rightly dividing the word
THERE ARE SEVEN SIMPLE RULES
THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE
There are rules that we use in our daily routines to understand and to communicate ideas or thoughts to someone else. Essentially, these are the same rules that a newspaper reporter is instructed to use
when writing an article for the newspaper.
THE REPORTER IS INSTRUCTED TO COVER
▸ Who is speaking?
▸ What happened?
▸ When did it happen?
▸ Where did it happen?
▸ Why did it happen?
THE BIBLE STUDENT WOULD ASK HIMSELF THESE SEVEN QUESTIONS
▸ Who is speaking?
▸ To whom spoken?
▸ When spoken?
▸ Why spoken - Context of the scripture?
▸ Cultural and Customs?
▸ Say it the way the Bible says it.
▸ The sum of God's word is the truth.
1. WHO IS SPEAKING
It is important to know WHO IS SPEAKING for not only does God speak in the Bible, but so do fools, Satan, drunks, etc.
2. TO WHOM SPOKEN
It is important to know TO WHOM SPOKEN as God told Noah to build an ark, not us. There are many things in the Bible directed to specific individuals and if this rule is not used, we could find ourselves doing things God never intended us to do.
3. WHEN SPOKEN
It is important to know WHEN SPOKEN. If we do not use this rule, then we would find ourselves still obeying different commands of the Old Testament.
4. CONTEXT
A person can make the Bible say anything he wants it to say if he takes it out of context. Sometimes the context is in the previous or following scriptures. Sometimes the context is in the previous and following chapters.
5. CULTURAL
If you don't know the cultural, then your conclusion could be completely wrong. In Romans 16:16 it says, "Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you." If you know the cultural, they greeted each other with a kiss, women with women and men with men on the cheek. It is commanding to give a Holy Kiss.
6. SAY IT THE WAY THE BIBLE SAYS IT
It is important in communication to SAY IT THE WAY THE BIBLE SAYS IT. Communication, is at best, very difficult. We are trying to communicate ideas and pictures through words. When we start to substitute words and phrases that are not used in the Bible, then it only muddies the water. I Corinthians 2:13 says, "...combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words." In any job or profession there is a uniform vocabulary used by those who are engaged in it. If a person refuses to conform to that vocabulary, he will be misunderstood and have a hard time communicating his thoughts and ideas.
7. THE SUM OF GOD'S WORD IS THE TRUTH
Next, but not least, it very important for us to realize that THE SUM OF GOD'S WORD IS THE TRUTH (Psalms 119:160 NASB). A particular scripture will contain some truth, but it won't necessarily contain all the truth on that given subject. For instance, we know that the Bible pictures God as a God of love and mercy as in Ephesians 2:4. This scripture is true, but it is an incomplete picture of God for it says in that God is a God who inflicts wrath, Romans 3:5. When one examines a subject, he needs to take all the scriptures on that subject, then he will have the whole truth.
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If we follow these rules in rightly dividing the word of God, it will eliminate many a conflict and apparent contradictions and misunderstandings in the Bible. As we said, unfortunately many people will not do what it takes to follow God, this is just one more time that most people struggle, though, because they perceive it as a work instead of the blessing that is being offered.
To show that you understand the above ways to rightly divide the Word of God,
please explain how you use each of the seven steps to determine
what you believe is the meaning of the following verse and specifically who it is for:
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
It is not required as part of the 'STEPS TO BAPTISM & BEYOND', but...
Please share your answers via the box below.
please explain how you use each of the seven steps to determine
what you believe is the meaning of the following verse and specifically who it is for:
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
It is not required as part of the 'STEPS TO BAPTISM & BEYOND', but...
Please share your answers via the box below.
We offer different types of FREE Bible studies.
Just click on the underlined title to see these studies.
14 Bible Studies:
This is a set of 14 different lessons for you to share and study that covers basic knowledge of the Bible itself.
This is for anyone above the age of eight that would like to test their knowledge.
Just click on the underlined title to see these studies.
14 Bible Studies:
This is a set of 14 different lessons for you to share and study that covers basic knowledge of the Bible itself.
This is for anyone above the age of eight that would like to test their knowledge.