Okay, look….we all know that phrase never actually appears in The Bible, right? In fact, the thought expressed technically is not even related to the post. We are taking a short trip back to our passage from yesterday for today’s thought. Sometimes we have to dig a bit to get the full meaning of something we see in God’s Word, and this was a case in point. The word in the passage filthiness(defilement in some translations), seems pretty straight forward; stay away from filthy things of the flesh and spirit. Sin, debauchery, not loving God, all these things come to mind. But, wait, there is more! Apparently that Greek word molusmos only appears here in the New Testament. It was used some in the Septuagint, and then it referred to religious defilement.
There seems to be a consensus out there among commentators that this is not referring to just separating oneself from sin and filthiness in general, but false teaching in particular. Isn’t that interesting? False teaching is certainly a thing, and Christians should certainly recognize and avoid it; however, that is only semi the point here today.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth
Friends, we will all answer some day regarding the diligence with which we pursued the truth in God’s Word. We will be rewarded, or not rewarded on this. I believe this to be true. Some things, such as salvation by grace through faith, are so important, that we absolutely must understand them properly to even see Heaven.
On the other hand, some things are simply not so clear. This never releases us, friends, from our God given responsibility to study and dig. Sometimes we have to go deeper than just a surface scan of the Bible. We won’t get every thing right, and I am not sure God actually intends that we nail every little meaning(although some are pretty sure they have.) He does, however, expect us to pursue that meaning with effort and diligence. Read the passage again. It never says stand around and wait for God to cleanse us(even though He does the cleansing.) It says “cleanse ourselves.” Even though God does it, the need for effort and diligence on our part is clear!
December 9, 2017 at 08:59
Thanks for making the great case for us immersing ourselves in the word of God. Perhaps all that time spent binge watching “The Walking Dead” could be put to better use. 🙂
Be blessed. God is with you.
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December 9, 2017 at 09:13
Ha thanks Michael. I have managed to completely miss that show!
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December 9, 2017 at 09:27
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
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December 9, 2017 at 09:35
Thanks brother Vincent
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December 9, 2017 at 16:30
You’re very welcome Brother Wally 😎
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December 9, 2017 at 09:27
“Rightly dividing truth”
This phrase has always interested me. I have my own ideas of what is meant by “rightly dividing” but I’m curious to hear others’ take on it.
Anybody want to take a stab?
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December 9, 2017 at 09:41
Well. Since digging deep is the point here, this is another case where looking at non biblical meaning can help. The word used itself had some very normal meanings. Literally meaning, “to cut it straight.” which would have had applications to many trades back in that day, including Paul’s own of tent making. Some might say this means diligent effort to discern and teach truth, while others might simply say diligent effort in learning what the truth of the Word presented is. I recall even reading behind a fellow who taught it to mean “handling” the truth properly. I think some translations use that word, actually. I like the implications of cutting is straight a lot.
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December 9, 2017 at 10:29
I didn’t know the literal translation, but “to cut it straight” has some interesting implications. If you fail to cut something straight, everything that is built upon it will inevitably become skewed.
When I hear the phrase “rightly divide the word” what comes to mind for me is Law and Gospel (or Promise, if you will). When we fail to rightly divide the two, we run into dangerous waters. God has two main “words” for us – the word of sin and its consequences, and the word of redemption from sin in the person of Christ. When we fail to keep the two words distinct from each other, we invariably end up mixing them, attaching Gospel promises to Law commands. All kinds of sneaky works-righteousness creeps into our midst this way.
My two cents, fwiw…
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December 9, 2017 at 10:34
Well, I think you could make that association and no one would argue. To that we could add a lot of things where understanding certain divisions of thoughts would be important. I think that passage has many applications, in many places.
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December 9, 2017 at 10:44
Many other applications, no doubt. Still, I lean towards to idea that when Law and Gospel are rightly distinguished, the need for other “applications” falls away. Again, the idea being, if you cut it straight to begin with, that which is built upon it will be straight as well; fail to cut it straight and everything else built upon it becomes skewed.
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December 9, 2017 at 11:42
Yep
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December 9, 2017 at 11:03
To take an example from IBs blog…”Fear not” or “do not be afraid” – do we hear that as Law or Gospel? Is it a command or a promise? How we hear or “divide” that word will make a tremendous difference in how we apply it in our lives.
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December 9, 2017 at 11:50
You actually raise some good thoughts there. What is a command and what is a promise? Are the promises contingent. Read that whole passage starting around the previous chapter about verse 16 i believe. There, Paul reviewed some promises that were made to the nation of Israel. Then, with the “therfore,” he tied them into the direction to separate ourselves. One could say the separation is, in fact, a promise. Yet, if we fail to appropriate that promise(that being a command more or less,) then we won’t see the promises pass. Even though, in God’s timelessness, they have already happened. Now my head hurts.
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December 9, 2017 at 12:10
Appropriate the promises (that being a command more or less)…
Ok, my question is then, how do we appropriate the promise? Is it faith that grasps the promise, or is it obedience to it the means by which the promise becomes ours?
