”All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:16New International Version (NIV)
2 Timothy 3:16 Devotional (Daily Bible Verse)
Scripture
2 Timothy 3:16 reveals that all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training the men of God in righteousness. Because the New Testament letters (epistles) were actually written with the aim of revealing God’s mind (will) on various issues including sexuality, marriage, idolatry, taboos, relationships, conflicts, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, family, authority, etc.
However, many early Christians struggled with submitting to Scripture since many issues had to be re-addressed in various subsequent letters. And this is the struggle that you and I face today.
Scripture is God-breathed
Therefore, and firstly, the Bible is critical to a Christian because it contains Scripture as breathed out (inspired) by God. Consequently, Scripture tells you and me the heart (will) of God.
Scripture is helpful to the man of God
Secondly, Scripture helps the man of God by teaching him the truth, convicting him of sin (rebuking him), restoring him to the right place (correcting), and instructing him in a way that increases his virtue/character (training in righteousness). And after the man of God has upheld the authority of Scripture in his life and ministry, he will be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Christ gave five ministers to equip His people
Moreover, the apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:11-13 wrote that “Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers (11), to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (12) until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (13)”. That is Jesus Christ gave His people, you and me included, the five ministers/ministries to equip us using God’s Word.
Additionally, the apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:10, wrote that “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. And in Ephesians 2:4-9, Paul wrote that “God saved us by His grace and seated us with Christ in the heavenly places in order to express His kindness to us”.
Consequently, your equipment for God’s good works is based on the Word of God, which is Scripture. Because God’s five ministers/ministries use His Word to equip you for God’s good works.
Therefore, Christ’s equipping through His five ministries is so that you could be able to do the good works of service that He prepared in advance for you to do. And this implies that you cannot do God’s good works of service without being equipped.
2 Timothy 3:1-4:8
Nevertheless, 2 Timothy 3:1-4:8 informs you that Scripture should be your sole and final authority for what you are to know and believe about God and man. Because Scripture contains the rules by which you as a Christian should live in accordance to.
Therefore, your response to the authority of Scripture is obedience. This is what the apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to do; to be faithful to the Word of God in both obedience and proclamation – Paul exhorted Timothy to prioritize Scripture. And this is what you and I must do.
Moreover, you are to uphold the authority of Scripture when the other authorities in your life transgress what God has revealed in His Word. These authorities include parents, husbands, elders, government, employers, etc. And therefore when these authorities transgress God’s Word, then you are to go with what is in God’s Word (John 8:31).
Prayer/Blessing
Lord God, I pray that You help me submit to Your Word always. And this is my prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
Acts 17-19 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
