble. Therefore, that is our authority to have a meeting place.
Finally, we must address the silence of the scripture. Does the silence of the word of God on a topic permit us to engage in it, or prohibit us from doing it? This we must understand. Hebrews 7:11-14 argues that Jesus, from the tribe of Judah, could not have been a priest under the Law of Moses because Moses spoke "nothing" about it. The silence of scripture is prohibitive, and we must respect it.
