' ... rightly dividing the word of truth' (2 Timothy 2:15)

[complete]

'Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.'
(2 Timothy 2:15)

Hello there,

What is your understanding of the meaning of the words, 'rightly dividing the word of truth'?

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Bob Carabbio]

What is your understanding of the meaning of the words, 'rightly dividing the word of truth'?

teaching what the Bible teaches.

 

[Waggles]

What is your understanding of the meaning of the words, 'rightly dividing the word of truth'?

2Timothy 2:15
(ESV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
(LEB) Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, a worker having no need to be ashamed, guiding the word of truth along a straight path.
(LSV) be diligent to present yourself approved to God - a workman not ashamed, straightly cutting the word of truth;
(RV) Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
(Weymouth) Earnestly seek to commend yourself to God as a servant who, because of his straightforward dealing with the word of truth, has no reason to feel any shame.

dividing: "rightly dividing" is the rendering of a single Greek word, orthotomeō, *S# G3718, only here.
Vine notes the word is from orthos, straight, and temnō, to cut, "the meaning passed from the idea of cutting or dividing, to the more general sense of rightly dealing with a thing.
What is intended here is not dividing Scripture from Scripture, but teaching Scripture accurately" (Vine's Expository Dictionary, vol 1, p. 327).
In context Paul is directing Timothy not to strive about words to the subverting of the hearers, but to handle the Word of God accurately so as to teach them the truth.

 

[complete]

teaching what the Bible teaches.

2Timothy 2:15
(ESV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
(LEB) Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, a worker having no need to be ashamed, guiding the word of truth along a straight path.
(LSV) be diligent to present yourself approved to God - a workman not ashamed, straightly cutting the word of truth;
(RV) Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
(Weymouth) Earnestly seek to commend yourself to God as a servant who, because of his straightforward dealing with the word of truth, has no reason to feel any shame.

dividing: "rightly dividing" is the rendering of a single Greek word, orthotomeō, *S# G3718, only here.
Vine notes the word is from orthos, straight, and temnō, to cut, "the meaning passed from the idea of cutting or dividing, to the more general sense of rightly dealing with a thing.
What is intended here is not dividing Scripture from Scripture, but teaching Scripture accurately" (Vine's Expository Dictionary, vol 1, p. 327).
In context Paul is directing Timothy not to strive about words to the subverting of the hearers, but to handle the Word of God accurately so as to teach them the truth.

'Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing ( G3718 ) the word of truth.'
(2 Timothy2:15 KJV)

@Bob Carabbio
@Waggles

Hello both,

Thank you for your input.

Yes, the Strongs concerdance tells us that 'orthotomeo' (G3718) is the word translated, 'rightly dividing', as you say, @Waggles. I have read that it is used twice in the Septuagint for the Hebrew word (yashar), meaning 'to be right', or 'straight', 'to make right' (as in 2 Chronicles 32:30 'straight', Proverbs 15:21 'uprightly', Isaiah 40:3 'straight'and Isaiah 45:2 'straight', & 13 'direct'). The best comparison we have is in one of my favourite verses, namely:- Proverbs 3:6,

' Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall DIRECT thy paths.'
(Pro 3:5)

* The Lord will divide off one way from another, for we desire to follow the right way and avoid the wrong.
* There are two instances that I know of where the Lord Jesus Christ divided Scripture: in Luke24:44 and Luke 4:16-22:-

'And He said unto them,
These are the words which I spake unto you,
while I was yet with you,
that all things must be fulfilled,
.. which were written in the law of Moses,
.... and in the prophets,
...... and in the psalms,
........ concerning Me.'
(Luke 24:44)

* He divided the Old Testament into three parts, 'The Law', 'The Prophets and 'The Psalms'.

'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.
And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias.
And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written, (Isaiah 61:1-3)
.. '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,
.............. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.'
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.
And He began to say unto them, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears."
(Luke 4:16-22)

* Yes, the Lord stopped reading at that point, to the amazement of the congregation, because it was only that portion of the reading from Isaiah which was applicable to His ministry at that time. If He had continued the reading to include the words that followed, He could not have said, 'This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears', for although it spoke of Him, it had a future application. He rightly-divided it.

