[Cronos]

2 Tim 2 - look at the verses before and after 14

14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to [b]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and [c]idle babblings, for they will [d]increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of [e]Christ depart from iniquity.”

This is not about "division" into dispensations but about communicating the word of God

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One can only guess why the KJV translators chose the phrase “rightly dividing” instead of “rightly teach” or “cutting straight”, I would suggest that in 1611 “rightly dividing” might have had a different meaning than how we use it today. Given the context of this verse and the surrounding text, I think that it is appropriate that we closely examine the true meaning of this phrase.

a similar message was given by John the Baptist when he quoted Isaiah by stating “Make straight the way of the Lord” in John 1:23. John used the word G3588 euthunó, which means:

• to make straight, level, plain to lead or guide straight, to keep straight or direct: A of the steersman or helmsman of a ship B of a charioteer

The idea of separating or parsing scripture is not in context.

If the word orthotomeō truly meant to parse or separate, we should expect to find it, or a word of the same common root when the words divide, divided or dividing are used elsewhere in scripture --> it isn't

The Word of Truth Is Not Divided

I find it hard to believe that if Paul had meant that scripture is to be divided, that he would have made this statement, especially within the same letter to Timothy that he wrote All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness - 2 Timothy 3:16

[Seven_0]

One can only guess why the KJV translators chose the phrase “rightly dividing”

Perhaps the author was directing our attention to something we might otherwise have missed. The scripture is divided and the divisions like other features of scripture are inspired and profitable for doctrine for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness.

The first division we see is two testaments. One witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die, so God gave two. The next division is the 4 sections of the Old Testament (law, history, prophets, and experience books). The number 5 in the Bible always divides into a 4+1. The four sections of the Old Testament needed one more and the New Testament finished it. Each of the 5 sections divides the same way as the Bible as a whole.

I could go on but I want to point out something to you. There is nothing in scripture that says the meaning of the number 7, but everyone comes up with the same meaning without controversy. The numerical structure of scripture is a seal of inspiration of Gods word. It is doubtful that any of the men who wrote God’s word even knew it was there. It was discovered after the PTR was discovered.

A good study is to compare the structure of the Pentateuch with the Psalms also called the “Pentateuch of David.”