"Rightly Dividing" 2 Timothy 2:15

[throughfaith]

//rightly handling the word of truth.// ESV and many others
This is useless instruction . ' Rightly handling ' ? How ? What does that even mean? . Oh I thought I should wrongly handle?

 

[Edify]

Take any modern translation and ask what does it mean and you can literally be as general as possible. But " rightly dividing " gives us a direct understanding and something to grasp directly. To mean ' Correctly apportion"

3718 [e]
orthotomounta
ὀρθοτομοῦντα
accurately handling
V-PPA-AMS

orthotomeó: to cut straight
Original Word: ὀρθοτομέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: orthotomeó
Phonetic Spelling: (or-thot-om-eh'-o)
Definition: to cut straight
Usage: I cut straight; met: I handle correctly, teach rightly.

 

[posthuman]

Rightly handling ' ? How ? What does that even mean?

see post #1

 

[Nehemiah6]

that phrase 'rightly dividing' is a single word, orthotomeó, from ortho ((right or accurate)) and temno ((to cut)). it's only found once in the whole Bible, right here.

Orthotomeo can also be applied to a surgeon skillfully wielding his scalpel with precision and care. Thus rightly dividing the Word of Truth is sound Bible interpretation (letting the Bible interpret itself) and not allowing man-made doctrines to create a false interpretation.

This verse also makes it clear that correct Bible interpretation takes hard work, and serious study. Therefore the KJV has "Study to show thyself approved unto God", not just "be diligent" but rather study the Bible diligently.

People who depend on commentators rather than personal study often fall into error. A good example is the matter of the Nephilim (which is being discussed in another thread). Almost all the well-know commentators have fallen into the trap of calling "the sons of God" in Genesis 6 the descendants of Seth. There is no biblical justification for this whatsoever. We know from Scripture that righteousness in definitely not inherited, but how would the mating of humans with humans produce giants? Gigantism is an anomaly.

But when we interpret the "sons of God" as "the angels which kept not their first estate" (Peter and Jude) then everything becomes clear. Thus giants were produced by the unlawful sexual union of angels with human women. But there was also an inordinate increase in human wickedness because of this, the giants also contributing to it. They also became "men of renown" and thus we have the gods (or demi-gods) and heroes of the various mythologies. Hercules is a good example of this phenomenon.

 

[GaryA]

The illustration that @posthuman made is a good one; however, I don't that it quite hits the mark perfectly where the 'grammar of the language' is concerned in 2 Timothy 2:15.

Without writing fiftteen more paragraghs - it comes down to the sword cutting the sword.

Always try to remember that the Strongs Concordance (which I have and use) points you to the base/root word definitions. You need a Textus Receptus Greek Bible (which I have and use) to see what actual word(s) are present in a verse/passage of scripture and a good lexicon (which I have and use) to "refine" the definitions based on the actual word(s) present in scripture.

The definition from my lexicon says:

to cut straight; to direct aright; to set forth truthfully, without perversion or distortion

(And, I believe this is enough to solve the 'issue'.)

In the 'grammar of the language', the phrase 'rightly dividing the word of truth' is not talking about "how well we wield the sword" ('Study' speaks to that, however); but rather, the good result had from a well-wielded sword.

The "action" (verb sense) of 'rightly dividing' is upon 'the word of truth' and not with 'the word of truth'.

Because we must use "the sword" (which is the Word of Truth) to "rightly divide" [the Word of Truth] - we now have "the sword cutting the sword"...

The "half-misnomer" in all of this - which I believe is at the center of the confusion in this thread - is that we normally only refer to the Word as a Sword in the context of using in a way that is external to itself - never "upon" itself.

The 'precision' of the cut in the illustration lends itself very well to the lexicon definition - especially the last part.

So - it is a good illustration about wielding the sword in a manner that is proper and correct.

However, I don't believe the last phrase of the verse is referring to "wielding the sword" (active sense) so much as it is referring to "knowing how to wield it" (passive sense).

