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 KJB]

In Ephesians 2, the Apostle Paul sets forth the basic three-fold division in God’s dealing with mankind:  Time Past (vs. 11, 12), But Now (v.13), the Ages to Come (v.7).  When the Bible is “laid out” according to this divinely inspired design, we easily get an overview of not only what we are reading but when and to whom it was written. Thus the Word of God itself provides us with the key to its own proper understanding and right division:

TIME PAST

Ephesians 2:11-12 sets forth the basic issue in Time Past as the division between the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision, between the nation Israel and the Gentiles.  When you find this issue governing the way God was working with men, you know you are in Time Past.  This cover the “Old Testament” (see Genesis 17:9-14, Deuteronomy 4:5-8, Number 23:9) as well as Matthew thru John (see Rom 15:8, Matthew 10:5,6; Matthew 15:24; John 4:22) and the early Acts period (see Luke 24:47, Acts 1:6,8; 2:14, 22, 36; 5:32; 11:19).

BUT NOW

Ephesians 2:13 indicates that in the But Now portion Gentiles are no longer “far off” but rather the “middle wall of partition” between Israel and the Gentiles has been eliminated and now “those who were far off are made nigh.” Romans thru Philemon provide the doctrine for the dispensation of grace (Romans 11:13; 15:16; 16:25; 1 Corinthians 14:37, Ephesians 3:1-9).

THE AGES TO COME

God will bring His purposes to fruition and thus Ephesians 2:7 points to the Ages to Come. The books of Hebrews thru Revelation focus on this. 

The present dispensation of grace is “the mystery” hid in God until first revealed to the Apostle Paul (Ephesians 3:1-9, Colossians 1:24-26; Romans 16:25-26; 1 Timothy 2:4-7, Titus 1:2-3, etc.)  Thus, in Paul’s writing alone we find the doctrine, position, walk and destiny of the Body of Christ. 

Remember:  While all Scripture is for us, all Scripture is not written to or about us.  This is the key to understanding the Bible.

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This chart has foldout capabilities to demonstrate the importance of the secret, hidden nature of the present dispensation of grace (Ephesians 3:1-9). To hide the “mystery” section, fold the chart and you will see the perfect continuity of that “which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21).  Open the chart and it reveals the mystery program to visualize how the prophetic program has been temporarily interrupted by “the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest.”  (Romans 16: 25-26).

CHART PUBLISHED BY 

Grace School of the Bible

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For copies of this chart contact: 

Grace School of the Bible

P. O. Box 97

Bloomingdale, IL 60108

Phone: 630.529.0520

www.GraceImpact.org