II Timothy 2:15-16 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [16] But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
The method by which you choose to study is determined solely by your motive for study. The Word of God will expose that motive.
Most people who use a corrupt study method have been taught to use it, as well as having been taught to accept a corrupt text, the variant versions of so-called bibles. Some people have even been taught to completely avoid the Authorized Version King James Bible of 1611; no one ever rejects the Authorized Version King James Bible of 1611, or true study methods, without being taught to do so.
People choose to believe the lie because of their overwhelming desire to achieve their personal agendas. Again, we are back to motive.
The people who distrust God never do so because of the Scripture, which in English is the Authorized Version King James Bible of 1611. The religious institutions in Christianity cause the distrust; by the people who claim to be what the Word of God proves they are not. The purpose of study is to focus that distrust correctly. The distrust is valid, but usually pointed in the wrong direction.
There are two basic methods of study, but many variations are available through the commingling of the two.
The first method of study is the Allegorical Method. It is the religious community’s most popular choice. Satan authored the Allegorical Method of study in Genesis chapter 3. For the sake of space, we will pick up the trail in the 1st century A.D. with a Jew named Philo, who already held the practices, beliefs, and rituals of the Jews and their commingled pagan variations of worship.
Philo, in an attempt to tie Greek Philosophy to the Hebrew Masoretic Text, began to apply spiritualized or mystical meanings to obvious Scripture passages. His point of origin was Alexandria, Egypt. Augustine shared Philo’s beliefs and practices and continued to employ Philo’s methods, as have Origenes and every other corrupt transliterator since.
The method is theologically corrupt. It not only applies mystical meanings to obvious passages, but also the taking of passages out of context. They take passages out of context for two reasons;
- In an attempt to explain why their doctrine doesn’t work, or
- To make the passages fit their personal or organizational private agenda.
It is from these spiritualized transliterations and applications that the practices and beliefs in water baptism, tithing, circumcision, healing, miracles, modern Christians being ‘spiritual Jews’, Divine Intervention, backsliding, circumstantial ‘blessings and cursings’, that the kingdom of God is being setup little-by-little and Christ’s 2nd coming is one piece at a time, that the kingdom of God is not a physical place but merely a spiritual concept, the belief in reincarnation not resurrection (the pre-existence of the soul as well as the trans-migration of the soul), purgatory (salvation of the dead), confessionals wherein men forgive sins, priests to be called “Father” and never marry, universal salvation (which includes angels and Satan), evolution, communion elements as being the physical body and blood of Christ for salvation, the inclusion of pagan rituals and idols as forms of worship, the setting up of tradition as being of greater value than the Word of God, etc. come from.
With each generation since it began, through Presumed Public Knowledge, the method is advanced and accepted farther and wider. It continues to be based on Greek philosophy: faith through logic and reason, the dethroning of God, and the advancement of man.
Spiritualized readings also indirectly teach that the Word of God is not literal, that the words are only a form of literature, to be figuratively applied, and therefore are not Scripture. It incorporates the gentile religions and pagan rituals into supposedly “godly worship” while claiming that it is of God. The question raised by the people using this type of study isn’t whether verses and passages should be modified or removed; they agree that in fact they should. The only question they have is how many at a time and which ones first? One of the ways that they modify passages is through the employment of Greek and Hebrew dictionaries; they rewrite the Scripture to suit their personal agendas while claiming to seek and serve God.
This is the study method of every denominational seminary, beginning with Catholicism; all of her offspring practice it, as we have already discussed. Using all of the material contained up to this point you clearly see the fallacy of this school of teaching.
Since Scripture is the final authority, a verse will prove this practice for what it is – WRONG.
I Corinthians 2:12-13 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. [13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
II Timothy 2:16-17 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. [17] And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
Titus 1:10-16 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: [11] Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. [12] One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. [13] This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; [14] Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. [15] Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. [16] They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
This verse, Titus 1:10-16, is one of the most accurate pictures of Christianity and allegorical study I have found.
II Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
The second method, which Christianity and the modernists are in contention with, is the Literal Method. This method started in Genesis 2:16-17 when God first spoke with Adam. It is also the method taught by every Prophet of God in Scripture. It was taught by Christ, by the apostles, including Paul, and in Antioch by the Bible believers of the early Body of Christ. All Bible believing, Bible preaching, God-worshiping believers in the Body of Christ use the Literal Method of study.
The Literal Method states that the Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of the believers of God. Its (the Scripture) doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. When the plain sense of a verse makes common sense, seek no other sense. Therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context (studied in light of the related passages, axiomatic and fundamental truths) indicate clearly otherwise. God, in revealing Himself through His Word, neither intends nor permits His people to be confused; He wants His beloved, in every dispensation, to understand.
