Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

Contents

• Introduction .......................................... 3
• Jew, Gentile, and Church of God .......... 3
• Seven Dispensations ............................. 8
• Two Advents ........................................ 11
• Two Resurrections .............................. 17
• Five Judgments ................................... 19
• Law and Grace .................................... 23
• Believer’s Two Natures ....................... 28
• Believer’s Standing and State ............ 31
• Salvation and Rewards ....................... 35
• True Believers and Mere Professors .. 37
• Closing Thoughts ................................ 39

Scriptures are from the King James Version unless otherwise specified.

Introduction

In 2 Timothy 2, the believer is presented in seven characters: as son (v. 1), soldier (v. 3), athlete (v. 5), husbandman (v. 6), workman (v. 15), vessel (v. 21), and servant (v. 24). As a son, Timothy is exhorted to be strong in grace. Grace goes with sonship, just as law goes with servitude. We learn this from Galatians. As a soldier, Timothy is exhorted to endure hardness and to avoid worldly entanglements; these are right elements of good soldiership. As a vessel, he is to be cleansed and separated; as a servant, he should be gentle, patient, and meek.

In 2 Timothy 2:15, he is told what is required of him as a workman: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

The Word of Truth, then, has right divisions, and one cannot be “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed” without observing them. So, any study of that Word which ignores those divisions must be confusing. Many Christians confess that they find the study of the Bible weary work. More find it so, but are ashamed to admit it. The purpose of this pamphlet is to indicate the more important divisions of the Word of Truth. Enough is given to enable the diligent student to perceive the greater outlines of truth and something of the ordered beauty and symmetry of that Word of God which, to the natural mind, seems a mere confusion of conflicting ideas.

Do not receive any doctrine upon the authority of this booklet, but, like the Bereans (Acts 17:11), search the Scriptures whether these things are so. No appeal is made to human authority: “The anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you” (1 Jn. 2:27).

Jew, Gentile, and Church of God

Whoever reads the Bible cannot fail to perceive that over half of its contents relate to one nation, the Israelites, and that they have a very distinct place in the dealings and counsels of God. Separated from the mass of mankind, they are taken into covenant with Jehovah, who gives them specific promises not given to any other nation. Their history alone is told in Old Testament narrative and prophecy—other nations being mentioned only as they touch them.

It appears, also, that all the communications of Jehovah to Israel as a nation relate to the earth. If faithful and obedient, the nation is promised earthly riches and power; if unfaithful and disobedient, it is to be scattered “among all people, from one end of the earth even to the other” (Dt. 28:64). Even the promise of the Messiah is of blessing to “all the families of the earth.”

Continuing his research, the student finds much in Scripture about another distinct body called the Church. This body also has a peculiar relation to God, and, like Israel, has received from Him specific promises. But there the similarity ends, and the most striking contrast begins. Instead of being formed of the natural descendants of Abraham alone, it is a body in which the distinction of Jew and Gentile is lost. Instead of the relation being one of mere covenant, it is one of birth. Instead of obedience bringing the reward of earthly greatness and wealth, the Church is taught to be content with food and raiment, and to expect persecution and hatred. Just as Israel is connected with earthly and temporal things, so is the Church connected with spiritual and heavenly things.

Further, Scripture shows the reader that neither Israel nor the Church always existed. Each had a recorded beginning. That of Israel he finds in the call of Abram. Looking then for the birth of the Church, he finds (contrary to his expectations, for he has probably been taught that Adam and the Patriarchs are in the Church) that it certainly did not exist before, nor during the earth-life of Christ. He finds Him speaking of His Church as yet future when He says, “Upon this rock I will build my church” (Mt. 16:18): not have built, nor am building, but will build.

He finds, too, from Ephesians 3:5-10, that the Church is not once mentioned in Old Testament prophecy, but was, in those ages, a mystery “hid in God.” He finds the birth of the Church in Acts 2 and its termination on the earth in Thessalonians 4.

The student also finds, in the scriptural division of the race, another class, rarely mentioned, and distinguished in every respect from either Israel or the Church—the Gentiles. The comparative position of the Jew, the Gentile, and the Church may be briefly seen in the following Scriptures:

• The Jew: Romans 9:4-5, John 4:22, Romans 3:1-2
• The Gentile: Ephesians 2:11-12, Ephesians 4:17-18, Mark 7:27-28
• The Church: Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 5:29-33, 1 Peter 2:9

Comparing what is said in Scripture concerning Israel and the Church, the student finds that in origin, calling, promise, worship, principles of conduct, and future destiny, all is contrast.