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2 Timothy 3:16
by Don Costello 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 1. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" a. inspiration [2315 * theopneustos; Theo-God; pneu-to breathe; God breathed] [Zodhiates:Prompted by God, divinely inspired, occurs only once in the N.T., in 2 Timothy 3:16.] 1). Some scholars because of the similarity of the words believe when God created Adam and breathed into him the breath of life, that He also breathed into him the word of God. I can see the similarity in the words but I do not share that belief. a). Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 2). If that were the case, that when God breathed into Adam the word of God as well as the breath of life, why did God have to give Adam the command of not eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? b. 2 Peter 1:19-21 "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 1). These verses establish the Biblical principle that the Scriptures carry more authority than dreams , visions, and prophecies or any so called spiritual experience. Peter's statement concerning the "more sure word" of Scripture was said immediately after Peter recounted of one of the greatest visions a person could experience, the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. a). 2 Peter 1:16-18 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 2). The clear lesson in this must be that the Scriptures are the final authority, especially when it comes to spiritual experiences. I don't care what my Grandma saw or what my Uncle experienced in a dream, if it doesn't line up with the Scriptures, I disregard it. Period! 3). The weight of this principle is shown by the fact that the vision Peter wrote about was experienced by not only himself but also James and John and is recorded in three of the Gospels, Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36. c. In the Old Testament there are 600 times that the phrase "Thus saith the Lord" is found. It is found in Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, I & II Samuel, I & II Kings, I & II Chronicles, Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah, Malachi. In Leviticus the phrase, "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying" is used. In Deuteronomy the phrase, "The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb saying," is used. d. Paul knew that his writings were the commandments of the Lord and he commanded his letters to be read by every believer. 1). 1 Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 2). 1 Thessalonians 5:27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. e. The Apostle Peter recognized Paul's epistles are Scripture. 1). 2 Peter 3:15, 16 "And account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some thing hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction." f. Paul quotes Luke as Scripture along with Deuteronomy. 1). 1 Timothy 5:18 "For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward." 2). The phrase, "The labourer is worthy of his reward", is a quote from Luke 10:7. 2. "and is profitable for doctrine" a. profitable [5624 * ophelimos] [Zodhiates: Helpful, profitable, useful.] [D.C.: It is not referring to money.] b. doctrine [1319 * didaskalia] [Zodhiates: Teaching or instruction as spoken ofThe act or manner of teachingwith the meaning of warning.] 1). 1 Timothy 1:8-11 "But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust." 2). Isaiah 8:20 "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because they have no light in them." 3). Romans 3:1-4 "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." c. The attitude of believers toward the Scriptures. 1). Psalm 119:128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. 3. "for reproof" a. reproof [1650 * elechos] [Zodhiates: Conviction. Metonymically, meaning certain persuasion.] 1). Proverbs 6:23 "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." 2). Proverbs 10:17 "He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth." 3). Proverbs 13:18 "but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured." 4. "for correction" a. correction [1882 * epanorthosis] [Zodhiates: Correction, setting up straight again.] 1). Proverbs 3:11, 12 "My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth." 5. "for instruction in righteousness:" a. instruction [3809 * paideia] [Zodhiates: Originally instruction of children. It evolved to mean chastening because all effectual instruction for the sinful children of men includes and implies chastening, correction.] 1). Proverbs 4:13 "Take hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life." 2).Proverbs 19:27 "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge." b. Institute of Creation Research Daily Devotional 7/29/11 Among the many evidences for verbal inspiration, both within and without Scripture, is the frequent interchange of God recognized as the author of a particular passage with the human author who actually penned it. This can be true only if the very words recorded by the various authors are "God breathed" (the meaning of "inspiration"). For example, the early Christians exclaimed, "Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?" (Acts 4:24-25), thereby recognizing that God spoke through David, who wrote God's words in Psalm 2:1-2. Likewise, Paul, in his masterful dissertation on God's sovereignty, claimed "the scripture saith unto Pharaoh" (Romans 9:17) that which God Himself had spoken unto Moses (Exodus 9:13). In other words, what Scripture says, God says. Even Christ Jesus, who Himself had written with His finger "honour thy father and thy mother" (Exodus 20:12) on tables of stone, personally ascribed the authorship of the passage to Moses (Mark 7:10). Evidently to Christ, there was no difference. That which Moses had written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and in this case what he had copied from the stone tablet, was fully the Word of God. We can be sure that what Scripture says, God says. "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:17). We can trust our lives on earth, our view of history, and our eternal destiny to what is written on the pages of Scripture. JDM My name is Don Costello. Ever since I received Christ in November of 1976 I have had a passion to study and know God's word.My wife Melissa and I have 5 children. My e-mail address is [email protected] I have a blog located at: www.theophilus-loverofgodsword.blogspot.com/ Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |