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Moreover, let us repeat that what is here to be "rightly divided' is, and remains, the
Word of Truth. No "higher critical" cutting up of the Scriptures is countenanced by this
Word, and indeed we have only to read on to find in II Tim. 3: 16 one of the most
emphatic statements concerning the inspiration of the Scriptures that the record contains.
We can, however, easily rob the Word of its "truth" if we fail to "rightly divide" it. We
can confound law and grace, to our undoing; we can preach Moses where we ought to
preach Christ. We can be concerned with "earthly things", to our loss, if our calling is
associated with "things above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God". If we
attempt to spiritualize the promises made to the fathers, we rob the word of promise of its
truth. If we misinterpret Israel as of the Church; if we confound the Bride with the
Body; if we preach the gospel of the circumcision to the Gentile to-day; if we do any of
these things, we rob the Word of its truth.
One glorious result of "rightly dividing the word of truth" is that every statement of
God may be taken without alteration. For instance, in the case of the promise, "The meek
shall inherit the earth", a rightly divided word has no need to substitute "heaven" for
"earth".
Let us heed this word of exhortation. If we are not occupied with that part of God's
purpose which has a present application, we shall most certainly be ashamed of our work.
In other words, whether found in Genesis, Romans, Ephesians or the Revelation,
"dispensational truth" is all the truth there is.
Happy is that workman who, though suffering under the disapproval of tradition, is
approved unto God; that workman who will have no need to be ashamed of his work,
because he has obeyed the great all-covering principle,
"Rightly dividing the Word of truth."
#22. The Unashamed Workman,
and his attitude to Error and Evil (2: 16).
pp. 232 - 235
The positive exhortation that had as its goal Divine approval and as its principle "right
division" (II Tim. 2: 15) is followed by a strong negative exhortation, which is very
characteristic of these pastoral epistles.
"But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness"
(II Tim. 2: 16).
This exhortation reverts back to verse 14 which speaks of striving about words to no
profit but the subverting of the hearers. The word "profane" bebelos occurs five times in
the epistles, and bebeloo the verb occurs twice, once in the Gospels and once in the Acts.
Let us acquaint ourselves with the usage of this word.