* Really we need no other example do we of the application of 2 Timothy 2:15?

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

@Bob Carabbio
@Waggles

'Of these things put them in remembrance,
.. charging them before the Lord
.... that they strive not about words to no profit,
...... but to the subverting of the hearers.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, ​

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, ​

rightly dividing the word of truth.​

But shun profane and vain babblings:
.. for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
.... And their word will eat as doth a canker:
...... of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
........ Who concerning the truth have erred,
.......... saying that the resurrection is past already;
............ and overthrow the faith of some.'
( 2 Timothy 2:14-18 )

Hello there,

I believe that in the context of the verse under consideration (2 Timothy 2:15) we have an example given to us of wrongly dividing the word of truth, showing us, both a way in which that can be done, and the consequences of doing so.

Hymenaeus and Philetus have been immortalised by inclusion in Scriptures for erring concerning the truth. I pray that I will never be found to be guilty of that! How had they done that? They said that the resurrection had already taken place, instead of being a yet future event, and in doing so overthrew the faith of some. They had taken what was an event that was yet future, and placed it in the past. Those believers whose faith had been overthrown must have thought they had been left behind, and doubted both their own salvation, and possibly called into question the validity of the truth that the Apostles had been preaching. How awful that is!

Taking what is a yet future event and saying that it has already taken place, or taking what was applicable to the People of God in the past, but which has been made obsolete by the finished work of Christ, and insisting that it is applicable to believers today, is just as destructive to the truth, and could have the same consequence. This is wrong division.

* These are my thoughts, I would value your consideration of them.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

'Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.'
(2 Timothy 2:15)

 

[complete]

'Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.'
(2 Timothy 2:15)

Hello again,

* The Word of God already comes to us in two separate parts doesn't it? One originally Hebrew, and the other Greek. The names given to both ('Old' and 'New' Testaments) are not Divine but human in origin. The separate books within both are Divine, but their arrangement has been altered by a human hand. Man has arranged them into four classes, 'The Law', 'The Historical Books', 'The Poetical Books', and 'The Prophetical Books': whereas the Lord Jesus Christ divides them into three classis:- 'The Law,' 'The Prophets', and 'The Psalms'.

1) The Law (the Pentatuach):-​

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers Deuteronomy.​

​

2) The Prophets :-​

Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, ('The Former Prophets' - Zechariah 7)​

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, The Minor Prophets, ('The Latter Prophets')​

​

3) The Psalms​

Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Ester, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles.​

* This is how the books are 'rightly-divided' in the Hebrew Bible.​

-------------------​

* The division of the New Testament books are all of human origin.
* The chapter divisions, verses and punctuation of the Scriptures as a whole are all by a human hand.

Within the love of Christ our Saviour,
our Lord and Head.
Chris

 

[Waggles]

But is NOT what 2Timothy 2:15 is about.
It is not about dividing the scriptures into sections, but about rightly handling the word of God.
Teaching the truth of scripture as opposed to handling the word of God deceitfully.
2Cor 4:1 Having therefore this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not:
4:2 but we have renounced the hidden things of the shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every conscience of men in God’s sight.

 

[Waggles]

* This is how the books are 'rightly-divided' in the Hebrew Bible.

But is NOT what 2Timothy 2:15 is about.
It is not about dividing the scriptures into sections, but about rightly handling the word of God.
Teaching the truth of scripture as opposed to handling the word of God deceitfully.
2Cor 4:1 Having therefore this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not:
4:2 but we have renounced the hidden things of the shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every conscience of men in God’s sight.

 

[complete]

But is NOT what 2Timothy 2:15 is about.
It is not about dividing the scriptures into sections, but about rightly handling the word of God.
Teaching the truth of scripture as opposed to handling the word of God deceitfully.
2Cor 4:1 Having therefore this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not:
4:2 but we have renounced the hidden things of the shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every conscience of men in God’s sight.

'Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing (Gr. authotomounta ) the word of truth.'

Hello @Waggles,

The words of 2 Timothy 2:15 are, 'rightly dividing', and not, 'rightly handling'.
In the Greek Interlinear Bible the words used to translate 'authotomounta' is 'erect cutting' or 'correctly partitioning'. See for yourself:-

https://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/NTpdf/2ti2.pdf

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

'Give none offence,
.. neither to the Jews,
.... nor to the Gentiles,
...... nor to the church of God:'
(1Cor. 10:32)

Hello there,

All of the Bible is for the learning of all men: but not all about all men. It is written concerning one or other of the three distinct categories of persons found in the verse above (1 Cor. 10:32), either separately or combined. Yet so many read it as though it were all about the Church of God.

- What is written to and about the Jew, belongs to and must be interpreted of the Jew.
- What is written of and about the Gentile, belongs to and must be interpreted of the Gentile.
- What is written about the Church of God, belongs to and must be interpreted of the Church of God.

* We need to 'rightly-divide' Scripture in regard to it's subject matter, and observe to whom it was written. e;g., Look at Isaiah 1:1:-

'The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz,
which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem
IN the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.'

* The visions shown to Isaiah, concerned 'Judah' and 'Jerusalem'. We can learn much by reading the book of Isaiah, but must always keep in mind to whom it was addressed. The same applies to all Scripture. So much error has occurred by misapplying the Scriptures. By not rightly dividing it.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Waggles]

The words of 2 Timothy 2:15 are, 'rightly dividing', and not, 'rightly handling'.
In the Greek Interlinear Bible the words used to translate 'authotomounta' is 'erect cutting' or 'correctly partitioning'. See for yourself:-

2Timothy 2:15
(ESV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
(LEB) Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, a worker having no need to be ashamed, guiding the word of truth along a straight path.
(LSV) be diligent to present yourself approved to God - a workman not ashamed, straightly cutting the word of truth;
(RV) Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
(Weymouth) Earnestly seek to commend yourself to God as a servant who, because of his straightforward dealing with the word of truth, has no reason to feel any shame.

dividing: "rightly dividing" is the rendering of a single Greek word, orthotomeō, *S# G3718, only here.
Vine notes the word is from orthos, straight, and temnō, to cut, "the meaning passed from the idea of cutting or dividing, to the more general sense of rightly dealing with a thing.
What is intended here is not dividing Scripture from Scripture, but teaching Scripture accurately" (Vine's Expository Dictionary, vol 1, p. 327).
In context Paul is directing Timothy not to strive about words to the subverting of the hearers, but to handle the Word of God accurately so as to teach them the truth.

 

[complete]

2Timothy 2:15
(ESV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
(LEB) Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, a worker having no need to be ashamed, guiding the word of truth along a straight path.
(LSV) be diligent to present yourself approved to God - a workman not ashamed, straightly cutting the word of truth;
(RV) Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
(Weymouth) Earnestly seek to commend yourself to God as a servant who, because of his straightforward dealing with the word of truth, has no reason to feel any shame.

dividing: "rightly dividing" is the rendering of a single Greek word, orthotomeō, *S# G3718, only here.
Vine notes the word is from orthos, straight, and temnō, to cut, "the meaning passed from the idea of cutting or dividing, to the more general sense of rightly dealing with a thing.
What is intended here is not dividing Scripture from Scripture, but teaching Scripture accurately" (Vine's Expository Dictionary, vol 1, p. 327).
In context Paul is directing Timothy not to strive about words to the subverting of the hearers, but to handle the Word of God accurately so as to teach them the truth.

Thank you for your continued presence, @Waggles: and for giving me your understanding of the words, 'rightly dividing' as I requested in the OP. We will not strive about words to no profit, but lay our understanding before the Lord, and leave it with Him.

In Christ Jesus
Our risen and glorified
Saviour, Lord and Head.
Chris