“Are You Cutting God’s Word Straight?” October 29
Tent-making, sewing, and Bible study may not seem to have much in common.
But Paul used language that connects all three.
A seamstress has to cut the pieces of a pattern accurately. If she cuts one piece crooked, the pieces may not fit together the way they should.
As a tent-maker, Paul would have understood that principle well.
And in 2 Timothy 2.15, he used similar language when he told Timothy to be diligent in “rightly dividing the word of truth.”
The idea is to cut it straight.
That matters because it is possible to read the Bible, quote the Bible, and even teach the Bible while still mishandling what it actually says.
A verse can be pulled out of context.
A personal experience can be used to redefine Scripture.
A principle can be turned into a promise.
A doctrine can be built around one difficult verse while ignoring the rest of the Bible.
And before long, the pieces no longer fit together.
So how do we know whether we are “cutting it straight”?
How can we read Scripture in a way that honors what God actually intended rather than making it say what we want it to say?
Today we’ll look at ten practical principles that can help us study the Bible more accurately, understand passages in their proper context, and rightly divide the Word of Truth.
