ALL SCRIPTURE IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING

PROCLAMATION

“All Scripture is 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.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to Timothy, his son in the ministry, to provide him with directions and instructions. (1 Timothy 1:2)  In this third chapter of this second letter to Timothy, Paul tells him that there will be terrible times in the last days of earth and he goes on to describe the sinful activities that will occur. (2 Timothy 3:1-8)  He tells Timothy to have nothing to do with such people.  They will not succeed for very long. (2 Timothy 3:9)  He tells him that he knows what he has been taught and he knows what Paul has been through.  Then he again charges Timothy to preach and teach what he has learned. (2 Timothy 3:10-15)  Paul says that all Scripture is from God and is good for teaching and for preparing the people of God to do good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

 

APPLICATION

The Word of God was written by men under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God and it is therefore referred to as “God-breathed.”  All of God’s people should read and study The Holy Scriptures, not just preachers and deacons.  Only by reading and studying will we be able to correctly divide the word of truth and distinguish that which is false. (2 Timothy 2:15)  We must have a good understanding of The Word of God in order to explain it and teach it to others. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)  But hearing it and reading it is not enough, we must also be doers of The Word. (James 1:22)  Jesus, The Christ, said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)  We are a chosen people who have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9) to work in some type of kingdom building activity. (James 2:26)  We are being watched, and our actions speak louder than our words.  Those who can teach, let them teach; those who can’t teach, please do something else.

 

The Divinely Inspired Holy Word Of God

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness ..."  2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)

In a letter to his young protege, the Apostle Paul, the author of thirteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament, wrote these words, all of the scriptures in The Holy Bible are the divinely inspired Word of God.  He said that The Bible was useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.

The "Scriptures" referred to in this verse are The Holy Scriptures, words from The Holy God to holy men of God who wrote them under the divine inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God.  The Holy Scriptures, The Bible, is the divinely inspired written Word of God.  It is useful for all purposes of Christian life, for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.  It is a compilation of sixty-six books, written by forty different authors under divine inspiration and guidance, and it covers a period of time spanning approximately one thousand six hundred years.  The Bible presents one clear message, the message of Jesus, The Christ, who said, "I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life" (John 14:6).  "The Old Testament is Christ concealed, and The New Testament is Christ revealed." (Unknown)  In The Bible God reveals what He wants to share with us about Himself, and about His plan for humanity.  We need to read and study The Holy Scriptures to learn what God is saying to us.