Rightly Dividing God's Word
Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:1-19
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that
you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be
able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may
please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is
not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be
first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding
in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to
my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the
word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they
also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
12 If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to
no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a
worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun
profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message
will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed
concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the
faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The
Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart
from iniquity.”
We've been talking in the past few weeks about the progression of the new
believer. First, with the U-turn that is required; the repentance necessary for one to
turn from sin and to God. Then we spoke of being grafted into the cultivated olive
tree that is Israel, by faith and obedience. And last week we discussed making the
important sacrifices to sit at the feet of the Master to gain wisdom and
understanding. Once again we move to the next step in the progression.
Our scripture reading begins with Paul encouraging Timothy to be strong in his
faith. To remember the things that he had been taught and like we spoke about
last week, to make disciples; those who will go out and teach others. He compares
the believer's struggle to a soldier in the midst of warfare, an athlete in a tough
competition, and a hardworking farmer striving to be able to taste the fruit of his
labors. Let's take a look at those he uses as an example. To be a soldier in
warfare not only takes much courage but also takes quite a bit preparation and
instruction. An effective soldier doesn't just show up for battle unprepared and
expect to just do well because he really want to. Anyone who's ever been in the
military or known anyone in the military knows just how difficult the preparation can
be. As effective believers, we need to dedicate ourselves to that level of
preparation if we expect to go out into the world, which is our battlefield and be
victorious.
How about an athlete at the top of his game? The disciple demanded to perform at
a level of excellence is extremely great. The hours of practice necessary for just
one hour of competition are astronomical in comparison. A competitor has to
rehearse every scenario a multitude of times so when the situation would come up,
they don't even have to think about it because it's like second nature. As believers,
we need to devote ourselves to that degree of development so when we are
challenged in this battle to win souls for the kingdom, it will be like second nature for
us. A hardworking farmer is persistent. Getting up at dawn and working tirelessly
until dusk without seeing anything come from that labor for quite some time. Then
even when that farmer does see something, it's not anything that can be used for
such a long period of time. Yet he toils and he sweats, trusting that his work will not
be in vain. This one should be easy for us to parallel as a believer. We need to be
just as persistent; working tirelessly even when we can't see anything from that
labor, trusting that God will do the watering and nurturing to bring a crop, thirty,
sixty, even one hundred fold.
Then he exhorts us not get caught up in fighting over words that don't mean
anything. There are so many different interpretations of scripture that it really is
not even funny. But a good deal of those differences in doctrine mean nothing to
the state of our salvation. Not one thing. Yet there are believers will spend
countless hours debating these things as if they are of some great importance. Do
you know what that's like? It's like a farmer when it's time to go out and till the soil,
heading into the barn to play Scrabble. As entertaining as it might be, it won't do
anything for crop preparation. The enemy loves to see us bickering over useless
nonsense because it means we're not in preparation to come against him.
Paul tells us to be diligent in our study to show ourself approved to God. He says
we are to be workmen who rightly divide the word of truth. That tells us so much!
Listen to how dictionary.com defines the word diligent - constant in effort to
accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything. We have to be
constant in our effort to study; attentive, persistent. He tells us that we must 'rightly'
divide the word of truth. This tells me that it is possible to 'wrongly' divide the word.
It is so easy to take verses from scripture out of context and make doctrine from
that. So, what should we do to avoid this?
Acts 17:10-12
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they
arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than
those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the
Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them
believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
Sure the Bereans heard the word with readiness, but they also tested everything in
the word of God; the Hebrew scriptures. What does that mean? They understood
that every established thing would come by the mouth of at least two or three
witnesses. Listen to the words of Messiah on this principle. Matthew 18:16 - But if
he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses
every word may be established.' And to the words of Paul himself, 2 Corinthians 13:1
- This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses
every word shall be established.” (see Deuteronomy 17:6 & 19:15) If that's not
enough to convince you of the important of establishing things in the word, listen to
this.
John 5:31-39
31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. 32 There is another who bears
witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33 You have
sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from
man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp,
and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have a greater witness than
John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—
bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me,
has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But
you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39
You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they
which testify of Me.
