Lesson Four: Workmen of the Word of God
Dearly beloved of God, God is Spirit. God has given us His Word so that we have a point of contact with Him in the senses realm. His Word expresses His Will.
God revealed His Word so that we do not have to imagine or guess about spiritual matters. The Word of God is a permanent record of the Will of God in writing.
All Scripture is God-breathed. It came by revelation from God Himself. The Word of God is God’s Word. Since it is His Word we should recognize the integrity of His Word, and allow Him to speak for Himself without adding, subtracting, changing, or coloring what He says.
II Peter 1:20,21
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit].
Prophecy is that which God has spoken forth. It does not necessarily involve foretelling.
The word “private” is the Greek word idios, which means “one’s own” or “his own.”
Since the Word of God is of not of one’s own interpretation, we must not let loose upon His Word with our opinions, our ideas, or beliefs. No one should place their ideas above what God has revealed.
In spite of God having the revealed His Word, there are those who are more impressed with what they think about spiritual matters than what God revealed about them. It is dangerous license for anyone to put their words in God’s mouth as though they are His words.
Instead of taking this attitude we need to recognize the integrity of God’s Word. The Word of God must interpret itself, or else there is no interpretation possible.
The Word of God does interpret itself, either in the verse where it is written, or in the context surrounding the verse, or where the identical subject has been mentioned previously.
Every verse regarding the identical subject must agree if we are to have the Word of Truth. Truth cannot contradict itself. The Word of God is our only authority for the truth, therefore, we must recognize the integrity of God's Word, and allow His Word reveal the interpretation to us.
The ideas that may be in the mind of the interpreter are not important, but the words that came out of God’s mouth are what is important.
An interpreter’s ideas or opinions are not a proper basis for rightly dividing the Word of Truth. God’s Word is not of one's own interpretation. There is no valid test for the conclusions one may draw from his own thinking. That cannot be our standard for truth. How then are we to approach the Word of God?
II Timothy 2:15
Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
“Study” is from the Greek word, spoudason. It means to put forth a diligent effort using time wisely.
To whom are we to show ourselves approved? God. It is God’s Word, and His Word is the Word of truth. Therefore we are to put forth a diligent effort to show ourselves approved unto God as workman who are not ashamed of their workmanship before Him.
The words “rightly dividing” are translated from the Greek word, orthotomounta, which means to cut rightly, correctly, or properly. No one is to divide the Word of God as they see fit, but so that it accurately represents what God has revealed.
For example, if there are fifty verses pertaining to the identical subject, then all fifty must agree without any contradiction if we are to have the Word of truth.
“Study to show yourselves approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Since the Bible is the Word of God it should not surprise us that God exhorts us to put forth a diligent effort as workmen to show ourselves approved unto Him by rightly dividing the Word of truth. After all, it is His Word, dearly beloved of God, and we must allow His Word to speak for itself.