When the Word is wielded, it is in a context external to itself - a Christian wielding it out in the world...

I believe this verse is talking about understanding it enough to be able to wield it [effectively]...

 

[posthuman]

here's a post from a previous thread in 2012 on the same topic, that didn't get much attention: some good info in here

This is a question that many Christians need to ask andanswer because knowing this will help a lot of Christians avoid misinterpretingthe Word of God. I want to make clear here that I am NOT saying that we do not need the Holy Spirit at all in this process. Only the Holy Spirit can give us the revelation that God wants, to speak to our heart. What I am saying is that scripture is clear that apart from relying on the Holy Spirit, known teachers were expected to put in some of their own effort to rightly divide the word.

First of all I am going to post the scripture where Paulexhorts Timothy regarding this, in one of his letters to Timothy.

“Do your best to present yourself to God asone approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctlyhandles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy2:15 NIV)

As you can see from this translation theword divide is not even used. This is because of the following:

“ Two Views of "Rightly Dividing"

One is the dispensationalist view. That view says that"rightly dividing" means, literally, dividing up God's Word -dividing up as in "cutting up." Let me quote a dispensationalistspokesman who comments on this verse:

The Bible student is to very carefully cut and divide theWord of God in order to understand it aright. As an illustration of this,consider the dissection of the human body... In much the same way, when westudy God's Word we must carefully cut and dissect the Word of truth... May theGod of truth enable us to carefully and rightly dissect His precious Word...

The result of this view is that many dispensationaliststeach a division between what they see as the Jewish portions and the Churchportions of the Word of God. And on that basis, classic dispensationalismpostulates separate programs for Israel and the Gentile church, extending outinto eternity - one group of people in the New Heaven, the other group ofpeople on the New Earth. There is some degree of disagreement among dispensationalistsabout which group will be where for eternity. And there is also significantdisagreement among them about where to "cut and divide" the Biblebetween Jewish parts and Church parts, and there is significant disagreementamong them about the number of dispensations, where they begin and end, whetheror not they overlap, and so on.

Over against this view is what I will call, for the sake ofshorthand, the covenant theology view. Now, I want to make it clear that I donot agree with all covenant theologians, because there are differences ofopinion among them, too. I mainly disagree with those who see a totaltransference of Old Testament prophecies and promises from the nation of Israelto the New Testament church, and no future at all in God's plans for ethnicIsrael. I don't believe you can read the book of Zechariah, especially in thelight of Romans chapters nine through eleven, to support that view.

But that issue aside, the covenant theology view in generalsays that "rightly dividing" in 2nd Timothy 2:15 simply means"accurately teaching" God's Word. As a result, in contrast to thedispensationalist view, what I'm calling the covenant theology view teachesthat there is one program of God, encompassing both Jew and Gentile, beginningbefore the foundation of the world and extending out into eternity - and thatwe will all be together in the New Heavens and New Earth. And it says thatGod's plan is manifested in two covenants, which Scripture calls the Old andthe New, within the over-arching framework of one unified plan of redemption.That part of the covenant theology view, the main force of it, I most heartilyagree with.

Which Does Scripture Support?

Now these are two polar opposite points of view. One saysthat "rightly dividing" means "cutting up" and the othersays it means "accurately teaching" a unified whole. The question is,which one does Scripture support? And the answer to that question is a key notonly to how you interpret the book of Zechariah. It is a key to how youinterpret all the prophetic books and passages throughout the Bible - indeed,how you interpret the entire Word of God.

The key to evaluating the two views is to look at theoriginal language of 2nd Timothy 2:15. And this is what we find. The word thatis translated "rightly dividing" in the Old and New King Jamesversions, and in several others, is a single word in the Greek. It is a form ofthe Greek verb orthotomeo. This is a very interesting word.

