#1. Right Division.

     From time to time, as new readers are added, it becomes necessary that a word should be given so that the beginner in these studies may not feel himself quite unprovided for. 

    We feel it unnecessary, we are thankful to say, to elaborate the first great fundamental, namely, the absolute inspiration of the original Scriptures, an inspiration extending to the very words and letters.  We cannot conceive of any who deny the inspiration of Scripture finding much to their liking in The Berean Expositor.  The fundamental that we would lay before the reader just now is contained in  II Tim. ii. 15,  “rightly dividing the Word of truth”.

     Accepting the Scripture as the Word of truth, we must exercise reference to the varying dispensations under which man has been placed.  What was true under the dispensation of Law, may be false under the dispensation of Grace.  One has only to read such epistles as Romans, or Galatians, to realize how true this is.  The differences also that are mentioned as found under the Old Covenant and the New, are emphasized in the epistle to the Hebrews, and  II Corinthians iii. & iv.  The teaching of the Gospel according to Matthew, with its emphasis upon the gospel of the kingdom of the heavens, is entirely different from the gospel say of the Epistle to the Ephesians.  The presence and service of miraculous gifts, as recorded in the Gospels, the Acts, and the early Epistles of Paul, and the absence of such gifts in his prison ministry, demonstrate again the fact that under different dispensations God has been pleased to deal with men in different ways.  The hopes of varying periods, too, differ in important details.  The hope of Israel was centred in the Personal presence on the earth of the Messiah, and vitally connected with the throne of David.  The hope of Abraham, and all who, like him, obtained a good report through faith (see  Hebrews xi.  & The Book of Revelation),  was connected with “the city which hath the foundations”,  “the new Jerusalem, the holy city”.  The hope of the church of the one body is, that when “Christ, Who is our life, shall be made manifest, we shall also be made manifest with Him in glory” (Col. iii. 4). 

     The various ordinances that were enjoined at different times constitute another witness to the need for right division.  Circumcision was enjoined very emphatically, as also the keeping of the Sabbath, yet one has only to read Paul’s epistles to find a complete and drastic change.  Baptism in water was once essentially connected with the gospel proclamation, repentance, and remission of sins.  Water baptism, however, does not constitute a part of the teaching of the Word that relates to the church of the mystery.  The Lord’s Supper, with its inseparable link with the New Covenant, has no place in the dispensation of the mystery. 

     The order of Apostles, and the ministry generally, differ under different dispensations.  Priesthood and sacrifices have ceased, and have no place at present with us.  The Apostles of the Lamb do not include in their number the Apostles of the mystery connected with Paul.  The organized gatherings of believers differ also.  God’s “people” are Israel, they constitute, or will constitute, a kingdom.  An election from among them will constitute “a royal priesthood.”  The church formed during the period covered by the Acts of the Apostles will, together with an elect remnant of Israel, constitute the Bride (as distinguished from the Wife, who is to be restored after a long period of separation).  The Church formed by God during the period covered by Israel’s rejection commencing with the end of the Acts, constitutes not the Bride of Christ, or the subjects of the kingdom of the heavens, but the Body of Christ, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all. 

     Now the reader who has not studied the Scriptures very fully, will perhaps have a host of objections and questions which he would interject were we speaking to him instead of writing.  We sympathized with all such, and the preparation of this series is our tangible expression of that sympathy.  In this article we have called attention to the need for right division.  In subsequent issues we shall hope to take up point by point, and show the teaching of the Word concerning it.  It will be our endeavour to write simply, and to confine ourselves as far as possible to one subject at a time, avoiding the tendency to use parenthesis, which we find is somewhat characteristic of our pen. 

     Letters from those for whom the articles are written will be appreciated, and will indicate what are the special difficulties with which we ought to deal.