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FOUR PILLARS OF A HEALTHY PASTOR FOR HEALTHY CHURCHES

Pillar 2: Right Division Approach to Interpretation

SUMMARY:

A right division approach to the Scriptures leads to the right gospel for this dispensation which is Paul’s gospel
and Paul’s preaching of Jesus Christ for the dispensation of grace and the church.

PASSGE:

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

To “rightly divide” the Word of Truth which is the Word of God is to cut straight, handle rightly and teach rightly
the Word of God. In essence, we are not to mix up, garble or criss-cross when it comes to the Word of God. To
mix up the Word of God causes confusion but to rightly divide allows us to see God’s specific dealings, what
belongs to us and what does not belong to us.

To rightly divide begins with answering 3 important questions:

1. Who is talking? (the author)

In answering this question, we need to determine God’s spokesperson in the passage. Here are God’s
spokespersons throughout biblical history:

a. Adam – pertaining to dominion on earth

b. Noah – pertaining to dominion on the earth and a covenant; in his time we learn that God judges sin
and God changes how He operates towards man

c. Abraham – pertaining to the promise of a great nation, a chosen nation over the earth; in his time
circumcision is required as mark of the covenant

d. Moses – pertaining to Israel, God’s nation on earth; in his time on top of circumcision, observance
of the Law, its sacrifices, ordinances, festivals and washings etc. are to be kept

e. David – pertaining to the promise of a Messiah and a kingdom

f. The Prophets – pertaining to God keeping His covenants and need to repent

g. John the Baptist – pertaining to God’s covenant of faithfulness, add to the need to repent is water
baptism

h. Jesus – pertaining to the Kingdom as fulfilment of God’s covenants, add to the need to repentance
and baptism, the need to believe on His name as the Son of God; that He is the Messiah, the rightful
King of Israel.

i. Peter and the 12 – pertaining to the Kingdom as the fulfilment of God’s covenants, add to belief on
Jesus’ name as the Messiah, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and the reception of the Holy Spirit

j. Paul – pertaining to the mystery kept for the ages where the Jew and the Gentile are ONE Body in
Christ, the church; the dispensation of grace for the church where Jew and Gentiles are one.
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k. The witnesses and messengers in Revelation – pertaining to tribulation where the church is raptured;
Israel is purified and the ushering of the Millennial Kingdom

2. Who is being talked to? (the recipients)

Three basic recipients:

a. Israel which further divides into:

1) Israel/Jews under the Law – parts of Genesis, Exodus to Mid Acts

2) Israel/Jews in the Tribulation Period in the Olivet Discourse and other parts of the gospels
as well as the Hebrew Epistles and Revelation

b. Gentiles – first part of Genesis; some parts of the Prophets

c. The church of God (where Jew and Gentiles are ONE) – Pauline Epistles

3. What dispensation is this? (dispensational placement)

The dispensations can be viewed as:

a. Specific Dispensations

1) Innocence
2) Conscience
3) Human Government
4) Promise
5) Law Part 1: Moses to the Gospels
6) Grace
7) Law Part 2: Tribulation Period in the Hebrew Epistles
8) Millennial Kingdom

b. Covenants in the Dispensations

1) Adamic Covenant = The Law of Sin and Death

2) Noahic Covenant
3) Abrahamic Covenant
4) Mosaic Covenant = The Law of Commandments
5) Davidic Covenant
6) New Covenant in Christ = The Law of the Spirit of Life

c. Focus of the Dispensations

1) Law and Grace

2) Israel and Church
3) Earth and Heaven
4) Prophecy and Mystery

To rightly divide the Word of Truth, therefore, helps us to see what parts of the Bible are for us specifically given
for our dispensation of grace, the church age and what is not for us but for our learning only. In such a way,
we avoid confusion and facilitate understanding of the whole of Scriptures and well as its parts.
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Right division leads us to the right gospel from the right spokesperson in the right dispensation.

 Right gospel

So what is the gospel?

The word “gospel” in its noun and verb forms occurs 104 times in the NT. 15 times it is used in the gospels but
pertains to the good news of the Kingdom of God being initiated by the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Messiah.

It is used 6 times in the Book of Acts that shows the historical progression of the gospel as it moved from the
Jews in Jerusalem to the Israelites in Samaria and the Gentiles in the uttermost parts of the world.

It is used 6 times in the General Epistles and Revelation continuing either the thought of the gospel progression
in Acts or the gospel of the Kingdom.

But I believe, the gospel that is for us as Gentiles and the church is the gospel that is used by the Apostle Paul
in his epistles which is a staggering 74 times!

The sheer volume of references should be enough to grab our attention!

Now, the Apostle Paul used phrases with the word “gospel” to give us its CONCRETE content. The phrases are:

 The gospel of God

 The gospel of the grace of God
 The gospel of His Son, Christ
 The gospel of our salvation
 The hope of the gospel
 The peace of the gospel
 The truth of the gospel

To put it in a nutshell: The gospel is that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried and on the third day rose
again.