In New Testament times, orthotomeo was primarily a civilengineering term. It was used, for example, as a road building term. The ideaof the word was to cut straight, or to guide on a straight path. The idea is tocut a roadway in a straight manner, so that people who will travel over thatroad can arrive at their destination directly, without deviation. Orthotomeowas also used as a mining term. It meant to drill a straight mine shaft so thatthe miners can get quickly and safely to the "mother lode."

There is another word in Greek, katatomeo, which means"to cut into sections." But that is not the word that the ApostlePaul, under divine inspiration, uses here in 2nd Timothy 2:15. Paul is nottalking about "rightly dividing" in terms of dissecting the Word ofGod, or cutting it into sections based on Jew and Gentile, or Israel andChurch, or any other criterion. It's interesting that the Apostle Paul does usethat other word - katatomeo, cutting up - in Philippians 3:2, where he says,literally, "beware of those who would divide you up" - in otherwords, beware of those who would try to make a difference among believersbetween Jews and Gentiles.

So what is the proper meaning of orthotomeo - "rightlydividing" the Word of truth? What is intended is not the dividing ofScripture, not cutting it up, but teaching Scripture accurately, as a single,unified whole, without being turned aside by false teaching or man-madeagendas.”
(What does Paul mean by 'rightly dividing the Word of truth'? - TeachingTheWord Ministries - Equipping the Scripture-Driven Church)

 

[posthuman]

same post, 2nd part because it's too long for the current character limit:

Now I am going to break this scripture down into the Greeklanguage.

Be earnest
spoudazó: to make haste, hence to give diligence
Original Word: σπουδάζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: spoudazó
Phonetic Spelling: (spoo-dad'-zo)
Short Definition: I hasten
Definition: I hasten, am eager, am zealous.
Cognate: 4704 spoudázō – properly, be swift (go fast, bespeedy); (figuratively) to move speedily by showing full diligence (fullyapplying oneself); acting fervently (speedy commitment) to accomplish all thatGod assigns through faith ("His inbirthed persuasion"). Accordingly,4704 (spoudáz&#333 and faith (4102 /pístis) are directly linked (see Eph 4:3-5; 2Tim 4:7-9). See 4710 (spoud&#275.
(Strong's Greek: 4704. ???????? (spoudazó) -- to make haste, hence to give diligence)

yourself,
approved
dokimos: tested, approved
Original Word: δόκιμος, ον
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: dokimos
Phonetic Spelling: (dok'-ee-mos)
Short Definition: approved, acceptable
Definition: approved, acceptable, tried.
1384 dókimos (an adjective, derived from 1209/dexomai,"to receive, welcome") – properly, what passes the necessary test(scrutiny); hence acceptable because genuine (validated, verified).
[1384 (dókimos) is the root of: 1381 (dokimáz&#333, 1382 (dokim&#7703and 1383 (dokímion). 1384 (dókimos) was used for the proving (testing) ofcoins, i.e. confirming they were genuine (not counterfeit, corrupted).]
(Strong's Greek: 1384. ??????? (dokimos) -- tested, approved)

to present
paristémi: to place beside, to present, stand by, appear
Original Word: παρίστημι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: paristémi
Phonetic Spelling: (par-is'-tay-mee)
Short Definition: I bring, present, come up to and stand by
Definition: I bring, present, prove, come up to and standby, am present.
[3936 parístēmi (from 3844 /pará, "fromclose-beside" and 2476 /hístēmi, "to stand") – properly, standclose beside, i.e. ready to present (exhibit).
(Strong's Greek: 3936. ?????????, (paristémi) -- to place beside, to present, stand by, appear)

to God,
a workman
ergatés: a workman
Original Word: ἐργάτης, ου, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: ergatés
Phonetic Spelling: (er-gat'-ace)
Short Definition: a field-laborer, workman
Definition: a field-laborer; then: a laborer, workman ingeneral.

