Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

Understand the Bible the way God intended — and find the simplicity in Christ.



Simplicity in Christ Video Thumbnail

One Man's Experience

Hear this pastor's experience discovering Rightly Dividing and the difference it made in his life. Here is a link to his YouTube page.

Simplicity in Christ Video Thumbnail

Dr. Paul Felter Explains Rightly Dividing

Dr. Felter begins a full study on Rightly Dividing. The full YouTube playlist can be seen here.
A quote from his ministry site - "...over the last ten years [I] have jetisoned many old traditional Christian dogmas because right divison has answered all my questions and issues that once puzzled me. I talk about many of those in my podcasts. Right Division is truly the master key to understanding the Bible."

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
— 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)


To rightly divide simply means to make the proper distinctions: some parts of Scripture are written to Israel, and some are written to the Body of Christ through Paul. All Scripture is valuable and true, but God has different programs and different instructions for different stages of His plan.



Two programs — one God


In the Bible we see two primary programs that God runs:

  1. The Prophetic Program — centered on Israel and the promised earthly kingdom; proclaimed through the prophets and the Gospels. From Genesis through early Acts, God was dealing with Israel, His chosen nation. Their hope was earthly — a promised kingdom with Christ ruling from Jerusalem. Their message was that Jesus was the Messiah and their gospel was tied to repentance, baptism and law-keeping as demonstrations of faith.
  2. The Mystery Program — the secret revealed to Paul for the Church, the Body of Christ, which focuses on God's grace and the present administration of that grace. Through the Apostle Paul, God revealed something kept secret since the world began : a new, heavenly purpose for a new people—the Body of Christ. Our hope is heavenly, and our gospel is one of grace — that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. There’s no temple, no priesthood, and no works required — just simple faith in what Christ has already done.

Rightly Dividing simply means keeping God’s two programs separate and applying their commands, blessings, and destinies only to the people God gave them to.

Why this matters

If we mix those programs they blur together and we get confused theology — Law and kingdom promises applied to the Body of Christ lead to legalism and Paul’s message of grace applied to Israel’s prophetic calling leads to misunderstanding. People start begging for forgiveness which God has already given at the Cross and working for righteousness they can possess only through trust in Christ's work.

Rightly dividing restores clarity: salvation by grace through faith, and distinct roles for law, kingdom promises, and the present grace program.

When we rightly divide, the Bible opens up — clear, consistent and liberating. Israel’s promises remain true. The Body’s blessings are secure. And God’s plan for both reveals His wisdom, grace and glory.



The simplicity in Christ

The practical result is simple and freeing. For the Body of Christ today the gospel is plain: God has done the work, and He asks us to believe. As Paul said to the Philipian jailor, “Believe” - trust.

That is the heart of simplicity — trust Christ’s finished work, not your works.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” — Acts 16:31
"[the Philipian jailor] said Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."
"and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began"
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures"