Teach the Truth

KEY VERSE: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” —II Timothy 2:15

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: II Timothy 2:14-26

AFTER HAVING COME to some knowledge of the Scriptures, we must meditate upon them and consider how the Word of God is applicable to all life’s affairs. The central thought of our lives should be the approving of ourselves to God, not to man. The Prophet David spoke of such contemplative study in these words: “My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.” (Ps. 119:48) David agreed with the Apostle Paul, who, as shown by the words of our Key Verse, knew that the chief aim of one who dedicates his life to God, either in past ages, or during the present Gospel Age, or the future Millennial Age, is to please the Heavenly Father and to be approved by him.

“Rightly dividing the Word of truth,” signifies not only understanding the Scriptures correctly and harmoniously, but also the proper application of the Word of truth in our lives. Throughout the millennia until the time of the apostles and writers of the New Testament, God’s message to man was given solely through the prophecies and lessons of the Old Testament. As Paul said in Hebrews 1:1,2, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.” After our Lord left the earthly scene, he provided apostles and elders to be his special mouthpieces to explain and enhance the writings of the Old Testament.

Rightly dividing the Word of truth involves applying each scripture of the Bible correctly from several aspects. First: to whom is the writer speaking?; second: to which period of time is the writer referring? third: is the reference to be taken literally or symbolically?

For instance, some scriptures refer to events which occurred in the past. Noah prophesied that God would send a devastating Flood upon the earth. It would not be proper for us to make such a prophecy today, because it has already been fulfilled in the distant past. Some prophecies are still to be fulfilled, and many have already been fulfilled. We must discern between them.

Another example could be Isaiah’s prophecy which reads: “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain [kingdom]: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9) We realize that this prophecy remains to be fulfilled. An example of symbolism is also contained in this verse, in the use of the word ‘mountain’. Bible students have discovered that in the Bible, mountains are used to symbolize kingdoms.

An example of another factor—who is being spoken to, or of, as well as the time in which it was spoken—could be illustrated in this scripture: “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” (Amos 3:2) This reference is to the Jewish nation, and involved the period of time when God dealt only with the Israelites, up until three and one-half years after Jesus’ death. And then Ezekiel 21:25-27 went into effect: “I [God] will overturn, overturn, overturn it [the Jew’s position of being God’s chosen people, represented in their king, and his crown] and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.”

As we make use of the many translations of the Bible available today, which simplify the wording, it becomes easier to rightly divide the word of truth. Concordances, Bible dictionaries, and other Bible helps, are aids of which we should take advantage.

The Lord promised that he would guide his people through his Holy Spirit. We seek daily to have our conduct harmonize with God’s principles. To do this we have the Holy Spirit to help us to know and do the will of the Heavenly Father. If we follow the Captain of our salvation, Jesus Christ the righteous one, we shall indeed be an honor to him, and pleasing to our Heavenly Father.

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