In his letters to Timothy, Paul tells him to be a diligent worker. He encourages him to work hard at the task the Lord has called him to so that he would not need to be ashamed. Timothy’s task is to rightly divide the word of God. Correct biblical interpretation is not something Paul takes lightly. It is important to understand and effectively communicate what the Bible says. Later, Timothy is encouraged to keep a close watch on his life and his doctrine, because in doing so, he will save himself and those that trust in what he has taught.
When we get to the topic of dispensationalism, biblical interpretation matters a great deal. However, dispensationalism is not the only subject requiring us to rightly divide God’s word. It must be a daily task for us to study and absorb the teachings of the Bible so that we can ‘hold forth the word of truth to a lost and dying world’ (Philippians 2:15,16). We must be faithful interpreters regardless of where we find ourselves in our studies.
As you think about biblical interpretation, please answer the following questions.
- What is the danger of not taking biblical interpretation seriously in the life of the local church?
- What are the steps or processes you are going to take to make sure that you interpret the Bible correctly?
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