Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 2nd Letter Volume 41

Paul Declares that ALL Scripture is Breathed out by God Part 5

2 Timothy 3:16-17 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. KJV

The Apostle Paul concludes this Chapter by declaring to Brother Timothy and to all of us who truly believe in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and who believe every word from His Word that the Word of God was not the thought or idea of some clever men who decided what they would write in the Bible and who wanted their own human desires or needs or wants to be heard by other people and then believed. Paul declares that the Bible are the very Words of Almighty God from Heaven as he writes with these words, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16) (KJV). The very first thing Paul writes is the English word 'All' which indicates that Paul wants Timothy and every other reader of the Bible to understand that every single word in this Book are God's Words to humanity. The English phrase 'is given by inspiration of God' is translated by the Greek word theopneustos (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) which means Divinely breathed in or God breathed, that is, God the Holy Spirit (without changing or messing with the personalities of each human writer) carried them along like a sail moves a sail boat across a body of water. Here is what Matthew Henry had to say concerning the Scriptures being inspired by God, "It is given by inspiration of God, and therefore is His word. It is a divine revelation, which we may depend upon as infallibly true. The same Spirit that breathed reason into us breathes revelation among us: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men spoke as they were moved or carried forth by the Holy Ghost, 2 Peter 1:21. The Prophets and Apostles did not speak from themselves, but what they received of the Lord that they delivered unto us. That the Scripture was given by inspiration of God appears from the majesty of its style, - from the truth, purity, and sublimity, of the doctrines contained in it, - from the harmony of its several parts, - from its power and efficacy on the minds of multitudes that converse with it, - from the accomplishment of many prophecies relating to things beyond all human foresight, - and from the uncontrollable miracles that were wrought in proof of its divine origin:"

At the time of Paul writing these words to Brother Timothy only the Old Testament had been written by the Prophets chosen by God the Father, however, Paul the Apostle and John and James, and Matthew, etc, were likewise all chosen vessels of God the Father to declare His Holy Word in the New Testament, therefore, as Paul was then only referring to the Old Testament, his writings were too God breathed as he even declared so by these words written by him in the Book of Hebrews, "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, 'Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness, when your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years. Therefore I was grieved with that generation and said, They always err in their heart, and they have not known My ways. So I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter into My rest.' Take heed, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said, 'Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.' For some, when they had heard, did provoke; however, not all who came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was He grieved forty years? Was it not with those who had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they should not enter into His rest, but to those who did not believe? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief." (Hebrews 3:7-19) (Modern King James Version).

Paul declares that God's Word is 'profitable' and this English word is translated by the Greek word ōphelimos which means helpful or serviceable, that is, advantageous: The inspired Word of God is helpful and advantageous for 'doctrine' and this English word is translated by the Greek word didaskalia which means instruction (the function or the information): - doctrine, learning, teaching. In other words, the Word of God is functional and useful in teaching and instructing the children of God about that which is tried, true, and trustworthy and that is the will of God. The inspired Word of God is helpful and servicable for 'reproof' and this English word is translated by the Greek word elegchos which means proof or conviction or evidence, that is, to refute or rebuke that which is wrong or error. In other words, God's Words are a solid immovable anchor of the only truth, not one version of truth, but the only and final truth, therefore, every way of thinking or way of life that is in opposition to what is declared by the inspired Word of God is wrong, no matter what men or women may say about it or think about it. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say concerning the reproof of the inspired Word of God, "To convince men of the truth; and to confound those who should deny it." The inspired Word of God is helpful and useful for 'correction' and this English word is translated by the Greek word epanorthōsis (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning a straightening up again, that is, (figuratively) rectification (reformation): - correction. In other words, just like a seeing eye dog for a blind man or woman corrects their misstep, so does the inspired Word of God do for the believer who has wandered off the path into some sin or sins. It corrects our wrong thinking and wrong living, if we will read, study, and obey what it speaks to us. Here is what Albert Barnes had to say about the inspired Word of God and its correction, "The meaning is, that the Scriptures are a powerful means of reformation, or of putting men into the proper condition in regard to morals. After all the means which have been employed to reform mankind; all the appeals which are made to them on the score of health, happiness, respectability, property, and long life, the Word of God is still the most powerful and the most effectual means of recovering those who have fallen into vice. No reformation can be permanent which is not based on the principles of the Word of God." The inspired Word of God is helpful and advantageous for 'instruction in righteousness' and here the Apostle Paul declares that the inspired Word of God is the only thing that can teach men and women of God what is truly right for now in time and for all eternity.

All this does the inspired Word of God do for the redeemed, regenerated, and resurrected man and woman of God in order for this to occur, "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:17) (KJV). The English word 'perfect' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word artios (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning fresh, that is, (by implication) complete: - perfect. The English phrase 'thoroughly furnished' is translated by the Greek word exartizō meaning to finish out (time); figuratively to equip fully (a teacher): - accomplish, thoroughly furnish. When Paul writes, 'unto all good works', he literally means every good work of God done for Him and energized by Him for His glory. In other words, the man of God or the woman of God that has been adopted into His family by the new birth has the inspired Word of God as his or her guide, teacher, corrector, and counselor, so that he or she may grow up into spiritual maturity from being a 'babe in Christ' (1 Corinthians 3:1) furnished with the knowledge and understanding of the Word of God and of the Ways of God capable and enabled and fully equipped with wisdom from our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ to do the will of God and instruct others also to do what the will of God is for every son and daughter of Christ Jesus our Lord just as Paul said to the Hebrew believers with these words, "Now may the God of peace (who brought again our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant) make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21) (Modern King James Version). Here is what Matthew Henry had to say about this verse, "The Christian, the minister, is the man of God. That which finishes a man of God in this world is the Scripture. By it we are thoroughly furnished for every good work. There is that in the Scripture which suits every case. Whatever duty we have to do, whatever service is required from us, we may find enough in the Scriptures to furnish us for it. On the whole we here see, That the Scripture has various uses, and answers divers ends and purposes: It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction of all errors in judgment and practice, and for instruction in righteousness. The Scripture is a perfect rule of faith and practice, and was designed for the man of God, the minister as well as the Christian who is devoted to God, for it is profitable for doctrine, etc. If we consult the Scripture, which was given by inspiration of God, and follow its directions, we shall be made men of God, perfect, and thoroughly furnished to every good work. There is no occasion for the writings of the philosopher, nor for rabbinical fables, nor popish legends, nor unwritten traditions, to make us perfect men of God, since the Scripture answers all these ends and purposes. O that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer to them than ever! and then shall we find the benefit and advantage designed thereby, and shall at last attain the happiness therein promised and assured to us."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…