Every verse has a literal meaning for those to whom it was written TO (dispensationally accurate doctrine) as well as a spiritual application (not a spiritual meaning) and a Divine principle to those to whom it is written FOR.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
II 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: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
According to verse 17, Scripture is not now, nor ever has been, to the unsaved. God gave His Scripture to and for His people only; the redeemed of God only!
As you can see, these methods are almost opposites and the motives are very clear. The hardest part of your studying will be the purging of false doctrine; the bogus religious information that you were taught either as a child, in your school, or by religious organizations, as well as any and all existing Presumed Public Knowledge.
You may have learned the false doctrine at home from parents who were working from the pool of Presumed Public Knowledge and the proliferation of false doctrine. On the other hand, you may have learned the lie from a religious organization. The religious organizations in Christianity today are based on the false doctrine produced by Philo. The false doctrine was reinforced by the mandate of the Council of Trent, who produced (and nurture) the corrupt and perverted pool of Presumed Public Knowledge in use today. The basic belief and teaching of Christianity’s false doctrine is that
- You must be good to get saved, to prove that you are saved, and/or to stay saved
- You must perform benevolent acts and conform your behavior to the standards set by the organization; no dancing, no coffee, no tobacco, adherence to a prescribed dress code, no show of affection in public, no movies, no T.V., no music, no meat on Friday, no alcohol consumption, no doctors or medications, no processed sugar, no saturated fats, no modern inventions or conveniences, adherence to prescribed vocabulary, etc.
- Required attendance and support of Church functions
- Required monetary input to the Church
- Required to recruit converts for the Church and perpetuate the lie of Christianity
- Required adherence to Church Doctrine (religious ceremonies, customs, practices, holidays, etc.)
Each and every one of these items are the incorporation of human good as dictated by the religious organization and have absolutely nothing at all to do with God, Scripture, or the Dispensation of Grace. The religious community uses them as a yardstick to judge each other with, and they attempt to enforce them on everyone around them. It is the basis of Presumed Public Knowledge.
In man’s attempt to prove their human good and self-righteousness, they have denied God and endeavor to destroy the Word of God. The religious practitioners like to evoke I Corinthians 6:19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
It is interesting to note that most of the Christians who spout this verse are obese, or in some other way self-abusing hypocrites. The religious people of the world make rules of conduct based on self-serving purposes. They then claim that it is “of God” and expect everyone to fall into step with their agenda.
Since no one is willing to study the Scripture, the new standard is automatically accepted and entered into the pool of Presumed Public Knowledge. It then becomes a new requirement for the succeeding generations.
Knowing what you now know about the words you and ye, what are the actual specifics in the verse above? Is this verse an individual or corporate admonition? Is God dealing with the individual’s physical body or the body of believers as a corporate entity?
The truth according to Romans 2 is that mankind does not have the ability to be good. You may do nice works, be benevolent, have morally right conduct, be sweet, genteel, and polite; but the fact remains – no one is good. Therefore, according to the standards of religion you will always be a failure. However, what does God say?
God teaches us through Paul that there is no physical activity, practice, or conduct that you can do to qualify for salvation, to keep your salvation, to lose your salvation, or even to prove that you have salvation. If you are saved, you are saved by grace, through faith, plus nothing!
To answer the question I posed above; the use of the word “ye” is corporate, the ‘your body’ referred to is a reference to the local assembly that the individuals are a part of, not specifically about the individual’s physical body. The verse is talking about the local Body of Christ corporately being compromised by the inclusion or association with false doctrine and pagan practices. The Corinthians were living the same pagan lifestyle they did before they received their salvation. This verse has nothing to do with dress code, eating habits, basic entertainment preferences, etc.
God is specifically dealing with their inclusion and endorsement of the false doctrine, rituals, customs, etc. of their prior lifestyles. As usual, the religious organizations have it all backwards.
God said that your lifestyle choices will fall into accord with His desired spectrum if you apply Rightly Divided Scripture for your dispensation; you will study according to the lifestyle choices you make: refuse the false doctrine, rituals, customs, etc. The Word of God Rightly Divided and applied to your life produces sanctification. Physical activities do not produce sanctification. The issue is spiritual, not physical.
Man’s religion insists that if you change the Scripture to accommodate your own personal agenda, comply with the false doctrine, rituals, and customs, conforming your lifestyle to that of strict human good as outlined by the various religious organizations, then God has no choice but to accept you and give you salvation.
Who do you believe is telling the truth, God or the religious organizations devised by man? Whom will you believe, the Scripture or the fat-lady? Who will you listen to, God’s truth or the fat-man?
You are going to have to start at the beginning, from scratch, back to the basics. You must consider all, every bit without exception, of what you think you know about God and Scripture to be in error until you can confirm, through study, that it is either right or wrong according to Rightly Divided Scripture.
You are going to have to disregard all Presumed Public Knowledge and serve God based solely on the Scripture Rightly Divided.
