Charge to Stand Upon the Word’s Inspired Power Read 2 Timothy - TopicsExpress

Charge to Stand Upon the Word’s Inspired Power Read 2 Timothy 3:10–17 All Scripture is God-breathed.2 Timothy 3:16 In the early twentieth century, Frederick Kenyon carefully studied the manuscript history of biblical texts. An Oxford graduate, British Museum director, ancient languages scholar, and archaeologist, Kenyon concluded that the documentary evidence was excellent: “The Christian can take the whole Bible in his hand and say without fear or hesitation that he holds in it the true Word of God, handed down without essential loss from generation to generation.” Teaching sound doctrine means holding true to God’s Word. Just as false teachers will be disproved by the outcomes of their lives, so also Paul and Timothy were proved by the outcomes of theirs (vv. 10–11). The Ephesians who were listening as this epistle was read aloud knew very well Paul’s character, teaching, and way of life, including all that he had endured and was even then suffering for the sake of the gospel. In fact, he warned, “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” while evildoers “will go from bad to worse” (vv. 12–13). Knowing that suffering can be an indication of righteous living and that false teachers inevitably self-destruct are a powerful pair of encouraging words! Timothy had already seen “the proof of the pudding” in the lives of Paul and his mother and grandmother (vv. 14–15; 1:5). By holding true to God’s Word in faith, he, too, would gain the wisdom he needed for ministry and leadership. God’s Word is, after all, inspired or “God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (vv. 16–17; 2:15). The doctrine of inspiration undergirds the authority and perfection of Scripture. “The word of our God endures forever” (Isa. 40:8). Paul said that faithful Christians can expect persecution and suffering. This may not sound encouraging, but it means we’re following in the footsteps of Jesus. He told His disciples, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. . . . If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also . . . . They will treat you this way because of my name” (John 15:18–21).