"Give us Only the Bible"
This has a noble sound doesn't it? One of truth and righteousness. Honesty. Integrity. Freedom from the traditions of men. A safe harbor for men and women of faith.
Unfortunately, this claim is more specious than it is true.
Why is this?
Because all of the churches make such a declaration and look where they are: Totally apostate on the nature of God, the nature of man, the reward of the righteous, and the nature and sacrifice of Christ.
And that's just for starters.
So, the cry, "Give us the Bible only," doesn't necessarily rally one to the truth.
Something more is needed.
Let us, therefore, look at the term "rightly divide," from 2 Timothy 2:15.
Rightly Divide
ορθοτομουντα verb - present active passive - accusative singular masculine. To make a straight cut, i.e. (figuratively) to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message) -- rightly divide.
Paul writes:
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Do your best to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker who isn't ashamed to teach the word of truth correctly.
King James Bible
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
American Standard Version
Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
Bible in Basic English
Let it be your care to get the approval of God, as a workman who has no cause for shame, giving the true word in the right way.
Darby Bible Translation
Strive diligently to present thyself approved to God, a workman that has not to be ashamed, cutting in a straight line the word of truth.
To rightly divide the word of truth means to understand or handle it in the right way. Nothing difficult about comprehending that. The real difficulty lies in how one does it. For example:
Baptists rightly divide the word of truth Baptist style.
Pentecostals rightly divide the word of truth Pentecostal style.
Unitarians rightly divide the word of truth Unitarian style.
Episcopalians rightly divide the word of truth Episcopalian style.
Catholics rightly divide the word of truth Catholic style.
Church of Christ rightly divide the word of truth Campbellite style.
CGAF/GC rightly divide the word of truth CGAF/GC style.
Methodists rightly divide the word of truth Methodist style.
These all "rightly divide" in their own way, but all come to different conclusions as to what the Bible says on a great many things. However, God is not the author of this confusion. Men are.
What of the Christadelphians? Unlike the 1001 sects of Christendom, we rightly divide the word of truth based upon a sound Biblical formula.
"Their rule of interpretation is, nothing to be received as proved which sets the New Testament Scriptures against the Old, or any of these against another: an interpretation to be true must be in harmony and accord with these." The Christadelphian, 1870, pp 1-2.
Nice formula. Is it Biblical?
Absolutely, it is:
(1) If all Scripture - from Genesis to the Apocalypse - is given by inspiration of God; and
(2) If God cannot lie; then
(3) All Scripture must be in harmony. No contradictions. Any texts of Scripture that are found to be set against others means that the belief system of a person or religious system so doing is wrong,
When studying the Scriptures let us build our belief system upon the Word, rightly divided. In this endeavor, the writings of early Christadelphians, such as brother Thomas and brother Roberts - those which defined us as a community, separate from apostate Christendom - can prove invaluable as study guides.
"Their rule of interpretation is, nothing to be received as proved which sets the New Testament Scriptures against the Old, or any of these against another: an interpretation to be true must be in harmony and accord with these." The Christadelphian, 1870, pp 1-2.
Nice formula. Is it Biblical?
Absolutely, it is:
(1) If all Scripture - from Genesis to the Apocalypse - is given by inspiration of God; and
(2) If God cannot lie; then
(3) All Scripture must be in harmony. No contradictions. Any texts of Scripture that are found to be set against others means that the belief system of a person or religious system so doing is wrong,
When studying the Scriptures let us build our belief system upon the Word, rightly divided. In this endeavor, the writings of early Christadelphians, such as brother Thomas and brother Roberts - those which defined us as a community, separate from apostate Christendom - can prove invaluable as study guides.
Some modern writers object to this. "Use the Bible only," is their cry. But such is really a hypocritical position. Why publish books and articles if we do not expect brethren and sisters to use these in rightly dividing the Word? The objective is to arrive at a correct understanding is it not? Certainly this is the reason why they publish their works.
The "Bible only" declaration, taken to its logical conclusion, would have us using the Bible with the assistance of no exegeses or helps whatsoever. This position of modern writers is really nothing more than smoke and mirrors to obscure the real issue: They do not agree with the original Christadelphian conclusions concerning the Scriptures, and would rather students of the Word focus their attention elsewhere.
To put it another way: "Why listen to them when you've got us?"
Bob Widding
Revised 5/28/08
The "Bible only" declaration, taken to its logical conclusion, would have us using the Bible with the assistance of no exegeses or helps whatsoever. This position of modern writers is really nothing more than smoke and mirrors to obscure the real issue: They do not agree with the original Christadelphian conclusions concerning the Scriptures, and would rather students of the Word focus their attention elsewhere.
To put it another way: "Why listen to them when you've got us?"
Bob Widding
Revised 5/28/08