The Breath of God!

2 Timothy 3:16,17

Too many read the Bible for ammunition, rather than admonition.

Do you believe The Bible? If not, what do you know of The Bible? Too many believe “too much” based on too little information. I have fielded many questions in regard to this subject.

Paul, the human author of our text, wrote, 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 throughly furnished unto all good works.

Let’s examine the original language for a moment. The first word expresses that each part of speech, every inflected word-form, ALL, is infused with the very Breath of God, God-Breathed. All Scripture! Referring to Scripture, this means the entire Bible. This means even that which Paul was writing to us.

All Scripture is profitable (useful, beneficial) for doctrine (teaching, instruction) for reproof (proof-testing, conviction, convincing one of his sins). Too many equate this term with reprove, which means to reprimand or censure someone. But the main intent, here, is that God uses His Word to convict and convince man of the condition of his heart and need for Jesus. The Word of God is profitable for correction, or setting us straight, straightening us out, even restoring us and improving us. The term training goes to the depths of taking someone to full development. It is much like training a child in the way that he or she should go, taking them all the way through to adulthood and maturity. The term righteousness speaks of judicial approval (a verdict of approval) referring to the approval of God.

The intention is that we are completely equipped through the Word, the Scriptures. We don’t study to get ammunition to use against others or to prove our point. If this is the case, we are doing it wrong. The Scripture is given to mature us and equip us to do the ministry of Jesus Christ and to bring others to Him.

Jesse is Interim Pastor of First Baptist Church, Lone Pine, Louisiana. He holds a BS in Biblical Studies and is pursuing a graduate degree in Strategic Leadership from LeTourneau University, Longview, Texas. Jesse is the Author of “America: Danger Close! (will it be) Revival or Revolution”, WestBow Press, 2012.