I have yet to have a Protestant provide me with a cogent definition of "rightly divided". Is the object of rightly divided, the word of truth, or the one doing the studying? I would appreciate your efforts to explain this to me. I will say that if you have to refer to a source other than Scripture or even multiple different translations of Scripture it is an admission that Scripture is not sufficiently self interpreting to supplant the teaching authority of the Church.
Peace be to you.
Clearly - “rightly divided” = whatever my conscience tells me is the case.
Which verse are you referring to there? “rightly divided”?
Ephesians, Chapter 2.
"Wherefore remember that ye being in TIME PAST Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands: That AT THAT TIME" (what time? TIME PAST)"ye were WITHOUT CHRIST, being ALIENS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, and STRANGERS FROM THE COVENANTS OF PROMISE, HAVING NO HOPE, AND WITHOUT GOD IN THE WORLD:"(v. 11,12)
"BUT NOW in CHRIST JESUS ye who sometimes were far off are made NIGH BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST."(v.13).Why?
"That IN THE AGES TO COME he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward US through Christ Jesus."(v.7).
So right here, in one Chapter we have 3 divisions made by God. TIME PAST, BUT NOW, and AGES TO COME.
What brings TIME PAST into BUT NOW? THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. That means that everything BEFORE Christ's shed blood was TIME PAST. EVERYTHING BEFORE the CROSS was TIME PAST. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. TIME PAST. When, again, did BUT NOW begin and TIME PAST end? At the CROSS.
TIME PAST was TRUTH. BUT NOW IS TRUTH. THE AGES TO COME WILL BE TRUTH. But they are divided, by God, and His plan for mankind. To be studied rightly divided. Meaning, to get your doctrine for God's approval as a workman that needed not to be ashamed, where would you go now for instructions?: BUT NOW. If you are trying to get your instructions for righteousness from TIME PAST, you are following instructions for another group of people, before the Cross.
That's just one example.