1. 2Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV)
A. Study denotes "to exert oneself, endeavor, give diligence."
Gal 2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. (KJV)
Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (KJV)
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. (KJV)
2Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (KJV)
2Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (KJV)
B. Rightly dividing "dropping the idea of cutting, to make straight and smooth;...to handle aright i.e. to teach the truth correctly and directly."
C. A.S.V. "give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling a straight course in the word of truth or rightly dividing the word of truth."
2. Too many preachers and teachers have never learned this lesson:
A. Going to Old Testament to prove instrumental music.
B. Going to the Old Testament to prove conversion by faith only (thief on the cross).
3. We must decide ourselves to rightly dividing the word of truth, so in our teaching and preaching we can cut a straight course.
I. AN OVERALL DIVISION OF THE BIBLE.
A. The Bible contains a total of sixty-six books.
B. The books are naturally broken down into two major divisions.
1. The Old Testament (39 books, Genesis through Malachi)
2. The New Testament (27 books, Matthew through Revelation).
II. THE DIVISION OF THE BIBLE BY BOOKS.
A. The Old Testament is broken down into five divisions.
1. Law (5 books, Gen. through Deut.).
2. History (12 books, Joshua through Ester).
3. Poetical (5 books, Job through Song of Solomon).
4. Major Prophets (5 books, Isa. through Dan.).
5. Minor Prophets (12 books, Hos. through Mal.).
B. The New Testament is broken down into four divisions.
1. Gospels (4 books, Matt. through John).
2. History (1 book, Acts).
3. Letters (21 books, Rom. through Jude).
4. Prophecy (1 book, Rev.).
C. The Old Testament points to Christ that He is coming.
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (KJV)
Gen 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. (KJV)
Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (KJV)
The New Testament books of Matthew through John show He is come and is designed to produce faith in Him.
John 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (KJV)
Acts shows how one is converted and then saved by him, Romans through Jude show us how to live once we have been saved. Revelation shows us the victory to be enjoyed when we are saved by Him and live for Him.
III. THE DIVISION OF THE BIBLE BY PERIODS.
A. As one carefully studies the Bible he sees that it breaks down into certain periods.
1. Antediluvian period (period before the flood - from creation to the flood).
Genesis chapter 1-8.
2. Postdiluvian period (period after the flood - from the flood to the call of Abraham).
Genesis chapter 9-11.
3. Patriarchal period (from the call of Abraham to the descent into Egypt).
Genesis chapter 12-50.
4. Egyptian period (period of bondage - from the descent into Egypt to the crossing of the Red Sea - 400 - 430 years).
Exodus chapter 1-12.
5. Period of wandering (from crossing of the Red Sea to the crossing of Jordan - 40 years).
Exodus chapter 12-40. (Lev., Num., Deut.)
6. Period of conquest (from the crossing of Jordan to the appointment of the first judge).
The book of Joshua.
7. Period of Judges (from the appointment of the first judge to the establishment of the kingdom).
The book of Judges.
8. Period of the United Kingdom (from the establishment of the kingdom to the division of the kingdom).
I Sam. 8-31; II Sam; I Kings 1-11; I Chron. 10-29; II Chron. 1-9
9. Period of the divided kingdom (from the division of the kingdom to the fall of Sumaria - 722 BC).
I Kings 12; II Kings 17; II Chron. 10-36 (Isa., Jer., Lam., Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Hab., and Zeph.)
10. Period of Judah alone (from the fall of Sumaria - 722 BC to the fall of Jerusalem 586 BC).
II Kings 18-25
11. Period of Babylonian captivity (from the fall of Jerusalem to the decree of Cyrus) 70 years.
Dan,. Ezek., and Psa. 137.
12. Period of Restoration and Return (from the decree of Cyrus to the end of Nehemiah's work).
Ezra, Neh., Ester, Hag., Zech., and Mal.
a. First return under Zerubbabel 536 BC (50,000, purpose to rebuild the temple).
b. Second return under Ezra 485 BC (1,800 purpose to restore worship).
c. Third return under Nehemiah 444 BC (purpose to rebuild the walls).
13. Period between the testaments. (from the end of Nehemiah's word to the coming of John the Baptist).
14. Period of Christ (from the coming of John the Baptist to Pentecost of Acts 2).
Books of Matt., Mark, Luke, John, and Acts 1.
15. Period of the Church (from Acts 2 to the close of Revelation)
a. Growth of the church, Acts 2-28.
b. Demeanor of the church, Romans through Jude.
c. Victory of the church, Revelation.
IV. THE DIVISION OF THE BIBLE BY DISPENSATIONS.
A. The patriarchal dispensation.
1. The Patriarchal derives it's name from the father of the family or tribe. Patriarch means father. Under this system the father regulates the religious and political affairs. God spoke to the father and the father to the members of the family.
2. This system of religion was recognized as a family system, each family was allowed under the guidance of God to carry out its own affairs.
3. What was commanded of one patriarch may not have been commanded of another.
a. Noah was commanded to build an ark, other patriarchs did not receive such a command.
b. Abraham was commanded to prepare to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice, but the command was not issued to other patriarchs.
4. This system lasted for about 2,500 years from Adam to the giving of the law at Sinai.
B. The Jewish dispensation.
1. This system grew out of the promise to Abraham "I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee..."
Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: (KJV)
The law was an outgrowth of this promise and was given 430 years after the promise.
Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. (KJV)
2. This system of religion is known as a national system. The Jewish system was man's first written system of religion.
3. One person of the Jewish dispensation was to keep Abraham's posterity a separate and distinct race unto the promised seed (Christ) should come.
Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. (KJV)
The Mosaic dispensation has been called "The middle wall of partition" for it separated the Jews from other nations.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (KJV)
4. Some purposes of the law:
a. It was a shadow of good things to come.
Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (KJV)
b. It served as an example.
1Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (KJV)
c. It served as a school master.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (KJV)
5. The Jewish system was to be temporary.
Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (KJV)
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (KJV)
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (KJV)
C. The Christian dispensation.
1. This system grew out of God's spiritual promise to Abraham "and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."
Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (KJV)
2. This is the new covenant of which Jeremiah prophesied.
Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (KJV)
The author of Hebrews declares the fulfillment of this prophesy in the new covenant.
Heb 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. (KJV)
3. The change of the priesthood necessitated a change of law.
Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. (KJV)
Under the new covenant Christ serves as our high priest.
Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (KJV)
And every Christian is a priest.
1Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (KJV)
4. The new covenant could not become operative until the death of Christ.
Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. (KJV)
Thus when Christ died the Old Testament became inoperative.
5. The Christian dispensation has been given to all nations.
Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (KJV)
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (KJV)
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (KJV)
6. Under the new covenant Christ must be obeyed.
Deut 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; (KJV)
Acts 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. (KJV)
Matt 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (KJV)
Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (KJV)
V. A COMPARISON OF THE TWO COVENANTS
1. a. Old Covenant.
2Cor 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament;which vail is done away in Christ. (KJV)
b. New Covenant
2Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (KJV)
2. a. Takes away first.
Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (KJV)
b. Establishes second.
Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (KJV)
3. a. Given by prophets.
Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (KJV)
b. Given by Christ.
Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (KJV)
4. a. Given to Jews.
Gen 17:13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. (KJV)
b. Given to every creature.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (KJV)
5. a. Written on stones.
2Cor 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: (KJV)
b. Written in hearts.
2Cor 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. (KJV)
6. a. Shadow of good things.
Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (KJV)
b. The True.
Heb 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. (KJV)
7. a. Offering often times the same sacrifices.
Heb 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (KJV)
b. Christ offered once for all.
Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. (KJV)
8. a. Blood of animals.
Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (KJV)
b. Blood of Christ.
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (KJV)
9. a. Animals as dead sacrifices.
Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (KJV)
b. Human body as living sacrifice.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (KJV)
10. a. A remembrance of sins.
Heb 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. (KJV)
b. Sins remembered no more.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (KJV)
11. a. Made nothing perfect or complete.
Heb 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. (KJV)
b. Perfect or complete in Christ.
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (KJV)
12. a. Fleshly circumcision.
Gen 17:9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. (KJV)
b. Circumcision of the heart.
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. (KJV)
13. a. Ministration of condemnation.
2Cor 3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. (KJV)
b. Ministration of righteousness.
2Cor 3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. (KJV)
14. a. Levitical priesthood.
Heb 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? (KJV)
b. Each Christian a priest.
1Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (KJV)
15. a. Old priesthood and law.
Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. (KJV)
b. Priesthood and law changed.
Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. (KJV)
16. a. Faulty.
Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. (KJV)
b. Perfect law.
James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (KJV)
17. a. Blotted out.
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (KJV)
b. Remaineth.
2Cor 3:11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. (KJV)
1. If people would rightly divide the word of truth it would correct many misunderstandings and remove the problem of:
A. Instrumental music.
B. Premillialism.
C. Thief of the cross.
D. Sabbath keeping, etc.
2. Let us all work hard that handle aright the word of truth by studying hard and being open to correction.
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