This is unique to the Apostle Paul.

Consider:

 "The gospel unto Abraham" said nothing about Christ being raised from the dead (Gal. 3.8)

 The "gospel of the kingdom" preached by Jesus and the 12 apostles said nothing about Christ being
raised from the dead (Matt 9.35).

 Only the gospel which Paul received by revelation of Jesus Christ declares that Christ was raised from
the dead, and for our justification (Gal. 1.11-12 and Rom. 4.25)

And to be emphatic: Paul’s gospel is a unique gospel!

 Right spokesperson

How is Paul’s gospel a unique gospel?

o Because Paul is the Apostle and spokesperson of God for the Gentiles
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We read Paul’s words in the following verses:

Romans 11:13

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

Galatians 2:8

(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me
toward the Gentiles:)

2 Timothy 1:11

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

o Because Paul declares that salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ alone

Galatians 3:14

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the
promise of the Spirit through faith.

o Because Paul declares the dispensation of grace that the Jews and Gentiles are ONE BODY in
Christ

Ephesians 3:6

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the
gospel:

There is a distinct difference between dispensations as we would observe in Peter’s preaching before the Jews
in Acts 2 where in Pentecost, Peter, after the descent of the Spirit, preaches in the temple to Jews from all over
the world (hence the necessity of speaking in tongues then). There were 3,000 who were saved at that time.
Pattern is that Peter preached, they were "pricked in the heart" and they asked what should they do? Peter
replied "Repent and be baptized".

On the other hand, in Acts 10, the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles. Peter preached the gospel that Jesus was
slain for our iniquities and God raised Him up from the dead.

The former needs to do something to be saved as marked by the falling of the Holy Spirit while the latter, the
Holy Spirit fell already as Peter was still preaching.

And by virtue of these realities, we must take heed of what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 16:25-25:

Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made
manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made
known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

We must establish the church in Paul’s gospel which can only be seen when we rightly divide.
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Also, we read in our passage:

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

When we rightly divide we can be a “workman that needeth not to be ashamed”. How can a “workman” be
ashamed?

 Negatively (ashamed): When we are confronted by contradictions

The following are the contradictions resolved by right division:

o Is justification with works or without works?

Romans 4:5

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for
righteousness.

James 2:24

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Romans is written by Paul to the church where Jew and Gentile are ONE body of Christ in the dispensation of
grace where salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. James is written to the 12 tribes of Israel
in the dispensation of the Law where salvation is by faith and works.

o Is salvation by good works or by grace apart from works?

Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest
any man should boast.

Luke 10:25-29

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal
life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy
mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou
shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

Ephesians is written by the Apostle Paul to the church which is the body of Christ in the dispensation of grace
where salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. Luke records the events in the time of the Lord
Jesus’ earthly ministry in the dispensation of the Law where salvation is by works since Christ had not yet died
for our sins, buried and raised for our justification.
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o How are sins forgiven?

Colossians 1:14

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

John 20:23

23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are
retained.

In Colossians which is written by the Apostle Paul for the church where the Jew and the Gentile are ONE body
in Christ in the dispensation of grace, the basis of our forgiveness is Christ’s death on the cross where in John
we see the absolution of sins by the power of the apostles in the dispensation to come of the Law where salvation
is by faith and works.

o Is repentance and baptism necessary to salvation?

Acts 16:31

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Acts 2:38

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Paul’s gospel is to simply believe for the dispensation of grace while Peter has repent and be baptized for the
dispensation of the Law where salvation is by faith and works.

o Is Sabbath observance required?

Colossians 2:16

16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of
the sabbath days:

Exodus 20:8-10

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the
seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy
daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

The Sabbath is the requirement of the Law for the Jews. In the dispensation of grace we are not under the law.
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o Is circumcision necessary to salvation?

Galatians 5:2-6

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again
to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto
you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for
the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor
uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Genesis 17:10-14

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. 12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every
man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is
not of thy seed. 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. 14 And the uncircumcised
man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath
broken my covenant.

Circumcision is the mark of the covenant between Israel and God in the dispensation of the Law; it has no
bearing for the believer in the dispensation of grace.

o Should we tithe?

2 Corinthians 9:7

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God
loveth a cheerful giver.

Matthew 23:23

23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have
omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to
leave the other undone.

Tithing is Old Testament Law commanded to Israel in the dispensation of the Law. The command for the believer
in this dispensation is to give freely and cheerfully.

o Are we secured in Christ eternally or do I need to persevere?

Romans 8:33-39 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is
he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God,
who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are
killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other
creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift,
and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the
world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves
the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Romans assures the believer as by the Apostle Paul in the dispensation of grace that salvation rests on the
finished work of Christ on the cross not us. It addresses the church which is the Jew and Gentile in ONE Body
in Christ. Hebrews however gives no such assurance since it is written to Jews in the dispensation of the Law
where our faith is measured by our merit.

Seeing this, we must do as the Apostle Paul urged Timothy:

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