Orth-o-to-meo

What does that word mean?




   Common sense calls us to simply take what we know and apply it to what we see. "Ortho" may sound like a familiar word. "Ortho"-dontist, "Ortho"-pedic surgeon, "Ortho"-practice. All these words we may have heard or perhaps we have seen in the public day to day life. These words are clearly understood through consideration. A person going to an "Ortho"-dontist may be getting some work done on their teeth... braces, fillings, moldings, etc. All of this is aimed at "straightening" the teeth or "setting them- in their proper alignment." So likewise with an "Ortho"-pedic surgeon, the aim of all of the activity is in reference to bones and bone structure and facilitating the growth and development (and sometimes resetting) of bones to be "straight", "proper," or "well-fitted" for their intention. It has something to do with straightening or making to be properly fit. Interestingly enough, this word "ortho" we use also has a great point in the Greek language we find used to write the New Testament.


  Ortho-to-me-o. There is a Greek word "Orthotomeo" that is strikingly important for truth, clarity of reasoning, and for fullness of life. Orthotomeo is one word in Greek but it comes from two base words: "Orthos" (meaning straight, erect, upright, or not crooked) and "Tomos" (meaning to cut, sharper). These words could be defined and joined in our English language to read "straight cut." (orthos-tomos). As language does and Greek is following suit in, Orthotomeo is a developing or enlarging of the words "straight cut." Orthotomeo literally means to "cut straightly." One Concordance defines the word as follows:


   "...to make a straight cut, figuratively: to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message):- rightly divide."


   Having considered it's definition, when speaking of Biblical things, we can then place the word in it's context. According to my study, this word is found in this form in only one place: 2 Timothy 2:15. This Scripture reads as follows:


  "... study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth..."
                       


There is so much here to look at and we will upon the second entry.