If Jesus, as He explains here, says it is necessary even for Him to have more than
one witness, why are so many so willing to accept things as doctrine when there is
no other witness to establish it? So many people will find some trustworthy teacher
of faith, hear a few good things they have to say and then 'follow' everything that
person says, like gospel. That's how crazy cults are formed. Remember, Paul tells
us to imitate him as he imitates Yeshua (1 Corinthians 11:1). I would hate for you to
listen to the words I say because it's me saying them. No, no! Test everything in
the word of God! What kind of things can be taken out of context? Let's take a
look at three things that have been made doctrine by many. There are people that
make others feel like there is a problem with them taking communion. We had a
discussion of this on Tuesday. Why would they do such a thing?
1 Corinthians 11:27-29
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner
will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let
him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy
manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
But what did Paul mean about eating in an unworthy manner? He actually explains
exactly what he means in the verses around this one and it has nothing to do with
someone being sinful and somehow unworthy to communion with God. Let's
examine the scriptures around it.
1 Corinthians 11:20-22a & 33-34
20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For
in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is
drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?
33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if
anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I
will set in order when I come.
I don't even have to explain this. Just a little bit of reading and you can see that
Paul's words have nothing to do with a person's sinfulness but it has to do with a
problem they were having in the Corinthian church. People were coming just to
eat. A bit like youth group and pizza!
1 Corinthians 11:14 - Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is
a dishonor to him? Many churches teach or strongly imply that there is something
wrong with a man who has long hair because of Paul's words here but does this
issue meet what I'll call the law of establishment? Is there any other place in
scripture that would corroborate these words? I'll tell you know but it would be good
for you to research to see for yourself. No other place says there a problem with
men having long hair. In fact, when you look at the vow taken by a Nazarene to not
cut their hair for the period of their vow or, in Samson's case, for his entire life until
Delilah, it seems that long hair could very well show faithfulness. Also, if you take
the time to read Paul's words two verses later, you would not hold to this as
doctrine. 1 Corinthians 11:16 - But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such
custom, nor do the churches of God. Paul never meant for this to be doctrine. What
you'd have to understand is where this letter was being sent; to Corinth. There was
a very big practice of temple prostitution there. There were male and female
prostitutes and the way a person could tell if someone was a prostitute was how
they wore their hair. The males would wear it long and the females would wear it
short. It was to this church that Paul also wrote that women should cover their
heads. He didn't want people coming in to worship and pointing out former
prostitutes or even making those who were still prostitutes and coming to hear
about Yeshua feel uncomfortable. Knowing the cultural climate of this city help you
understand Paul's words to them.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they
are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them
ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
This is a good one. Paul tells the Corinthians that women should not speak in
church. So, does this pass the law of establishment? Well, I can point out in the
Apostolic scriptures where it say something similar but every time this point of view
is made, it is by the mouth of Paul. Paul is the only one who every makes this point
in scripture. As we already read, both Jesus and Paul said that it is by the mouth of
two or more witnesses that a thing will be established, not by the mouth of one
witness who saying it two or three times. So, for me, this is other place where some
have made doctrine but I see none. Again, you have to understand the cultural
climate of the day. Not only were most women not educated, but men and women
were separated in the congregation. The women were usually put in the back or in
an upper room that overlooked were the men were worshipping. Can you imagine
how much chaos it would have caused if the woman were yelling questions to the
men during the sermon? How much of a distraction would that be? When I see
Priscilla and Aquilla spoken of preaching to someone, the woman at the well who
went back to her village and pretty much got the whole town saved, and the woman
of God, Deborah, that was a judge in authority over Israel; I have to say that this
point of view Paul has here is not backed up by what I see in scripture. Sometimes I
think that this point of view is shown to us so we won't try to make Paul some sort of
god. Paul tells us that he has flaws yet there are many who act as if he had none.
But the bottom line for me is this, if you don't think women are to teach or preach,
then don't go to a woman to be taught or preached to. There's no need to have
any conflict over it. This is what I believe Paul was trying to tell us here:
Ephesians 4:11-16
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some
pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge
of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but,
speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16
from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according
to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for
the edifying of itself in love.
Let us be diligent in our study so we can rightly divide the word. Let us dig deeper
into scripture to find the things that have been established and discard the doctrine
that had not been established in the word. Let us avoid division and idle babbling
that the enemy would us to set us against each other. And let us begin to come
together as the body of Christ.
