“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). To rightly divide the Word of Truth, one must use certain principles of interpretation. Sadly, some approach the Bible in a completely different way than they would approach any other book. While the Bible is certainly not just “any other book,” the rules of interpretation are universal in nature. Context is key when it comes to understanding any communication. This is certainly true when it comes to rightly dividing the Bible. How does one go about properly interpreting God’s Word in its context?
Firstly, there is the age context. When one begins to study the Bible, the first thing necessary for an honest interpretation is to determine in which age the penman was writing. There is the Patriarchal Age (creation to Sinai). Key figures during this dispensation were Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. There is the Mosaic Age (Sinai to the cross), which included great men like Moses, Joshua, David, Isaiah and Jesus. Lastly, there is the Christian age (cross to Judgment Day), which included people like Paul, Peter, John and Luke, as well as includes you and me. At one time, God spoke in different ways (directly to the Fathers in Patriarchy; through the Law of Moses in the Mosaic Age or in Judaism), but now God speaks to us through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-3). Therefore, religious authority to which we must turn is not what Moses said or what Elijah preached but what Jesus commands (Matthew 17:5).
Secondly, there is the historical context. One reason why some have a difficult time understanding God’s Word is that they try to view the Bible through the “lens” of today, instead of looking through the lens of history. Looking through first century glasses really aids in our understanding of first century things. There are five great questions that help aid in the historical context. Question #1: Who is speaking? Question #2: To whom is it being spoken? For example, when Jesus said, “You are of your father, the devil” (John 8:44a), He was not speaking to you or to me, but Jesus was addressing the unbelieving Pharisees (John 8:13). Question #3: From where was it being spoken? For example, when John said, “I was in the spirit on the Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10), he was not in some “mystical trance,” but rather, John was in exile on an island called Patmos. Although he could not be present with the saints on Sunday, his spirit or his mind was with them. Question #4: When was it being spoken? For example, when Jesus said to the thief on the cross, “Today, thou shalt be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43), the new covenant had not been yet ratified (Christ was still alive), and therefore, the thief did not have to obey the Great Commission command (Luke 24:47) to “repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38), which command was given after Jesus’ death, not before! Question #5: Why was it being spoken? For example, why did Paul ask the Corinthians, “What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in?” (1 Corinthians 11:22)? Was there some law against eating in the meeting place? When one studies the context, Paul was correcting their misuse of the Lord’s Supper, not addressing eating in the meetinghouse at all.
Thirdly, there is the textual context. There are essentially three areas to consider in the realm of textual context. There is the immediate context. What is happening in the preceding and following paragraphs? There is the remote context. What is going on in the entire chapter? There is the book context. What is the context of the entire book in which this paragraph falls? We must be willing to search out the textual context of anything we are studying! Context is key when it comes to rightly dividing God’s Word.
Rightly dividing God’s Word takes initiative and effort. Study is not for the faint of heart but rather for those who really desire to know truth. There is a story told of a seasoned Gospel preacher who was preaching a meeting in a distant town. Following his sermon, a woman approached him and said, “I would give my life to know the Bible like you do!” To which he replied, “That is exactly what it cost me.” Truth is costly and cannot be obtained by accident. God rewards those who “diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Seek Him daily, study His Word regularly, and see your life change before your very eyes!
