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were to become acquainted with the everyday life of these same folk, one would find that the principle of
"right division" was practised by them all day and every day. Are such so opposed to the principle of
"right division" that they would tolerate being served with their luncheon in the following order:
Lentil Soup with Pineapple and Custard.
Roast Beef, Yorkshire Pudding and Marmalade.
Coffee and
Mayonnaise.
Or, if you accompanied them to business, would they wear flannels or a bathing costume at the Board
Meeting? Would they ruin their business by mixing up all the Departments, failing to divide aright
between buyer and seller, between the manufacturing and the financial Departments?
Would you expect that, apart from sheer necessity, your business friend (who so strongly condemns
the "right division" of the Word) would sleep in the bathroom? or would execute his motor repairs in the
drawing room? You most certainly would not, and we will not multiply examples further otherwise this
page will read like sheer lunacy.
By what process of faith or reason therefore can we say, that where "right division" is the one
common principle observed by all men at all times and in all spheres, yet in the matter of understanding
the Word of God this basic principle must be looked on with suspicion, and they who use it treated as
"dangerous"? Let us put aside any prejudice we may entertain, and just face this matter of "right
division" afresh. We will look at the matter from the following points of view:
This principle of right division is a command written in Scripture, and therefore binding upon everyone that
(1)
nameth the name of Christ.
(2)
The expression "rightly divide" was clearly understood in the days of Paul, being found in the common Version
of the Old Testament of his day.
(3) Every Protestant preacher of the Gospel must, and always does, make one clear application of "right division",
however he may condemn its further application by others.
(4) Christ Himself has left us an example that we must in all common honesty respect and follow.
The consideration of these four items will be limited to the space available, and then only in a very
simple way.
(1) The Command
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
Word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).
To be (a) approved unto God, and (b) unashamed of one"s work are so important that no one will set
aside lightly any honest attempt to comply with this command, however much in so doing some items of
one"s creed may need re-adjusting.
(2) The Meaning
The reader may be thankful that, in this particular, he is independent of dictionaries and doctors,
grammar or Greek. All that he needs to know is:
(a) Timothy was the son of a Jewess and a Greek (Acts 16:1).
(b) He lived in Asia Minor, and would naturally read the Septuagint Version of the Old Testament Scriptures.