10. "RIGHTLY DIVIDING" THE WORD

us to proceed on our way aright—i.e., by avoiding all the ways that are wrong, and going in the one way that is right; in other words, the right way is divided off from all the wrong ways.

What else can the word mean in 2 Tim. ii. 15?

It matters little what others have thought or said. We could fill a page with their names and their views, but we should learn but little and only become confused. The duties of Priests, Furriers, and Ploughmen have been referred to as indicating the correct meaning. But we need not leave the Biblical usage, which associates the word with guidance in the right way. The scope of the verse plainly teaches that:

(1) Our one great study is to seek GOD'S approval, and not man's.

(2) We are to show all diligence in pursuing this study.

(3) As workmen, our aim is to have no cause to be ashamed of our work.

(4) In order to gain God's approval and avert our own shame we must rightly divide the word of truth.

(5) To do this we must direct our studies in the right way.

(6) This great requirement is associated with the Word in its special character as being the Word of truth; i.e., "the TRUE Word."

All this tells us that we shall not get the truth if we do not thus rightly divide it; and that we shall get the truth only in proportion to our "rightly dividing" it.

Other titles of the Word have their own special requirements. As "the engrafted Word" it must be received with meekness (Jas. i. 21). As "the Faithful Word" we must hold it fast (Tit. i. 9). As "the Word of life" we must hold it forth (Phil. ii. 16). But, because this is "the Word of truth," its paths must be well noted, the sign-posts must be observed, the directions and guides which are in the Word itself must be followed.

We are to "give diligence" to this great Requirement of the Word just because it is "the Word of truth."

III. THE WORD: ITS ONE GREAT REQUIREMENT

It is true that there are many who altogether ignore this precept; and have no thought as to obeying this command in their study of the Word.

There are many who make light of our insistence on obedience to this precept.

On what ground, we ask, are we to treat such an important command as though it had never been given?

Why is not this command as binding on Bible students as any other command in the Word of God?

What motive can such have to blunt the point and dull the edge of this "Sword of the Spirit" in this matter?

Strange to say, those who would be little our efforts in rendering due obedience to this command, are themselves obliged not only to accept its division into chapters, and verses, and punctuated sentences; but they go further, and adopt the division of its subject-matter which is made by the insertion of chapter-headings and running page-headings according to man's own ideas. The only question is, Do they divide it rightly, or wrongly?

For example, in the English Bibles which our readers use, over Isaiah xxix. we notice the running page-heading "Judgment upon Jerusalem"; and on the opposite page, over ch. xxx. we notice the page-heading "God's mercies to His church." Again, over Isaiah lix. we note the chapter-heading "The sins of the Jews"; in the chapter-heading of ch. lx. we note "The glory of the church." And this in spite of the declared fact that this book contains "the Vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem" (ch. i. 1).¹ Surely, this is dividing the Word. But the only question for us to ask is, whether it is divided "rightly" or wrongly.

In the consideration of this great and important requirement there are four principal spheres in which we

¹ If these headings are not found in some of the current editions of our English Bibles, it is only a proof that still greater liberties are taken in changes of these headings.

"RIGHTLY DIVIDING" ITS LITERARY FORM are to give diligence so that we may follow the right ways which are so clearly cut and marked out for our studies.

We must rightly divide the Word of Truth:

i. As to its Literary Form.

ii. As to its Subject-matter.

iii. As to its Times and Dispensations.

iv. As to its Dispensational Truth and Teaching.

We will consider these in their order.

i. RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD AS TO ITS LITERARY FORM.

The "Word" comes to us in our English Translation. But it comes with much that is human in its Literary Divisions; and it is far from being rightly divided.

1. The Two Testaments.

"THE WORD OF GOD" as a whole comes to us in two separate parts: one written, originally, in Hebrew; the other in Greek. Only in the Versions are these two combined, and bound together in one Book.

These divisions, of course, are not human, though the names are by which they are commonly known.

Up to the second century the term "Old Covenant" was used by the Greeks to describe the Hebrew Bible. This passed into the Latin Vulgate as "Vetus Testamentum," from which our English term "Old Testament" was taken. By way of distinction, the Greek portion was naturally spoken of as the "New Testament." But neither of these names is Divine in its origin.

2. The Separate Books of the Bible.

When, however, we come to the Separate Books, though their origin is Divine, the human element is at once apparent.

(a) The Books of the Old Testament.—The Books as we have them to-day are not the same as in the

Hebrew Canon, either as to their number, names, or order.¹

The change first came about when the first Translation of the Hebrew Bible was made into Greek in the Version known as the Septuagint.

It was made in the latter part of the third century B.C. The exact date is not known, but the consensus of opinion leans to about 280—285 B.C.

It is the oldest of all the translations of the Hebrew Text, and its Divisions and arrangement of the Books have been followed in every translation since made.

Man has divided them into four classes: (1) The Law, (2) The Historical Books, (3) The Poetical Books, and (4) The Prophetical Books.

The Lord Jesus divides them into Three classes: (1) The Law, (2) The Prophets, and (3) The Psalms. And who will say that HE did not rightly divide them! But His Division was made according to the Hebrew Bible extant in His day, and not according to man's Greek Translation of it—which was extant also at that time. In the Hebrew Canon these three Divisions contain twenty-four Books, in the following order:—

(i) "The Law" (Torah).

1. Genesis 2. Exodus 3. Leviticus 4. Numbers 5. Deuteronomy

These five books form the Pentateuch.

(ii) "The Prophets" (Nevitm).

6. Joshua 7. Judges 8. Samuel 9. Kings 10. Isaiah 11. Jeremiah 12. Ezekiel

13. The Minor Prophets

"The Former Prophets" (Zech. vii.).

The Latter Prophets.

¹ See a pamphlet on this subject, by the same author, entitled The Names and Order of the Books of the Old Testament.