Many see the Word of God. . .few observe!

How do you read and study the Bible? Where does it rest in you heart and mind? Do you trust the word?

2 Timothy 3:14–17 (ESV)
¹⁴ But as for you, ^zcontinue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom¹ you learned it ¹⁵ and how ^afrom childhood you have been acquainted with ^bthe sacred writings, ^cwhich are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ^16 dAll Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that ^ethe man of God² may be complete, ^fequipped ^gfor every good work.

Peter also states the origin of Scripture. 2 Peter 1:20–21 (ESV)
²⁰ knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. ²¹ For ^kno prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God ^las they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

I would like to introduce you to two of my favorite writers. Below you will have comments directly from two commentaries that I read often.

    III.      An Exhortation for the Present (3:14–17)

Since these satanic seducers are going to continue, what should the Christian do? Continue to be faithful to the Word of God. The only answer to Satan’s lies is God’s truth. If every local church would get back to the Word of God, and if every pastor and Sunday School teacher would teach the Word of God, Satan’s disciples would be defeated.
Timothy’s relationship to the Bible is outlined in these verses. It began when he was a child and learned the OT Scriptures from his mother and grandmother. They did not merely teach him the facts of the Bible; they gave him assurance and spiritual understanding. Timothy knew for himself the truth of the Word; he did not depend on others to defend the Word for him. This Word imparted faith to him (Rom. 10:17), and this faith in Christ brought salvation.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 649). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

(3:16, 17) After exhorting Timothy to hold fast to the sacred scriptures he was taught, and those were the Old Testament scriptures, Paul now proceeds to describe them. “All” is pas (πας), which when used with a singular substantive without the article, means “every,” not “all.” “Scripture” here is graphē (γραφη), “a writing, thing written,” used of the writings of the O.T. prophets (Matt. 26:56), and of the O.T. scriptures in general (Matt. 26:54). The expression pasa graphē (πασα γραφη) (“every scripture”) speaks, not of the O.T. scriptures as a whole, but of each separate passage considered as a unit. The first thing Paul says about the O.T. scriptures which Timothy was taught, is that every part of them is inspired of God. The verb of being is often left out, as it is here, and the reader or translator must supply it. “Inspired of God” is theopneustos (θεοπνευστος), made up of theos (θεος), “God,” and pneustos (πνευστος), from pnein (πνειν), “to breathe.” The compound word means “God-breathed.” The statement therefore is, “Every scripture is God-breathed.” The context in which Paul is writing is limited to the O.T. scriptures. One could translate, “Every scripture is God-breathed.” The context limits these writings to the O.T. writings. Thus, does Paul declare the divine inspiration of the O.T. The N.T. had not yet been completed, and Paul does not refer here to its divine inspiration. His classic passage on this subject is I Cor. 2:9–16 which includes the inspiration of the N.T. “Doctrine” is didaskalia (διδασκαλια), “teaching,” that is, “teaching material.” “Reproof” is elegmos (ἐλεγμος), “conviction.” The verbal form elegchō (ἐλεγχω) means “to rebuke another with such effectual wielding of the victorious arms of the truth, as to bring him, if not always to a confession, yet at least to a conviction of his sin” (Trench). “Correction” is epanorthōsis (ἐπανορθωσις), “restoration to an upright or right state, correction or improvement” of life or character. Vincent translates, “setting right.” “Instruction” is paideia (παιδεια), “the whole training and education of children which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose, now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment; whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, especially by correcting mistakes and curbing passions, hence, instruction which aims at the increase of virtue; in biblical usage, chastisement, chastening” (Thayer). In the LXX, the word means primarily either “correction” or “discipline.” It is used in the N.T. especially of God’s chastisement by means of sorrow and evil. We must be careful to note that the word does not have a punitive connotation. “Perfect” is artios (ἀρτιος), “complete, fitted,” having reference to special aptitude for given uses. It speaks of “a mutual, symmetrical adjustment of all that goes to make a man: a harmonious combination of different qualities and powers” (Vincent). “Throughly furnished” is exartizō (ἐξαρτιζω), “to complete, finish.” It has the same root as artios (ἀρτιος), the word for “perfect.” The prefixed preposition ex (ἐξ) means “out,” and makes the compound verb mean, “fitted out.”

    Translation. Every scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for training with respect to righteousness, in order that the man of God may be complete, fitted out for every good work.

Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 8, pp. 150–151). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Let the Word of God change your mind, heart and soul. It is trustworthy and full of truth.

Cathy and Danny Sartin
www.deeperstillmissions.com
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