interpreter in every instance where he has heard and understood what was addressed to

This is the system of interpretation that commends itself to those who seek truth at the

fountain head.

We have looked at the meaning of the word "interpret" in our opening article, and

now we turn our attention to those rules found either within the pages of the Word, or

recognizes as fundamental and necessary by all interpreters in all spheres of their work.

There can be no two thoughts as to what must be the first and fundamental principle, the

chief guiding rule for the unashamed workman. The very term "unashamed workman"

has been borrowed from II Tim. 2: 15, and in that great text will be found the guiding

principle for all right handling of the Word of Truth.

The reader of the Berean Expositor will need no introduction to this text. It has been

printed on the front page of this magazine throughout the years of its witness, and its

application to the subject in hand has become second nature with us. Yet it is remarkable

that while quite a number of volumes have been written entitled "Bible Hermeneutics" or

similar titles, and canvass the subject from end to end, yet not once can we remember

ever seeing II Tim. 2: 15 quoted, let alone commented upon by their authors.

In order that we should give the best to our readers, we have made it a point to consult

various standard works. These includes Fairbairn, Davidson, Ernesti, Seiler, Campbell,

Sawyer, Pareau, Bosanquet, Child, Terry, Cave and Marsh, together with articles in

Encyclopaedias, Introductions and Handbooks, yet the fact remains, not one of these

authors have been under any necessity to give "right division" a place in their schemes.

Although practically every reader is familiar with this theme, we must take nothing for

granted, and must give it as much attention as though it were something new. We

remember that Timothy was the son of a Jewish mother and a Greek father; that he lived

in the province of Galatia, and that it is as certain as anything can be, that he read the

Septuagint version of the O.T. (For an explanation of the title "Septuagint" and what it

entails, the reader is directed to Volume XXII, page 33).  Timothy's mother who had

taught her son the Holy Scriptures since babyhood (II Tim. 1: 5; 3: 15) would most

surely have instructed him in the book of Proverbs. Consequently when the Apostle

wrote to him his second epistle, and Timothy saw the word which is translated "rightly

dividing" in our version, he would have no need to consult a Greek dictionary, it would

have been as familiar to Timothy as any word in the vocabulary of his faith. The Greek