The Sufficiency of the Scriptures 2 Timothy 3:16-17-16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.---Timothy had known the Scriptures from childhood, so he knew that all Scripture was inspired by God. When Paul spoke of all Scripture, he was primarily referring to the Old Testament, since it was complete at that time. But the scope of Paul’s assertion would include any writing that was considered authoritative enough to be read in church meetings, which by the end of the first century would have included the four Gospels and Paul’s writings. According to 2 Peter 3:15-16, Paul’s writings were classified as “Scriptures.” The Scriptures, affirmed Paul, were inspired by God. A translation closer to the original Greek would be, “All Scripture is God-breathed.” This tells us that every word of the Bible was breathed out from God. The words of the Bible came from God and were written by men. The apostle Peter affirmed this when he said that “it was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God” (2 Peter 1:21). Paul’s words here reminded Timothy that because Scripture is inspired and infallible, it is also useful. The Bible is not a collection of stories, fables, myths, or merely human ideas about God. It is not a human book. Through the Holy Spirit, God revealed his person and plan to certain believers, who wrote down his message for his people. This process is known as “inspiration.” The writers wrote from their own personal, historical, and cultural contexts. Although they used their own minds, talents, language, and style, they wrote what God wanted them to write. Scripture is completely trustworthy because God was in control of its writing. Its words are entirely authoritative for our faith and lives. Scripture was profitable to every aspect of Timothy’s ministry. Scripture: 1. can teach us what is true. The content and teaching of truth, which must flow from and be consistent with Scripture. By calling the Bible “God-breathed,” Paul was identifying its divine source; by making it the source of doctrine, he was reminding Timothy of its authority. Teaching that contradicted biblical doctrine was to be rejected, corrected, or replaced by accurate teaching. 2. can make us realize what is wrong in our lives. The initial impact of true doctrine involves the confrontation of false teaching and understanding. The offensiveness of some who teach biblical truth may have to be excused, but the offensiveness of biblical truth to error and evil requires no apology. 3. straightens us out by helping us see our errors. In the area of correction, the Scriptures have two roles: (1) they provide a complete presentation of the teaching, where only part of the truth has been present; and (2) they provide for a right understanding and application where true doctrine may have been taught but has not taken effect. 4. teaches us to do what is right by showing us how to please and glorify God. The nature of Scripture allows us to teach it confidently to our children and to learn from it ourselves. The Bible is not purely a record of the past—the history of the Jews and then of the church. Rather, every story, every prophecy, every teaching, every admonition, and every command points beyond to the author, God, who came to us in Jesus Christ. God confronts us in the pages of his Word—telling us how much he loves us, how we can become his children, and how we should live to please him. Todays text provides us with a wealth of information concerning the nature and purpose of the Word of God, the Bible. In just two short verses, we discover that Gods Word is inspired, that it is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction, and that it is completely sufficient to meet our spiritual needs. First, the Bible is inspired, or God-breathed. The very words of Scripture as penned by the writers thousands of years ago are the very words that God intended us to possess. The Bible does not contain the ideas and philosophies of ancient men; rather, it is written communication of God Himself to all mankind. Second, the Bible is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. Doctrine is teaching. The Bible is Gods instruction book that teaches us how to think and live. Reproof involves convincing one of a fault with clear evidence so he may be convicted of the truth. The Bible not only teaches us but convicts us of error when we wander astray. Correction entails instruction showing us how to get back on the right path once we have wandered from it. The Bible not only teaches us the truth and convicts us when we are wrong, but it also tells us how to make things right. Instruction in righteousness involves continual training concerning how to live the Christian life. Finally, the Bible is entirely sufficient to equip us for effective Christian service-service that honors and glorifies the Lord. God has given us His written Word in order to make us perfect (fully mature), throughly furnished unto all good works (v.17). Memorize the Word of God, study it, and live it every day of your life! God Save the World, Inc.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 01:28:06 +0000