Sermon by: Denise Baxley
Date: March 18, 2007
Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:1-19
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that
you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be
able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may
please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is
not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be
first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding
in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to
my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the
word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they
also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
12 If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to
no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a
worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun
profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message
will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed
concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the
faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The
Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart
from iniquity.”
We've been talking in the past few weeks about the progression of the new
believer. First, with the U-turn that is required; the repentance necessary for one to
turn from sin and to God. Then we spoke of being grafted into the cultivated olive
tree that is Israel, by faith and obedience. And last week we discussed making the
important sacrifices to sit at the feet of the Master to gain wisdom and
understanding. Once again we move to the next step in the progression.
Our scripture reading begins with Paul encouraging Timothy to be strong in his
faith. To remember the things that he had been taught and like we spoke about
last week, to make disciples; those who will go out and teach others. He compares
the believer's struggle to a soldier in the midst of warfare, an athlete in a tough
competition, and a hardworking farmer striving to be able to taste the fruit of his
labors. Let's take a look at those he uses as an example. To be a soldier in
warfare not only takes much courage but also takes quite a bit preparation and
instruction. An effective soldier doesn't just show up for battle unprepared and
expect to just do well because he really want to. Anyone who's ever been in the
military or known anyone in the military knows just how difficult the preparation can
be. As effective believers, we need to dedicate ourselves to that level of
preparation if we expect to go out into the world, which is our battlefield and be
victorious.
How about an athlete at the top of his game? The disciple demanded to perform at
a level of excellence is extremely great. The hours of practice necessary for just
one hour of competition are astronomical in comparison. A competitor has to
rehearse every scenario a multitude of times so when the situation would come up,
they don't even have to think about it because it's like second nature. As believers,
we need to devote ourselves to that degree of development so when we are
challenged in this battle to win souls for the kingdom, it will be like second nature for
us. A hardworking farmer is persistent. Getting up at dawn and working tirelessly
until dusk without seeing anything come from that labor for quite some time. Then
even when that farmer does see something, it's not anything that can be used for
such a long period of time. Yet he toils and he sweats, trusting that his work will not
be in vain. This one should be easy for us to parallel as a believer. We need to be
just as persistent; working tirelessly even when we can't see anything from that
labor, trusting that God will do the watering and nurturing to bring a crop, thirty,
sixty, even one hundred fold.
Then he exhorts us not get caught up in fighting over words that don't mean
anything. There are so many different interpretations of scripture that it really is
not even funny. But a good deal of those differences in doctrine mean nothing to
the state of our salvation. Not one thing. Yet there are believers will spend
countless hours debating these things as if they are of some great importance. Do
you know what that's like? It's like a farmer when it's time to go out and till the soil,
heading into the barn to play Scrabble. As entertaining as it might be, it won't do
anything for crop preparation. The enemy loves to see us bickering over useless
nonsense because it means we're not in preparation to come against him.
Paul tells us to be diligent in our study to show ourself approved to God. He says
we are to be workmen who rightly divide the word of truth. That tells us so much!
Listen to how dictionary.com defines the word diligent - constant in effort to
accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything. We have to be
constant in our effort to study; attentive, persistent. He tells us that we must 'rightly'
divide the word of truth. This tells me that it is possible to 'wrongly' divide the word.
It is so easy to take verses from scripture out of context and make doctrine from
that. So, what should we do to avoid this?
Acts 17:10-12
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they
arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than
those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the
Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them
believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
Sure the Bereans heard the word with readiness, but they also tested everything in
the word of God; the Hebrew scriptures. What does that mean? They understood
that every established thing would come by the mouth of at least two or three
witnesses. Listen to the words of Messiah on this principle. Matthew 18:16 - But if
he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses
every word may be established.' And to the words of Paul himself, 2 Corinthians 13:1
- This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses
every word shall be established.” (see Deuteronomy 17:6 & 19:15) If that's not
enough to convince you of the important of establishing things in the word, listen to
this.
John 5:31-39
31 “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. 32 There is another who bears
witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33 You have
sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from
man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp,
and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have a greater witness than
John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—
bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me,
has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But
you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39
You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they
which testify of Me.
