Rightly Dividing the Word vs. the Backfire Effect

INT-01

Have you ever been confused by a Bible teaching that seemed contrary to something else in the Bible in that same area? Have you ever read a scripture that seemed to contradict another scripture? If a person's held belief; doctrine; dogma; or, opinion requires them to shun, ignore, or change the meaning of other Scriptures that contradict it, is their belief; doctrine; dogma; or, opinion correct?

Biblical inerrancy, as formulated in the "Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy," is the doctrine that the Bible "is without error or fault in all its teaching," or at least that "Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact." Dogma (that which one thinks is true) is applied to some strong belief or doctrine that one often uses to refer to matters related to religion.

If you believe that Scripture is inerrant, and you find a Bible passage that seems to contradicts something that you believe or have been taught (dogma), there are only three possible reasons:

  1. The passage that you believe is correct, and the other one is wrong, or it doesn't mean what it clearly says.
  2. Both are wrong.
  3. Both are correct.
If another Bible passage contradicts what you believe is correct in meaning, context, and application, then the Bible is not inerrant. If both verses are wrong, then the Bible is not inerrant. If both are correct then your belief (opinion) or understanding about that subject or doctrinal point is not correct. Otherwise, if the Bible is inerrant, there would be no contradiction between the two.

Rightly Dividing the Word

2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." The Greek word for "handling" here is "orthotomeo." In New Testament times, "orthotomeo" was primarily a civil engineering term. It was used, for example, as a road building term. The word meant was to cut straight, or to guide on a straight path. The idea is to cut a roadway in a straight manner, so that people who will travel over that road can arrive at their destination directly, without deviation. "Orthotomeo" was also used as a mining term. It meant to drill a straight mine shaft so that the miners can get quickly and safely to the "mother lode."

Another word in the Greek is "katatomeo" which means "to cut into sections." However, that is not the word that the apostle Paul, under divine inspiration, used in 2 Timothy 2:15. Paul is not talking about "rightly dividing" in terms of dissecting the Word of God, or cutting it into sections or any other criterion. It's interesting that the Apostle Paul does use "katatomeo" in Philippians 3:2, where he says, literally, "beware of those who would divide you up."

So what is the proper meaning of "orthotomeo" ("rightly dividing") the Word of truth? What is intended is not the dividing of Scripture, not cutting it up, but teaching Scripture accurately, as a single, unified whole, without being turned aside by false teaching, man-made agendas or opinions. The faithful practice of "orthotomeo" in the handling of Scripture demonstrates that God's Word is a glorious whole from beginning to end. We dare not employ the theological equivalent of a pathologist's scalpel to carve up God's living Word.

Does God's Word Contradict itself?

If the Bible is inerrant, it cannot contradict itself. Otherwise, it would not be inerrant. Many apparent contradictions people have pointed out are not formal contradictions at all. They are simply different accounts, different perspectives, or different versions of the story. The four Gospels give each author's account. Each has countless similarities with the others but there are some differences in the details based on the perspective of the author as led by the Holy Spirit.

What is a contradiction?

Given two sentences, how could they contradict each other? Well, if one sentence is true, then the other has to be false. Important examples can be found at: Contradictions. So why do people not question their beliefs; doctrines; and opinions when they find that other Scriptures contradict them?

The Backfire Effect (Man's Fallen Nature)

The misconception: When your beliefs are challenged with facts, you alter your opinions and incorporate the new information into your thinking.

The truth: When your deepest convictions are challenged by contradictory evidence, your beliefs get stronger. People are likely to resist or reject arguments and evidence contradicting their opinions. This is a view that is consistent with a wide array of research. Once something is added to your collection of beliefs, you protect it from harm. You do it instinctively and unconsciously when confronted with attitude-inconsistent information. Just as confirmation bias shields you when you actively seek information, the backfire effect defends you when the information seeks you, or when it blindsides you. Coming or going, you stick to your beliefs instead of questioning or proving them. When someone tries to correct you, or they try to dilute your misconceptions, it backfires and strengthens them instead. Over time, the backfire effect helps make you be less skeptical of those things which allow you to continue seeing your beliefs and attitudes as true and proper.

"The human understanding when it has once adopted an opinion draws all things else to support and agree with it. And though there be a greater number and weight of instances to be found on the other side, yet these it either neglects and despises, or else-by some distinction sets aside and rejects, in order that by this great and pernicious predetermination, the authority of its former conclusion may remain inviolate." - Francis Bacon

Human beings are irrational, selfish, and proud (due to our fallen nature). This affects both the unsaved and the saved. We are personally invested in our most deeply held views (not just religious views), and we cling to them like a dog on a bone when we think they are under threat. This is why we must submit all our beliefs; doctrines; dogmas; and, opinions to the Holy Spirit, and not to man, as these are really spiritual issues. Otherwise, we will be powerless to correct them, and we will be led astray.

Because we are prone to the backfire effect, this may be why the LORD tells us not to put new wine in old bottles. Matthew 9:17 says, "Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runs out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved."

We get certain ideas from church history mediated to us as doctrine. The Bible is either filtered through these traditions or a tradition actually supersedes what the biblical text actually says. Many Christians are not students of the texts of Scripture so they do not pick up on these inconsistencies. It is important that what we think and say about Scripture actually conforms to biblical text. Otherwise, we will be led to error. Worse yet, we will lead others to error. We too must follow Paul's command to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:14-17: "But continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them; and that from a child you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

John E. Danish 1971

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