Cognate: 2040 ergátēs(from 2038 /ergázomai, "to work") – a workman (laborer). See 2041(ergon).
not ashamed,
anepaischuntos: not to be put to shame
Original Word: ἀνεπαίσχυντος, ον
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: anepaischuntos
Phonetic Spelling: (an-ep-ah'-ee-skhoon-tos)
Short Definition: having no cause to be ashamed
Definition: having no cause to be ashamed.

422 anepaísxyntos (from 1 /A "not" and1870/epaisxynomai, "ashamed") – properly, not ashamed, because havingdischarged needed responsibility which appropriately accomplishes what Godassigns (note the prefix, epi).
422/anepaisxyntos ("not disgraced"), used only in2 Tim 2:15, refers to the (positive) result of being a good interpreter ofScripture.
[422 (anepaísxyntos) is a rare word and "very seldomoccurs in the ancient world. It does not appear in classical Greek at all"(CBL).]
(Strong's Greek: 422. ????????????? (anepaischuntos) -- not to be put to shame)

straightly cutting
orthotomeó: to cut straight
Original Word: ὀρθοτομέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: orthotomeó
Phonetic Spelling: (or-thot-om-eh'-o)
Short Definition: I cut straight, handle correctly
Definition: I cut straight; met: I handle correctly, teachrightly.
3718 orthotoméō(from temnō, "to cut" and 3717/orthós, "straight") – properly, cut straight (on a straight line),i.e. "rightly divide" (correctly apportion).
(Strong's Greek: 3718. ????????? (orthotomeó) -- to cut straight)
the
word
logos: a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a speech
Original Word: λόγος, ου, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: logos
Phonetic Spelling: (log'-os)
Short Definition: a word, speech, divine utterance, analogy
Definition: a word, speech, divine utterance, analogy.
3056 lógos (from 3004 /légō, "speaking to aconclusion") – a word, being the expression of a thought; a saying. 3056/lógos ("word") is preeminently used of Christ (Jn 1:1), expressingthe thoughts of the Father through the Spirit.
[3056 (lógos) is a common term (used 330 times in the NT)with regards to a person sharing a message (discourse,"communication-speech"). 3056 (lógos) is a broad term meaning"reasoning expressed by words."]
(Strong's Greek: 3056. ????? (logos) -- a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a speech)

the
of truth;
alétheia: truth
Original Word: ἀλήθεια, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: alétheia
Phonetic Spelling: (al-ay'-thi-a)
Short Definition: truth
Definition: truth, but not merely truth as spoken; truth ofidea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, divine truth revealed toman, straightforwardness.
225 alḗtheia (from 227 /alēthḗs, "true to fact") –properly, truth (true to fact), reality.
[In ancient Greek culture, 225 (alḗtheia) was synonymous for"reality" as the opposite of illusion, i.e. fact.]
(Strong's Greek: 225. ??????? (alétheia) -- truth)

So why would Paul say to a budding Pastor, who was recognised by numerous otherLeaders as a Leader, that his being approved was dependant on his diligent workto handle God’s word correctly?
I ask this because of the view of most Christians that wecan solely rely on the Holy Spirit to interpret the Word for us. Wouldn’t Timothy, already recognised with acalling to Pastor and Teach, have a pretty good ability to hear from the HolySpirit?
Interestingly, and not without coincidence, a similar Greekword, but the same root word, used inthis scripture encouraging Timothy to show himself approved, is also used inthe following scripture that many Christians are familiar with:
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God,because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)
Test
dokimazo: I put to the test, prove, examine
Original Word: δοκιμάζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: dokimazo
Phonetic Spelling: (dok-im-ad'-zo)
Short Definition: I put to the test, prove, examine
Definition: I put to the test, prove, examine; I distinguishby testing, approve after testing; I am fit.
Cognate: 1381 dokimázō (from 1384 /dókimos,"approved") – properly, to try (test) to show something is acceptable(real, approved); put to the test to reveal what is good (genuine). See 1384(dokimos).
1381 /dokimázō ("to approve by testing") is doneto demonstrate what is good, i.e. passes the necessary test. 1381 (dokimáz&#333does not focus on disproving something (i.e. to show it is bad).
(Strong's Greek: 1381. ???????? (dokimazo) -- I put to the test, prove, examine)

