How to Rightly Divide The Holy Bible

In today’s copies of the Bible, the publishers divide Bible books into the Old Testament (Genesis – Malachi) and the New Testament (Matthew – Revelation)

The Bible rightly stated that there can not be a New Testament without the death of the Testator, so the New Testament actually began when Jesus died and resurrected.

“For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.” Heb. 9:16-17 KJV

Therefore, the proper division of the Holy Bible should be: The Old Testament (Genesis – John) and the New Testament (Acts – Revelation)

From Genesis to John, God was having a serious conversation with Israel – His FIRSTBORN.

From Genesis to Malachi, God was expressing His heartfelt burden to Israel only – THE JEWS. (Isaiah 1:1, Amos 1:1, Malachi 1:1)

In the RED LETTERS section of the Bible, Jesus was speaking to Israel only – THE JEWS. (Matt 15: 24)

No matter the flavour of your Christianity, until you accept that Jesus is both willing and able to mean what he said in the bible, you will never be able to rightly interpret the messages in the Bible.

NOTE: The world consists of two sets of people. At the physical level – JEWS and GENTILES and at the spiritual level – Saved people and unsaved people.

Israel is God’s firstborn (Ex 4:22-23 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn. KJV)

They had a relationship with God but they always rebelled against Him. To come back to God from their rebellion, they needed to become BORN AGAIN as seen in John 3.

Gentiles never had any relationship with God, so they have need of a new life. They must become new creatures. 2^nd Cor 5:17.

Gentiles must preach Christ according to the mystery of the revelation that Christ revealed to Apostle Paul – Rom 16:25

Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, KJV.

Peter preached Christ according to all the law and prophets since the word began. Act3 3:21. He preached the gospel of the kingdom without knowing that the cross will happen.

NOTE: God had more to say after Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. His divine plan was still unfolding after the death, burial and resurrection of His son Jesus.

Paul preached Christ according to the mystery of the revelation revealed by Christ to him and this has been hidden since the world began. (There was a mystery about Christ until God saved Paul)

QUESTION: Why listen to Paul when you can listen to Christ Himself?

ANSWER: You were instructed by Christ Himself to listen to Paul. 

1 Cor 14:37

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

KJV

NOTE: You can not claim to be obedient to Christ if you cannot follow Paul.

PAUL IS OUR PATTERN – 1 Tim 1:16

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

KJV

KEY FOR RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE BIBLE – Believe the entire bible BUT respect the AUDIENCES that the texts were directed to.

FACT: The Lord Jesus is the most important Person since the world began. Attention should be paid closely to all that he said.

Matthew 19:16 The young ruler – what must I do to be saved? Jesus answered in verse 21. Sell all you have and give it to the poor. You’ll have treasure in heaven, then come and follow me. Did Jesus really mean this? Some will say Jesus didn’t really mean that. What he really meant was…

Peter asked in verse 27 – what will I get?

The reply of Jesus in verse 29 did not mention the cross or faith in his blood etc.

In Titus 3:5 We are not by works of righteousness but we are saved according to His abundant mercy.

Rom 3:25 Faith in His blood.

In Matthew, Jesus sent out his disciples to preach a gospel that did not have his death, burial and resurrection in it. The disciples didn’t have a clue that Jesus was going to die.

THE actual point of confusion –

The red letters and the white letters seem to have divergent views of issues of eternal life. Some verses did not make sense when compared with other verses. Compare Matt 24:13 with Ephesians 1:13. You’ll be LOST until you can connect the dots.

Look this up –

Ephesians 1:16 The eyes of your understanding must be enlightened when you study the Bible.

Tell yourself the truth…

You are not the centre of the universe. The world and God’s eternal purpose does not revolve around you. Stop replacing the names of Bible characters with yours when claiming Bible goodies. Kill the selfishness that was birthed in Sunday school classes and Bible study sessions.

Matthew 8:4 The healed leper was ordered to go to the priest and perform the works of the law. Jesus was not talking to a gentile but to a Jew.

Matthew 23:1 Jesus told everyone in the audience to be good Jews, follow all the laws and the priests. Jesus was talking to Jews.

If as a Gentile you believe Jesus was referring to you in Matthew 8:4 and Matthew 23:1, then the plan of Jesus is to turn you into a Jew.

JESUS MEANT EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID TO WHOM HE SAID IT.

Question: Why is Jesus telling people to do O.T. activities in the N.T.?

Answer: From the book of Genesis to the death of Christ on the cross is O.T. The N.T. began after death and resurrection of the Testator. Heb. 9:16-17

For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. KJV

BIBLE PUBLISHER: O.T. (Genesis – Malachi) N.T. (Matthew – Revelation)

BIBLE FACT: O.T. (Genesis – John) N.T. (The Cross – Revelation)

CASE STUDY

Matthew 15.21-28

Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.

And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

KJV

SHOCK 1: Jesus did not answer her. His only reply – I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

SHOCK 2: Jesus called her A DOG (A Gentile) – he answered and said, it’s not proper or acceptable to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.

SHOCK 3: The woman only got her request met when she acknowledged and accepted her rightful place of being A GENTILE.

Christ was the minister of the circumcision BUT later Paul said “in Christ, there is no Gentile or Jew”.

What Christ had to say in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John belong to Israel not us.

Matthew 10:5-12 Jesus expressly instructed His disciples not to go to the Gentiles but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

CONCLUSION: It’s rude when you force your way into a Father-Son conversation between God and Israel. We were taught to handle the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John like that.

In the RED LETTERS, Jesus was not talking to me. I accept this because JESUS MEANT EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID TO WHOM HE SAID IT.

Question: How do I become a good follower of Jesus if He was not talking to me in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John?

Answer: Practice your Christianity according to the mystery of the revelation revealed by Christ to Paul. This was hidden since the world began. (There was a mystery about Christ until God saved Paul). Teachers through different generations taught Christians to come to God’s word and look at Christ through the lens of Peter. 2 Peter 3:15. For example, you must pray like Paul and not like Peter. Romans 8:26

Allow the Bible to match your doctrine and not the other way round.

Today, the Pauline approach to Bible Study is needed for effective Christian ministry.