𝗚𝗨𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗟𝗬 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘

𝗚𝗨𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗟𝗬 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Many today misinterpret the Bible by mixing law with grace, Israel with the Church, and prophecy with mystery. Paul warns us to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). Without proper interpretation, false doctrines rise, fake gospels spread, and believers are misled. As Bible students in the dispensation of grace, we need guidelines that will help us rightly handle God’s Word.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁

Surrounding Verses – Never isolate a text.

Specific Vocabulary – Words matter in meaning.

Spiritual Viewpoint – Context controls interpretation.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻

Scripture with Scripture – Truth agrees with itself.

Similar with Similar – Match like passages.

Spirit with Spirit – The Spirit never contradicts Himself.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀

Law Distinguished – Mosaic system for Israel.

Love Displayed – Grace program for the Church.

Lines Divided – Old covenant vs. new creation.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Israel’s Promises – Earthly kingdom and land.

Gentiles’ Portion – Grafted by grace through faith.

Body’s Position – Seated with Christ in heaven.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱

Prophecy for Israel – Foretold since the world began.

Mystery for the Church – Hidden, now revealed to Paul.

Purpose for All – Christ the center of both.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹

Given Directly – Received by revelation (Gal. 1:12).

Gospel Declared – Death, burial, resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1–4).

Grace Dispensed – Pattern for today’s salvation.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

Times Distinguished – Before Law, Under Law, Under Grace.

Truth Dissected – Israel vs. Body of Christ.

Testaments Defined – Prophetic program vs. Mystery program.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗹𝘀

Literal First – Always start with plain meaning.

Language Figures – Use when clearly indicated.

Lesson Focused – Symbolism never cancels truth.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

Avoid Assumptions – Do not read into the text.

Apply Authority – Scripture interprets Scripture.

Acknowledge Audience – Know to whom it was written.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Church Creeds – Tested by the Word, not the other way.

Clergy Claims – Pastors are not the final authority.

Cultural Customs – Don’t replace revelation with religion.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Spirit’s Guidance – The Holy Ghost teaches truth.

Student’s Growth – Diligence is required.

Scripture’s Glory – The Bible is its own light.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

Sound Doctrine – Truth rightly understood.

Stable Disciples – Believers grounded in grace.

Strong Defense – Protection against false gospels.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

The Bible is a divine book that requires divine handling. Without right division, people fall into error, mix law with grace, and confuse Israel’s promises with the Body’s blessings. By following these guidelines, we honor God’s Word and understand His will for us today in the dispensation of grace.

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Study Seriously – Don’t be a lazy Bible reader.
Stand Scripturally – Rightly divide between Israel and the Body.
Share Soundly – Preach Christ according to Paul’s gospel.