August 12
“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.
The apostle Paul reminded Timothy that he knew and believed what was taught in Holy Scripture, which he had learned from his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. Paul had written about this earlier in this Epistle: “I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also,” 2 Timothy 1:5. Timothy had learned the Christian truths from his mother and grandmother, who were Jewish Christians. “His father was Greek,” Acts 16:1.
In the three verses quoted above, Paul summarizes the purpose for which God has given and preserved for us the sacred writings in Scripture. Through the teachings in the Bible, we are made “wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus,” and we are taught how to live a God-pleasing life.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” “Inspiration of God” means that the Holy Spirit moved the people to write, and God breathed into the writers the exact words which they wrote. The apostle Peter wrote, “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,” 2 Peter 1:21. The apostle Paul wrote, “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches,” 1 Corinthians 2:13. Both the motivation to write and the words to write were God-given.
All of the sacred Writings are inspired of God, that is, God-breathed. Carefully note that it says the writings – the words – are God-breathed and inspired, not the writers. The writers were moved and given the impulse to write.
First of all, the phrase, “all Scripture,” refers to the Old Testament; however, it also refers to the New Testament. Exactly how much of the New Testament was written at the time Paul wrote to Timothy we do not know. However, the apostle Peter speaks of Paul’s writings as a part of the Scriptures. He wrote, “Consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation – as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures,” 2 Peter 3:15-16.
On the basis of what is written in Holy Scripture, we believe, teach and confess that the Bible is the only source and norm for everything that we teach in the Church. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men,” Matthew 15:9. False churches and false teachers teach man’s word instead of God’s Word. God promises to preserve His Word for future generations.
How precious is the Book Divine, By inspiration giv’n!
Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine, To guide our souls to heav’n.
It shows to man his wand’ring ways, And where his feet have trod,
And brings to view the matchless grace, Of a forgiving God. Amen.