This is true without regard to your profession of faith, whether you are an unsaved sinner trying to avoid the pitfalls of Christianity, or a professing saint trying to escape the snare of Christianity, or even a Christian who feels secure in the lie. The ultimate test of truth is the Scripture; the ultimate test of integrity is your ability and willingness to be honest with yourself.
At some point in your studying you may want to include commentaries, lectionaries, study guides, devotionals, etc. into your study time. There is nothing inherently wrong with the inclusion of those things as long as the final and absolute authority remains the pure undefiled Rightly Divided Scripture, which in English is only available in the Authorized Version King James Bible of 1611. You will soon discover how errant these so-called study aids really are; most people who invoke such aids do so because the material supports the private agenda and false doctrine of the user.
You may now, or at some point in the future (as part of your study), attend a Church and rely on a man to teach you. There is nothing wrong with that, according to Scripture you should. However, it is up to you to ensure that the gathering is strictly in line with Rightly Divided Scripture, a gathering of the saints for edification (I Thessalonians 5:11).
If those that assemble endorse, allow, encourage, or in any manner support any version of bible other than the Authorized Version King James Bible of 1611 you will know with a certainty that they teach and support the lie of Christianity. They will undoubtedly employ the allegorical study method.
If the assembly teaches from, and endorses only the Authorized Version King James Bible of 1611 you may be safe, but always confirm through rightly divided Scripture that the teaching is true and dispensationally accurate. Just because they teach from and endorse the Authorized Version King James Bible of 1611 exclusively, does not preclude them from incorporating spiritualized readings, using corrupt study methods, or taking the Scripture out of context. In most instances they deny God’s Dispensational divisions and co-mingle gospels and requirements given to other Dispensations and use the ignorant spiritualized meanings for ‘blessings’ and ‘curses’.
Scripture can be taken out of context either textually or dispensationally.
- Textually out of context is the picking and choosing of what you want, without regard to the context wherein it is written, which is the incorporation of Satan’s phase one attack according to Genesis 3.
- Dispensationally out of context produces what God calls “the doctrines of devils”. To do so causes doctrinal trespass and the attempted misappropriation of “promises, gifts, and/or provisions” from the dispensation of which the trespass was made.
Further, using and endorsing the Authorized Version King James Bible of 1611 exclusively does not prevent them from casting doubt on the Word of God by incorporating the ‘red or blue letters’, the erroneous and deadly footnotes, study guides, or margin notes of dishonest or well-meaning publishers.
The responsibility for how you handle the Word of God is always up to you, and you alone will answer to God for how you handled His Word. If you recall our discussion of Satan in Genesis 3, at one point Satan used pure Scripture on Eve to deceive her, as he tried to do with Christ in the desert. The use of pure and true Scripture does not ensure the truth of the message or the teachings involved. The Scripture must be used in context and Rightly Divided, as well as maintaining the harmony of God’s truth as a whole. You do not have license to privately interpret the Scripture!
The attendance to a group, church, or the reliance on someone to teach you must never circumvent (replace or eliminate) your personal study of the Word of God; it should only be used to enhance your personal study. You must always scrutinize the public teaching while in your personal study; trust only God, exclusively and explicitly according to His Word to your dispensation.
Some of the most blatant lies perpetuated by Christianity are being born again, water baptism, communion, anointing, calling, the great commission, kingdom purpose, the church being the bride of Christ, tithe, healing, miracles, tongues, prophecy, confession, spiritually a Jew, filling of the Holy Ghost (also known as “spirit filled believer”), physical divine intervention (circumstantially exalted or condemned physically, mentally, emotionally, or monetarily), etc.
The list is seemingly endless, limited only by the imagination and vanity of man. If you believe, follow, or perpetuate the lie of Christianity, you shall most certainly receive personally what we all deserve, the judgment of God: a physical, literal, eternal torment in hell.
The issue of study is very simple. You certainly have the Word of God available to you in English, the language of commerce, the Authorized Version King James Bible of 1611. Scripture contains The mind of God, The state of man, The way of salvation, The doom of sinners, The happiness of believers, Its doctrines are holy, Its precepts are binding, Its histories are true, and Its decisions are immutable.
God said what He meant, and He meant what He said, literally, every word. When the plain sense of a verse makes common sense, seek no other sense. Therefore, Take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in light of the related passages, and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.
Every verse has a literary application; it has a specific meaning for those to whom it was written at the time of the writing.
Every verse has a dispensational application; it teaches doctrine for the time period (dispensation) to which it was written.
Every verse has a spiritual principle that it teaches; it is the spiritual application, it is not a spiritualized implication or mystical meaning.
Handle the Word of God honorably and with pure intent. You must conform to the Word of God. The Word of God is not to be manipulated in order that it conforms to your private agenda or personal doctrine.