James 2 tells us faith without works is dead. It also says the poor of this world are rich in faith. Why would the poor be rich in faith? Is it because the poor have to work hard just to live, (works)? Are hard working poor people living by faith? Maybe; the poor generally work at hard labor. But this goes without saying. It is one of those truths we hold to be self evident? Do we really need to use scripture to construct a teaching that says the poor have to work?
The theme of James 2 is indeed a contrast of rich and poor. The haves and the have nots by today's label. My first thought would be that rich people do not have to rely on God being their provider as much as the poor. Therefore the poor need more faith just to get by. But digging deeper, it would be good to have clear understanding of what "Works" really means. To rightly understand God's Word we need to dig deeper. Like the wise man who built his house upon the rock. We need to build upon that solid Rock which is Christ.
�Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life"
shepherdingking, I believe you have given some good truths for thought, especially in the kind of works that Christ will honor.
I believe the key to the kind of works Christ expects of a true believer is summed up in this next verse.
2 Timothy 1:9 �Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
I believe if we search the scriptures diligently by comparing scripture with scripture, {1 Corinthians 2:13} and with the help of the Holy Spirit teaching us we can know God's purpose and grace for each of us according to the measure of wisdom we allow the Lord to give to us.
I don't believe that God is going to give additional understanding not found in scripture as some claim from time to time but with the mind of Christ, {1 Corinthians 2:16} we can know all things found in His word. {1 John 2:20}.
Also we never stop learning the deeper things of God, but I do believe the Lord will continue to reveal Himself to us provided our hearts are right and we desire to have His wisdom and we don't put our faith in man's wisdom.
1 Corinthians 2:5 �That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
If we have ourr wisdom in what men teach would have to be in denominational doctrines instead of just God's word taken literally and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us.
Colossians 2:8 �Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
James 1:5 �If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
All the above I believe is the key to rightly dividing the word of truth and have the proper good works testifying to our faith in Christ and will be honoring to Him with eternal rewards.
Paul studied at the feet of Gamilel. This part is important in understanding what Paul is saying by �rightly dividing the word.� He is referring to biblical hermeneutics. Paul used biblical hermeneutics to �rightly divide the word.� Therefore, here are some very good points:
1. Avoid eisegesis theology (reading your own point of view into the text).
2. We should always aim for exegetical theology (deriving ideas from out of the text).
Gamilel is the decendent of Hillel. Gamilel would have probably taught Paul about the 7 rules of Hillel. Hillel did not invent the rules; he was the first to write them down. The rules are very old and can be seen used in the Tenach. It is too much to go into but if anybody wants to see what rules Paul would have followed look up �The seven rules of Hillel.�
To say hermeneutics was what Paul was speaking of is quite a stretch.
Lets look at the scripture you were referencing and the one immediately preceding it.
2Ti 2:14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.
2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
NKJV
Verse 14 actually talks against what you are saying. Striving about words is what hermeneutics is all about. Not to mention, I have never seen it used by anyone who didn't have an agenda.
2. I have never seen it used by anyone who didn't have an agenda.
Paul was a Jew, who studied at the feet of Gamilel. He was a very well educated Torah teacher. He knew how to �rightly divide the word� (hermeneutics). Paul wouldn�t have �guessed his way� through scripture hoping to land on the right interpretations. He had rules of interpretation to follow used by all of the ancient sages.
2 Tim. 2:15-18 (KJV)
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. [17] And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; [18] Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
1 Tim. 6:4-5 (KJV)
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, [5] Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1 Tim. 6:20-21 (KJV)
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: [21] Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
2 Tim. 2:23-26 (KJV)
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. [24] And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, [25] In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; [26] And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Paul is imploring his readers to study what? The word of truth.
Paul is petitioning what to do with it? Divide it correctly; that is make good interpretations (hermeneutics).
Paul gives us examples of who has made errors in their interpretations (wrongly divided the word). Hymenaeus and Philetus and others
Paul says to shun what? Profane and vain babblings. A good modern example are those unbelievers who on their own presuppositions exclude the possibility of Yeshua�s virgin birth. He gives a detailed explanation in 1 Tim. 6:4-5
Paul didn't need the philosophies of man to understand truth since He was taken up into heaven and later was given direct revelation from Christ.
Believers are told to study and compare scripture with scripture and the Holy spirit will teach us of God from his word. We don't need anymore than that. Anything else can be of the god of this world to spread more confusion and misunderstanding.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 �And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
1 Corinthians 2:13 �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.
Colossians 2:8 �Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Matthew 15:8 �This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 �But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Regardless of which translation/interpretation tools we can use, does this text give an impression that the poor have to work more. And they are given more faith because they ARE poor?
I use the common sense rule of interpretation. Poor people DO have a harder life in comparison to the rich. It should be obvious. The context is a rich vs poor comparison.
:waving:
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"let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need." Ephesians 4:28
See how quickly my words and scriptures were twisted to mean something else? That is what hermeneutics is all about. It is trying to understand the bible without the Holy Spirit. That goes directly against Jesus' teachings.
Hermeneutics is only as good as the user is impartial, which never happens. So, it is useless.
BTW, why didn't you tell them where the name came from?
Paul tells Timothy to rightly divide the Word of truth, 2 Tim. 2:15-18.
But this is the only place this phrase is used. It literally means to make a straight cut. Some take it to mean dividing up God's Word into bite sized pieces & feeding new baby Christians.
When I saw Hermeneutics I thought of Hermeticism but after googling it i see that it's some greek mumbo jumbo. Those two systems are rooted in a Greek god names hermes who is said to be the messenger of the gods. Your relying on lucifer and his cohorts to give you the message of Christ? LOL
I have taken to ascribing people's methods to their walk with Christ... so, rapio, your either a (knowing) snare to people who honestly are seeking truth or you are sadly mistaken. You are counting the Holy Spirit aka The Spirit of Truth aka The Living Word for naught and depending on Greek "wisdom".
1 Corinthians 1:21-25 (King James Version)
21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