So basically, the action of testing spirits, is actually theaction pre-empting being approved. In Timothy’s case he was actually advised byPaul, that there was effort required on his (Timothy’s) part to be consideredapproved. Effort in checking out the truth which the Greek word also defines asknown facts.
So why is it then that average Christians (by this I meanthose not yet recognised by other leaders as being leaders) think that they canproperly interpret scripture, but make no effort to seek out historical facts,cultural facts, linguistic facts, geographical facts, literary facts, etc etc? This is like following a recipe butneglecting to weigh up the ingredients.
Now please do not get me wrong! Not everyone can afford thebooks or the time to study like Timothy or indeed experienced ChristianTeachers. However, Christians do need to realise that there is definitelyeffort required to get a correct interpretation from scripture. One that is truthful and that can stand up tothe “testing of the spirits”.

i pray that this speaks you in spirit and in truth

 

[posthuman]

here's a post from a previous thread in 2012 ont he same topic, that didn't get much attention: some good info in here

this part in particular is useful to know:

The key to evaluating the two views is to look at the original language of 2nd Timothy 2:15. And this is what we find. The word that is translated "rightly dividing" in the Old and New King James versions, and in several others, is a single word in the Greek. It is a form of the Greek verb orthotomeo. This is a very interesting word.​

​

In New Testament times, orthotomeo was primarily a civil engineering term. It was used, for example, as a road building term. The idea of the word was to cut straight, or to guide on a straight path. The idea is to cut a roadway in a straight manner, so that people who will travel over that road can arrive at their destination directly, without deviation. Orthotomeo was also used as a mining term. It meant to drill a straight mine shaft so that the miners can get quickly and safely to the "mother lode."​

​

There is another word in Greek, katatomeo, which means" to cut into sections." But that is not the word that the Apostle Paul, under divine inspiration, uses here in 2nd Timothy 2:15. Paul is not talking about "rightly dividing" in terms of dissecting the Word of God, or cutting it into sections based on Jew and Gentile, or Israel and Church, or any other criterion. It's interesting that the Apostle Paul does use that other word - katatomeo, cutting up - in Philippians 3:2, where he says, literally, "beware of those who would divide you up" - in other words, beware of those who would try to make a difference among believers between Jews and Gentiles. ​

​

 

[posthuman]

in the LXX, the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures, the word 'orthotomeo' is used in two places as a translation for Hebrew original words:

In all your ways acknowledge Him,​

and He shall direct your paths.​

(Proverbs 3:6 nkjv)​

​

here 'direct your paths' is orthotomeo -- the sense is making the path straight & correct.
the sense is not "divide the path into sections"

The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright,​

but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. ​

(Proverbs 11:5 nkjv)​

​

here 'direct his way aright' is also orthotomeo -- the sense is once again, aligning correctly, making straight, true and right.
the sense is not "divide his way into sections"

 

[John146]

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God,a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.(2 Timothy 2:15, nkjv)

The Bible says study, I’m going to study.

 

[John146]

People who depend on commentators rather than personal study often fall into error.

Their Bibles don’t command them to study...just saying.😉

 

[Edify]

Perhaps the real problem is the KJV translators only knew modern Greek, & not koine Greek.
I know of several times the KJV would be totally different from modern translations like the ESV or the NASB.
It wasn't just a 1611 language problem, either.

 

[GaryA]

Perhaps the real problem is the KJV translators only knew modern Greek, & not koine Greek.

Did you say this backwards from what you actually meant to say?

