All scripture is given by inspiration of God – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible was given to teach men and women about God and His purpose. The objective is to direct him into a way of life that is pleasing to God and rewarding to those who obey Him.

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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (New King James Version) 2 Timothy 3: 16-17

Or as the English Standard Versions expresses it:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The author of the Bible

The Bible was written by many men including shepherds, kings, fishermen, a doctor, a tent-maker and others. Nearly all the writers were Jewish. The different men wrote at different times during the ages. All the writers combine to give us one complete book which we know as “The Holy Bible” – the information about God’s purpose with men and women.

Despite so many people contributing to the Bible we can have full reassurance that the writing in the Bible is wholly true.  How can we get that reassurance? As the two verses we are considering says (2 Tim. 3) – the words in the Bible are inspired by God. In other words, what the various men wrote was what God wanted written. In other words, God guided the writers as they wrote. God was writing through them.

“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David Acts 1:16

Note how it says that Holy Spirit spoke through the mouth of David. It was God message not David’s. The inspiration of the writers seems to have taken different forms. Sometimes the writers wrote almost the exact words that God spoke to them. Whereas at other times, the writers understood the thoughts and message of God and were given freedom to express it in a way that they saw fit. Paul had a unique way of expressing himself and that can be seen in his writings, yet, his words were still inspired by God. God’s thoughts, motives and works were often recorded which the man writing the words could only have known by revelations from God.

As mentioned above, the Bible records many actual words of God. Sometimes it quotes what God spake. In the first five books of the Bible, it is recorded “The Lord said” or “The Lord spoke” many times. The inspiration of the Bible is summarised this way by the Apostle Peter:

no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.  For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1: 20-21

Peter is explaining that God chose holy or God-fearing men to make known His will. These men wrote down the message that they received from God. When these writings were combined they became the book known as the Bible.

The wisdom of God

As the words of 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 indicates, in all that we do, the word of the Lord is central. This text is not simply there as proof that the Scriptures are inspired. It tells us that the Scriptures must be the basis of all that that the believer does in instructing men, women and children in God’s ways.

Whether the believer is involved in educating the young as parents, as church members, as Sunday School teachers or youth leaders, the believer needs to be also well instructed, thoroughly prepared to exercise his/her responsibilities and to ensure that what they do is a reflection of God’s will.

Their approach will be founded on prayer. But prayer which asks God for help, yet refuses to listen to Him speaking through His Word, is like a man who stops in his car to ask for directions, but drives off before they are given.

If the next generation, children and young people, are to be guided to be “complete” (i.e. mature), we must make sure they are listening to God’s instructions.

Christ is at the centre

The verse, before the two verses we are considering in this article, has these words:

…you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 3:15

Knowledge of God should lead to a living relationship with Him and the Lord Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth and the life”. If our knowledge and understanding do not bring us closer to God through Christ, we shall be in danger of being a generation of academics, with the Word of God in our heads but not in our hearts and minds.  All that the believer does must be done in a Christ-lie spirit – it must be consistent with their relationship with him.

Breathed out

As we saw at the start of this article, the English Standard Version has these words for 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The idea of God breathing out can be found at a few places in the Bible. It indicates the movement of God’s spirit. The Hebrew word for “spirit” (ruach) in Genesis 1:2 is used frequently in the Old Testament for “breath” as well, including man’s breath, but usually in the special sense of the breath which God has put into the nostrils of every living thing—the life which is essentially in God’s hands. It is the breath of life. The Spirit of God carries forth God’s word so that it will accomplish His Purpose.

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

It is saying that God’s word is life-giving.

The breathing-out of God, therefore, is associated in Scripture with creative activity, the speaking of a word, a commandment, the giving of life, and the accomplishment of God’s purpose in Israel and the world. All Scripture, then, was the written record of the final, authoritative and unchanging will of God – it is creative and life-giving.

The Word of God – a double-edged sword

As the Scriptures were inspired by God, they can influence the reader in a powerful way.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

The word of God as found in the Bible is energetic and exerts a powerful influence in our lives.

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 1 Thessalonians 2:13

The word of God is often likened to a two-edged sword because against such a weapon there can be little resistance. It cuts through to our inner most thoughts and feelings. It can see and understand the decisions to which the mind and the heart come to. Therefore, the Word of God is at work inside us if we choose to believe. If we truly seek God, then he will guide us and teach us through His Word.

The message of the Bible to each one of us

God wants men and women to know that they can share a coming kingdom with the Lord Jesus Christ when he returns. This message of hope to each one of us is called the Gospel. The word Gospel means the good news of the coming Kingdom of God. There is the offer of salvation from sin and death through the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the message that Christ and his disciples preached to those around them.

So when Paul wrote these words in 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verses 16 & 17…

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

….he was saying, from an overall aspect, that the words of God in the Bible are the words of life.