In 2 Timothy 2:15, the Greek word for “dividing” is, “orthotomeō” and means, “to make a straight cut.”  When you make a straight cut of something, the result is that you now have two distinguishable parts.  Rightly dividing the Word of Truth involves making clear distinctions between biblical things.  We must be able to distinguish between the Old and New Testaments, what is authorized or unauthorized, and whether things are generic or specific in nature.  Now, in keeping with the subject of authorization, we also need to make a straight cut between examples that are binding or not.

Over the years, brethren have both added and taken away from the Word of God because of a failure in this area.  For example, some have taught that baptism must take place in running water because that is the only kind of example we have in the New Testament.  However, everyone knows that they did not have church buildings in the first century as ours today, let alone baptistries.  Does that mean that baptism must always take place in rivers and other sources of running water?  The answer is no, and only those who do not understand when a Bible example is binding, and when it is not, would say yes.  As a result, they teach something that the Bible does not, adding to the Word of God.

Then some take away from God’s Word.  For example, Acts 20:7 gives us the example of God’s people partaking of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week.  Denominational churches have concluded for many years that Acts 20:7 is not a binding example; thus, they do not partake of the Lord’s Supper weekly, and sometimes not even on the first day of the week, taking away from God’s Word.

Those who rightly divide the Word of Truth partake of the Lord’s Supper every first day of the week, following the example set by the first-century church.

How do we know when a Bible example is binding and avoid adding to or taking away from the Word of Truth?  This is how we know.  When an example reflects specific authority, it is binding, and when it reflects generic authority, it is not.  Let’s look closer at Acts 20:7.

There are a lot of things in this passage that are not binding.  The disciples met in an upper room that had many lights and Paul preached a sermon until midnight.  Are all those things binding?  No, because they do not reflect specific statements or commands found in the Bible.  While God specified that we meet by commanding that we do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25), He never specified that it had to be in an upper room with many lights.  That makes those things incidentals that are optional, but not binding.

On the other hand, the meeting itself, and the day it is to take place reflect specific statements and commands, making them obligatory.  God demands that we worship Him on the first day of the week, that is, the Lord’s Day.  How do we know?  We know it because that is the day the first-century church gathered together to observe the Lord’s Supper and engage in other acts of worship (1 Corinthians 11:18-30).  It is clear from 1 Corinthians 11 that this is the assembling that God commands us not to forsake.  How do we know it is the first day of the week?  Because a short time later, in the same book, Paul wrote about another act of worship that they were commanded to do when they came together, that is, lay by in store as they had been blessed by God (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).  In this passage, we are told the day, that is, the first day of the week.

The example of the church at Troas partaking of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week simply reflected the specific statements and commands found in 1 Corinthians.  As valuable as the example is, we would know, even if Acts 20:7 did not exist, that we are to partake of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week.

If we are to rightly divide the Word of Truth, we can add properly distinguishing between binding and non-binding examples to the list.  Other things need discussing on this matter, but if we do the things that we have considered this week, it will go a long way in helping us to rightly handle God’s Word.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.