KJV NT translated from 100% Koine Greek

 

[posthuman]

The Bible says study, I’m going to study.

yes
i have been using nkjv for a while now primarily because my pastor does, and i like how it capitalizes pronouns referring to God.


let's earnestly study "orthotomeo" and how to skillfully handle the spiritual sword

 

[Edify]

Did you say this backwards from what you actually meant to say?

KJV NT translated from 100% Koine Greek

Perhaps I should try again. They translated "from" koine Greek, but they didn't translate well because they were "trained" in modern Greek. Hope that works.

 

[posthuman]

I would add that the sword besides cutting to the truth can be used to parry attacks of the adversary or to completely disarm him in our Christian life .

yes!
i study two-handed/hand-and-a-half swordfighting, which is, no shield. so it is especially true about the techniques i have learned, that the sword is used to protect yourself just as much as it is used to attack your enemy.
and parrying is really even more important than attacking - it hardly matters if you are able to wound your adversary, if he also wounds you. first protect yourself: get salvation. second, look for openings to riposte. put to death the sinful desires of the flesh. that's the order. you cannot win a battle by only blocking, but you cannot survive a battle if you never block.

the medieval sword masters are not in unanimous agreement about whether to block with the edge or the flat of your blade. some prefer one, some prefer the other, and some seem to use the edge to block in some contexts and the flat in others. i'm not really clear about how that translates to spiritual metaphor?

but i can tell you this: there are three primary ways to parry.
first, you can hold your sword firmly in the way of the opponents weapon, like a wall. you do this with the part of your blade close to the hilt, called the 'strong' of the sword.
second, you can cut into their cut at the same time they are cutting, so that you either knock their attack out of the way as you follow through, or at least keep him from being able to complete his attack. you do this with the center of percussion, for most swords about 2/3 of the way towards the tip. that's the part that transmits the most force when you swing, identical to the 'sweet spot' on a baseball bat.
and third, you can use the tip of your blade to deflect the adversary's blow. you only have to move his weapon a little bit in order to keep it from landing where he wants it to land, but to do this you need to act very quickly, anticipating his movements, so that you contact his weapon just after he begins to strike. the tip of your sword is called the 'weak' because it has the least leverage, and if you are too late in trying to deflect, you won't have the strength to move his strike far enough to keep you out of danger. you do it early so that your 'weak' contacts his 'weak' instead of his 'strong'

so the easiest parry is to bring your sword up like a wall. this takes strength, but it doesn't take so quick of a reaction time.
the middle parry is to respond to his attack with a similar attack of your own, aiming at his own weapon. this takes quicker reflexes but it's more natural to do, in a sense, because it's the same general motion as making an attack of your own.
the hardest thing to do requires the least strength but the greatest skill & speed - to use a small motion at just the right time to make his attacks swing harmlessly through the air. this in turn gives you the best chance to counterattack

 

[Nehemiah6]

Perhaps the real problem is the KJV translators only knew modern Greek, & not koine Greek.

What makes you think that the KJV translators knew nothing about koine Greek?

"Koine can be termed as the immediate ancestor to modern Greek. This language is also called biblical, New Testament or patristic Greek as it was the language used in the New Testament and of church fathers. The grammar and pronunciation of modern Greek has traces in Koine Greek."

 

[GaryA]

Perhaps I should try again. They translated "from" koine Greek, but they didn't translate well because they were "trained" in modern Greek. Hope that works.

HAHA

That at least makes more sense!

 

[GaryA]

HAHA

That at least makes more sense!

(in terms of understanding what you were intending to say)

 

[Edify]

What makes you think that the KJV translators knew nothing about koine Greek?

It is my opinion that they didn't for 2 reasons:
I read somewhere(can't remember) that the translators had trouble with koine Greek, thereby causing inconsistancies.
If I don't come to that conclusion, it would have to be a worse reason, because not only the KJV 1611 had those problems. I recall reading that the supervising authority told the translators to keep the KJV 1611 similar to the Bishop's Bible as much as possible.