If Jesus, as He explains here, says it is necessary even for Him to have more than
one witness, why are so many so willing to accept things as doctrine when there is
no other witness to establish it? So many people will find some trustworthy teacher
of faith, hear a few good things they have to say and then 'follow' everything that
person says, like gospel. That's how crazy cults are formed. Remember, Paul tells
us to imitate him as he imitates Yeshua (1 Corinthians 11:1). I would hate for you to
listen to the words I say because it's me saying them. No, no! Test everything in
the word of God! What kind of things can be taken out of context? Let's take a
look at three things that have been made doctrine by many. There are people that
make others feel like there is a problem with them taking communion. We had a
discussion of this on Tuesday. Why would they do such a thing?
1 Corinthians 11:27-29
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner
will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let
him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy
manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
But what did Paul mean about eating in an unworthy manner? He actually explains
exactly what he means in the verses around this one and it has nothing to do with
someone being sinful and somehow unworthy to communion with God. Let's
examine the scriptures around it.
1 Corinthians 11:20-22a & 33-34
20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For
in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is
drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?
33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if
anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I
will set in order when I come.
I don't even have to explain this. Just a little bit of reading and you can see that
Paul's words have nothing to do with a person's sinfulness but it has to do with a
problem they were having in the Corinthian church. People were coming just to
eat. A bit like youth group and pizza!
1 Corinthians 11:14 - Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is
a dishonor to him? Many churches teach or strongly imply that there is something
wrong with a man who has long hair because of Paul's words here but does this
issue meet what I'll call the law of establishment? Is there any other place in
scripture that would corroborate these words? I'll tell you know but it would be good
for you to research to see for yourself. No other place says there a problem with
men having long hair. In fact, when you look at the vow taken by a Nazarene to not
cut their hair for the period of their vow or, in Samson's case, for his entire life until
Delilah, it seems that long hair could very well show faithfulness. Also, if you take
the time to read Paul's words two verses later, you would not hold to this as
doctrine. 1 Corinthians 11:16 - But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such
custom, nor do the churches of God. Paul never meant for this to be doctrine. What
you'd have to understand is where this letter was being sent; to Corinth. There was
a very big practice of temple prostitution there. There were male and female
prostitutes and the way a person could tell if someone was a prostitute was how
they wore their hair. The males would wear it long and the females would wear it
short. It was to this church that Paul also wrote that women should cover their
heads. He didn't want people coming in to worship and pointing out former
prostitutes or even making those who were still prostitutes and coming to hear
about Yeshua feel uncomfortable. Knowing the cultural climate of this city help you
understand Paul's words to them.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they
are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them
ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
This is a good one. Paul tells the Corinthians that women should not speak in
church. So, does this pass the law of establishment? Well, I can point out in the
Apostolic scriptures where it say something similar but every time this point of view
is made, it is by the mouth of Paul. Paul is the only one who every makes this point
in scripture. As we already read, both Jesus and Paul said that it is by the mouth of
two or more witnesses that a thing will be established, not by the mouth of one
witness who saying it two or three times. So, for me, this is other place where some
have made doctrine but I see none. Again, you have to understand the cultural
climate of the day. Not only were most women not educated, but men and women
were separated in the congregation. The women were usually put in the back or in
an upper room that overlooked were the men were worshipping. Can you imagine
how much chaos it would have caused if the woman were yelling questions to the
men during the sermon? How much of a distraction would that be? When I see
Priscilla and Aquilla spoken of preaching to someone, the woman at the well who
went back to her village and pretty much got the whole town saved, and the woman
of God, Deborah, that was a judge in authority over Israel; I have to say that this
point of view Paul has here is not backed up by what I see in scripture. Sometimes I
think that this point of view is shown to us so we won't try to make Paul some sort of
god. Paul tells us that he has flaws yet there are many who act as if he had none.
But the bottom line for me is this, if you don't think women are to teach or preach,
then don't go to a woman to be taught or preached to. There's no need to have
any conflict over it. This is what I believe Paul was trying to tell us here:
Ephesians 4:11-16
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some
pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge
of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but,
speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16
from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according
to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for
the edifying of itself in love.
Let us be diligent in our study so we can rightly divide the word. Let us dig deeper
into scripture to find the things that have been established and discard the doctrine
that had not been established in the word. Let us avoid division and idle babbling
that the enemy would us to set us against each other. And let us begin to come
together as the body of Christ.
Sermon by: Denise Baxley
Date: March 18, 2007
