1. The Text in its Context

2. 2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The word translated “rightly dividing” or “handling aright” is defined as follows: –Thayer’s Definition: 1) to cut straight, to cut straight ways 1a) to proceed on straight paths, hold a straight course, equiv. to doing right 2) to make straight and smooth, to handle aright, to teach the truth directly and correctly –Strong’s Definition: to make a straight cut, that is, (figuratively) to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message): - rightly divide

3. To “Rightly Divide” we must Consider the Context Truth can and should be proven by Scripture! (Acts 18:28) But beware of Contextomy! –“A means of twisting the Scripture by removing a passage from its context in a way that distorts its intended meaning.” A text without a context is a pretext for a proof text –Taking verses out of context, one can prove anything! –Satan can quote passages and misuse them! (Matt.4:6)

4. What we learn from the Scriptures about Context We MAY USE partial passages as PROOF (Acts 13:33-41; Romans 10) We may apply general principles (Deuteronomy 19:14-15; 2 Corinthians 13:1; Matthew 18:16) Some scriptures were intended to have multiple applications (Matthew 13:35; Psalms 77:2; 68:25; 108:9; Acts 1:20) Scripture may imply truth unrelated to the context (Matthew 22:31-32; Exodus 3:6)