King James Version
New International Version
pasa graphe - every Scripture (writing, passage)
theopneustos - God-breathed
kai ophelimos - and (also) profitable (useful)
pros didaskalian - for teaching (with a view toward that which is taught)
pros elegmon - for conviction (to rebuke for the purpose of conviction of sin)
pros epanorthosin - for correction (to set up straight, restoring to an upright state, setting right)
pros paideian - for instruction (training, discipline)
en dikaiosune - in righteousness (the character or quality of being right or just)
The Scriptures are breathed by God and useful for:
Is the Apostle Paul saying that every passage of Scripture is written for our obedience? Should we kill and eat the passover lamb? Should we bring offerings to the high priest? Should we worship on Saturday? Should we sprinkle the blood of the trespass offering round about the altar? Should we burn the bullock with its hide, flesh and dung outside the camp? Should we circumcise every male child? Should we obey those who sit in Moses seat? Should we heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leper, and cast out demons? Should we handle deadly snakes and drink poison as a sign to the unsaved? Should we baptize people in water for the remission of sins? Should we go forth and preach the gospel without taking any money for food or lodging? Should we wait for the Holy Spirit to come on us in fire and speak in tongues and prophesy? Should we preach to the Jews only? Should we take Law-breakers outside the camp and kill them?
All of these are from Scripture passages which Paul says are for our teaching, conviction, correction, and training in righteousness. What do we do with them?
Most Christians around the world pick and choose which sections of Scripture they want to practice. Most believe the church started with Christ and His disciples. Most believe what Christ taught in the Gospel accounts and teachings in the Book of Acts are for them. But do any of them practice everything in those Scriptures? The answer is no. We pick and choose based on a variety of personal, political and religious reasons.
King James Version
New King James Version
2 Timothy 3:16-17
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto good works."
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
This is so the man of God may be "filled or furnished completely" for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:15
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a woerker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
"rightly dividing" is a translation of a Greek word that means "cutting straight" (orthotomounta ). It was what a stone cutter would do when preparing stones for a walkway or road. He had to cut them exactly right so they would fit together perfectly. As we cut straight the word of God, we need to observe carefully how the Lord works with people, what He commands them to do, and how He changes or adds to those commands. If we miss one detail, that could be the difference between a perfect cut and a sloppy cut. The way must be prepared to perfection.
The Bible is a Book of progressive revelation. God reveals His Will slowly and carefully - a point at a time.
Dispensation or administration is a term that means the law of the household (oikonomia ). The English word "economy" comes from it. The dictionary defines the term as "the management, regulation, and government of a household."
Genesis 2:25 states man and woman were naked and were not ashamed. The Hebrew word for "ashamed" (buwsh ) carries the idea of guilt. Man and woman had no guilt because they had done nothing wrong. It was disobedience and the ensuing guilt that separated man from God.
God taught man how to make a blood sacrifice. Some did it. Some did not. Eventually, mankind was so wicked and perverse, God's heart was grieved to the point He decided to destroy His creation. God would have destroyed man from the face of the earth, except that "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord."
God also instituted the death penalty for any person who murdered another person. God established an agreement (covenant) with Noah. God promised He would not destroy the earth with water again. The rainbow was the sign of that agreement.
Nations of people grew up after the flood. Those nations developed systems of human government with rules and regulations. Some students of the Bible have called that time the Dispensation of Human Government.
Jesus Christ, the Eternal and Only Son of the Living God, came to earth in human form. He preached that the promised Kingdom was "at hand." The people of God's promise and His Law killed Jesus their King. Christ rose from the grave, taught His followers what to do, ascended back to Heaven, and sent His Holy Spirit to His followers to enable them to do what He had told them to do. His followers were filled and empowered with the Holy Spirit and preached boldly about their King and His Promised Kingdom. Christ's followers obeyed the Law, had all things in common, baptized converts in water for the remission of their sins, and preached only to fellow people of the Promise (children of Israel). Their message was about the King and His Kingdom. It was seated in prophecy and expected fulfillment in their King. The message was not heeded by the people of God's promise and His Law. The people killed the follower of the King. Some students of the Bible have called that time the Dispensation of Kingdom Gospel.
Galatians 3:21-29
Paul stated clearly that his message was different from that of the Kingdom Apostles.
Galatians 2:6-9
The message of Peter, James, John and the other Jewish Apostles was grounded in the Mosaic Law and Old Covenant prophecies.
Paul's message is grounded in Grace, Freedom and Mystery.
Ephesians 3:1-9
This is our dispensation: the Dispensation of the Grace of God.
The Promise, Law and Kingdom Dispensations will come into play again (the Book of Revelation). But for now, God is managing His current household under Grace and the Mystery of the Body of Christ.
So, what does that mean to Bible students today? Paul stated that every Scripture passage in the Bible is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. However, Paul also makes it clear that not all Scripture is written "to" us.
When we study any portion of Scripture, we should ask some basic questions:
"Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
"But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision."
"For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ."
Example: Before the giving of the Law, murder was wrong. Under the Law, murder was wrong. Under Grace, murder is wrong.
God hated sin before the Law, under the Law, and under Grace. God saved men from His Love, Grace and Mercy before the Law, under the Law, and under Grace.
A "dispensation" is the way God manages His household. In previous dispensations God required people to obey the law and perform specific works as part of their personal salvation. In the Dispensation of Grace God has no such requirement -- "it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."
God's Principles of Right and Wrong never change, but His dealings with people do.
Is it prophecy? or Mystery?
The ministry of the Old Covenant writers was prophetic. The ministry of the Gospel writers was prophetic fulfillment. The Words of Jesus during His earthly Ministry were prophetic and prophetic fulfillment. The ministry of the disciples of Christ after the Lord ascended to heaven were prophetic and prophetic fulfillment. They repeated and explained prophecies about Israel, its King and Kingdom.
Then there was Paul. Jesus Christ called him personally to salvation. Christ tutored Paul Face to face, Mouth to ear, Mind to mind. This was the same Jesus Who called and taught the Kingdom disciples--Peter, James, John, Matthew, Andrew and the others. Since Paul was just "another" disciple of Christ, the message Jesus gave him was identical to what He taught the others. Right?
Wrong! Paul was not just "another" disciple of Christ. Christ called Paul outside of His calling of the Kingdom disciples. Paul is not a Kingdom disciple. He is the Apostle to the Gentiles.
Read these passages to see what Paul said about the message that Jesus Christ gave only to him.
It was Jesus, not Paul, Who changed the way He managed His Households of Faith. It was Jesus, not Paul, Who kept a secret from previous generations of believers and gave it first to Paul. It was Jesus, not Paul, Who set Israel aside and put the Gentiles in the forefront of His plans for earth temporarily. It was Jesus, not Paul, Who postponed His Prophesied Kingdom and built His Mystery Body instead. It was Jesus, not Paul, Who abolished the Law and made peace between Jew and Gentile by His Cross. It was Jesus, not Paul, Who did all of it.
Jesus determined--Paul delivered. Jesus hid it away--Paul handed it out. Therefore, when we read the Bible, we must realize that Jesus speaks in this Dispensation of Grace through the writings of the Apostle Paul. The principles are for all time. Prophecy is for other times. Mystery is for this time.
How was that Mystery revealed to Paul? Gradually. Read Acts 26:16-18, 1 Corinthians 1:13-17 and 13:8-10, and 2 Corinthians 12:1-7. They are just a few examples about how God revealed His Mystery to Paul.
Taking God's Grace to the World!
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