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December 9, 2017 at 12:30
Good question, Anita. I think if you go back to Chapter 6 and read through you will see we have some of both. “I will be their God, and they will be my people.” That is a promise. It is the central promise of this passage. They needed faith that God would make good on His promise for sure. Yet, many of the directions to separate, cleanse and so for are imperative, indicating there is a command there.
I will use our church as an example. Our preacher, I and some others KNOW God has promised to make our little assembly a force for the Kingdom in or community. First step is we have to believe He is good for that promise. That is faith. Yet, all the faith in the world won’t make it happen. We have to “go, preach the Gospel, make disciples”….and so forth. All the action in the world won’t help if we don’t have faith He will cause it to happen, yet all the faith in the world with no action won’t make it happen either. In that case, it seems we appropriate that promise by faith and obedience.
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December 9, 2017 at 09:45
Were you able to find the origin of our title? Certainly, the passage from Corinthians comes close to describing the intent.
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December 9, 2017 at 09:55
I think Wesley either wrote it or said it in a sermon. I usually have heard it said when folks are talking about literal cleanliness like bathing. Maybe he was referencing that verse?
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December 9, 2017 at 10:08
A timely post, Wally! My wife and I recently finished studying Joshua and began Romans. While Bible commentators, Messrs. MacArthur and McGee, devoted just a few pages to each chapter in Joshua, they have quite a bit to say about Romans! Great stuff! Here’s the thing; a person could open up the Bible to Romans 2:6-11 and conclude, “Well, we need to obey the Ten Commandments to be saved.” Of course, Romans 3 puts things into proper perspective that ALL are sinners and ALL need to trust in Christ as Savior. People can read the Bible and understand they are sinners in need of the Savior or people can selectively read the Bible and conclude the path to salvation is trying to obey the law, so they “keep on hearing, but do not understand” and “keep on seeing, but do not perceive.”
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December 9, 2017 at 10:22
Thanks,Tom, and well said I might add. Some truth is vital to divide properly or we have a problem. The problem is, too many just listen to what is taught or preached at them, and never dig in for themselves.
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December 9, 2017 at 11:42
Thanks, Wally. Always a pleasure to “pile on” to one of your good teachings.
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December 9, 2017 at 11:53
It’s awesome when thoughts are generated isn’t it, Tom? I learn so much then, from so many.
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December 9, 2017 at 10:31
What he said ^^^ 😀
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December 9, 2017 at 10:35
Tom says that message well, for sure.
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December 9, 2017 at 10:38
Yes! Dig and keep on digging! I’ve studied the Bible for years and I seriously discover something new every single time I read it. As I grow in my faith, the scriptures grow in their depth to me. God be with you Wally! Thanks for the encouragement to keep on studying—I needed it today!
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December 9, 2017 at 10:44
Thank you Elihu for your encouraging word. I say run fast from any teacher who says they have it all down. That means they know nothing.
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December 9, 2017 at 10:53
Agreed! My favorite teacher was an elderly man named Cecil who told me, at age 12, that he was still learning new things. It left an indelible impression on me because I honestly thought he knew everything! He was such a humble man and excellent teacher. He is home now with Jesus, but there are so many of us whom he taught to be honest bible scholars, never content to “take someone’s word” for what the Bible means, but to keep on digging!
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December 9, 2017 at 11:53
Reminds me of my pastor back when I was first saved about 10 years back. In one of the first sermons he preached after that, he said NEVER believe it just because he said it. So….I assumed he meant it. I was already a compulsive note taker, so it was no problem. It also have me a place to start in my new studies, fact checking the preacher! Gosh, I must have dozens of steno pads now full of notes from his sermons, and I am many years behind in going through them.
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December 9, 2017 at 13:29
Amen, Wally. The problem with, “Godliness is next to cleanliness” is how it is so distorted, misinterpreted. Some people think it refers to house cleaning,hand washing, even hemlines. Some people think it refers to false teachings and avoiding anyone who says something that challenges you. Others think it is related to the unlcean, to a mandate avoid sinners at all costs.
So Christ was sin free, clean, as close to God as one can be, and yet he was born in manager, often lived out in the dust, was often challenged, and hung our with sinners. 2 Corinthians 7 1 reflects that really well,whereas all our confusions around “Godliness is next to cleanliness” do not.
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December 9, 2017 at 14:13
I agree totally, with only the exception that in this passage, the reference to filthiness or in some translations defilement likely does refer to false teaching. Yep we are to be out among the broken and sinners. For sure. Yes, we certainly ought to engage with those who might not agree. But on the other hand, false teaching has no place among our assemblies. What we see and expose ourselves to out in the world is not necessarily what we want in our churches having free rein. Good thought, though.
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December 9, 2017 at 15:12
Excellent post, Wally. We do indeed need to know the Truth in order to recognize the counterfeit!
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December 9, 2017 at 15:18
Exactly!
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