The word translated 'rightly dividing' was in use before Paul wrote his epistle
to Timothy, for it is found in the LXX (Greek Version of the Old Testament compiled
long before Christ) of Proverbs 3:6, where it is used for 'rightly dividing'
a path -- A.V. 'Direct thy paths'. While, as we have said, all Scripture is
written for us, it was not all addressed to us or written about us, and before
we consider the meaning of words or the grammatical construction of sentences,
we must see to it that we do not confuse 'things that differ'.
Let us once more turn to the example of Him whom we call Master and Lord. In
Luke 4:18,19 we have a quotation from Isaiah 61, but if the reader will compare
these two passages he will find that the Lord shut the book half-way through
a verse. He closed His quotation with 'the acceptable year of the Lord', for
He was about to add: 'This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears' (Luke
4:21). Such a statement could not have been made, had the quotation been complete,
for Isaiah goes on to speak of a day of vengeance. This day of vengeance is
future, and between the two statements in Isaiah lies the bulk of Luke's Gospel.
We do not meet with these days until the prophecy on the Mount is given: 'For
these be the days of vengeance' (Luke 21:22).
Here, therefore, the Lord 'rightly divided' Isaiah's prophecy, allotting one
portion to the days of His first advent, and the other to His second coming.
The ways of God with men are differentiated into dispensations. This word, used
by Paul of the present dispensation of the grace of God to Gentiles (Eph. 3:1,2)
means 'the administration of a household' or, as it is translated in Luke 16:2,
'stewardship'. The church at Jerusalem was compelled to recognise the distinctive
'stewardships' or 'dispensations' given to Peter and Paul (Gal. 2:6-10), and
saw that the distinction involved not only 'apostleship' but 'gospel'. There
are some, prompted we do not doubt by a zeal for the glory of God, who quote
Galatians 1:8 against any who dare to suggest that there is more than one gospel
in the Scriptures. They fail to see that they would need to quote this verse
against the Council of the Church at Jerusalem. Let us see the passages together
:
'But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed' (Gal. 1:8).
' ... Fourteen years after ... I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles' (Gal. 2:1,2).
' ... When they saw that the gospel of (not merely 'to') the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter ... they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen (Gentiles), and they unto the circumcision' (Gal. 2:7,9).
Paul's anathema is against any who preach to the Gentile Galatians any other
gospel than that of the uncircumcision, for 'certain men which came down from
Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner
of Moses, ye cannot be saved' (Acts 15:1).
The gospel of the circumcision differs from the gospel of the uncircumcision
in many particulars. What would Paul's gospel be without justification by faith,
and reconciliation? Yet neither of these basic doctrines finds expression in
Peter's ministry.
When a letter is delivered to our door by the postman, we usually look at the
envelope before we open it and read the letter, for it may be addressed to another
member of the family. When we open the Bible, we should also look at the envelope,
for, though all the redeemed are one family, they have different spheres, different
callings, different destinies. Some are to 'inherit the earth', others are to
be 'seated together in heavenly places' and instructions sent to guide the one
may not always fit the other.
Isaiah's prophecy is wonderfully evangelical, yet it is wise to note the inspired
'address' -- 'Concerning Judah and Jerusalem' (Isa. 1:1).
Peter's epistles contain much precious truth, yet the believer called during
the present dispensation of grace to the Gentiles would be wise to note that
Peter does not transgress the bounds of his administration; he still ministers
to the circumcision and addresses himself to 'the dispersion' -- the people
of Israel scattered among the nations. If this is noted, the Gentile reader
may be saved from misappropriating the exclusively Jewish calling of a 'kingdom
of priests'. 'A royal priesthood, a holy nation' does not describe the character
of the church of the One Body.
The epistle of James is addressed to 'the twelve tribes which are scattered
abroad'-- (Jas. 1:1), and we therefore consider that no Gentile assembly or
Gentile minister can find scriptural warrant from James 5:14 for anointing the
sick with oil.
Other divisions of truth that are vital to its true understanding are :
The distinction between law and grace.
The difference between standing and state.
The distinction between salvation and service.
The difference between kingdom and church.
And there are many others which the earnest student will recognize as he pursues
the truth through the Word.
Once again we must remember that our object here is to make a 'declaration',
the explanation and defence being subsidiary. Each heading would demand a volume
to itself if we would present it in any measure of completeness. We therefore
must leave the matter here, with the declaration that we most sincerely believe
that to attain unto the truth of the Word of God, that Word must be divided
rightly, especially with reference to its varied 'dispensations'. 'Distinguish
the dispensations, and discrepancies disappear'.
The interested reader will find the pamphlet, United yet Divided, a Key to Holy
Scripture, by the same author and publisher, of help in this matter of right
division.