June 7
“From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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,” 2 Timothy 3:15-17.
In his Second Epistle to Timothy, the apostle Paul addresses the two-fold purpose of Holy Scripture. God has given us the Bible, “to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” The first purpose of Holy Scripture is to bring us to faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus. The Holy Spirit calls us to faith in Jesus through the Word of the Gospel. In his first Epistle to the Corinthians, Paul wrote, “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit,” 1 Corinthians 12:3. Referring to the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “He called you by our Gospel, for obtaining the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ,” 2 Thessalonians 2:14.
The second purpose of Holy Scripture is to teach and train us to live a Christian life. Paul writes, “(It) 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.” Do you want to know how a Christian should live? Don’t ask for people’s impious opinions. Search the Scripture to learn what God says. The psalmist wrote, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,” Psalm 119:105. Through His holy Word, the Lord will keep you on the straight and narrow way.
Beginning with his childhood, Timothy had been taught the Word of God by his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois. Working through the Word of God which was taught by his mother and grandmother, the Holy Spirit brought Timothy to the saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
In addition to this, Paul informs us how Holy Scripture came into existence. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” Literally, the expression, “By inspiration of God,” means that the words of Scripture are “God-breathed.” God the Holy Spirit moved His chosen writers to write the words of Holy Scripture. The apostle Peter wrote, “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,” 2 Peter 1:22. The writers of Holy Scripture did not decide on their own that they were going to write the Word of God. The impulse to write was given by the Holy Spirit.
Beyond that, the Holy Spirit “breathed” into them the very thoughts and words which they wrote. Paul wrote in his First Epistle to the Corinthians, “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches,” 1 Corinthians 2:13. Thus, the Holy Spirit breathed into the writers the very words that they wrote. Therefore, we speak of “verbal inspiration” – that is, word inspiration. The Bible is God’s inspired Word, and it is therefore as Jesus said in His prayer in John 17: “Your Word is truth,” John 17:17. The Bible is God’s inerrant Word. There are many clergymen who doubt and question this truth. They are expressing personal opinions based upon what they think. They have no evidence for their thoughts; they do not have a foundation for their thoughts from the Word of God!
Today, I suggest that you thank God on bended knee if you had or have, as Timothy did, a believing mother and grandmother – and I will add, a believing father and grandfather, too – who taught you the truths from God’s holy Word, through which the Holy Spirit brought you to believe in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and your only Savior, who redeemed you from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Thank God for the blessings that have come to you through your loved ones! Amen.