What is God's standard for handling God's Holy Word in II Timothy 2 verse 15?

Answer 1

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

God's standard is for diligence in the study of His word, so it is presented as it is intended with no distortions, omissions, or misinterpretations. It is necessary to understand The Bible as a whole, and not to take bits out of context in order to teach a false doctrine.

In the text referenced, Timothy was admonished to rightly divide (to cut right on the line) "the the word of truth." That is referring to God's Word, the Bible. This indicates assuredly that the Scriptures in the Bible can be wrongly divided (off the line, off course). This also indicates that Scripture needs to be compared with Scripture and the context, as mentioned, needs to be upheld as to the meaning of any statement Scripture makes.

An example of failure to rightly divide is an often made mistake to quote from Job, statements made by his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, and even the younger Elihu, for these wrongly criticized Job, as God condemned their criticisms: Job 38:2. God said that his friends needed to make a sacrifice to Him, and to have Job pray for them, lest they experience the brunt of the Lord's wrath.

So, for any preacher to quote from Job's friends, as that which is instruction to which we should adhere, is denying God's clear condemnation of their hollow erroneous accusatory speeches. It's like taking Judas Iscariot's actions and making them an example by which to live: "And he cast down the [30] pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself." Matthew 27:5. How absurd to take that out of context!