Rightly Dividing the Word of God

Most people have a hard time to understand God's Word. They think it is a book that really can't be well understood. It has however many layers of wisdom that can only be understood with the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.

On this page we aim to make you aware of the multiple interpretations that are known to us: it's helpful to consider that each passage in the Bible can be interpreted in three main ways, as highlighted by Dr. M.R. DeHaan in the introduction to ‘Daniel the Prophet’. Below we try to give a few examples of each domain and hope that you will get the picture.

Key verses: Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30b

This example links the Kingdom of God to repentance and believing the gospel.

This explains the basic concept that the absence of repentance leads to perishment.

This shows that nobody is exempt from repentance.

Here we took a foundational appoach to understand these texts, which makes it a Primary Interpretation. It help us to understand the basic concepts, in this case about repentance.

Key verses: 1 John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13; Corinthians 7:10

Here we read about a personal call for regular repentance, so that our relationshipt with Jesus gets restored.

This is a personal warning about what happens when we cover our sins and what happens when we confess our sins.

This text contrasts Godly sorrow with worldly sorrow and its personal results.

These pracital approaches lead to be better personal understanding in your own life and the lives of the people around you.

Key verses: Joel 2:12-13; Zechariah 1:3; Revelation 2:5

This is a prophetic call for national and personal renewal.

This promises God's presence as the result of turning away from evil.

This prophetic message shows the need for churches specifically in the end times.

Approaching the Bible solely through its Primary Interpretation can lead to a rigid orthodoxy, lacking in vitality and warmth. Focusing only on Practical Applications might result in losing sight of the Scripture's true intent, though it can be beneficial in day-to-day life. Similarly, exclusively concentrating on Prophetic Revelation can narrow our understanding and might lead to a dogmatic view that may be doctrinally sound yet lacking in practical effectiveness and warmth in personal experience, making it less helpful to others.

In our study, we aim to balance these three interpretive layers, deepening our understanding and application of God's Word.

On our journey we will try to discover new and old paths by jumping from one application to the other, often without mentioning it. We hope that these applications help you when you study the Bible for yourself!