All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God – 2 Timothy 3:10-17

This is one of the critical biblical texts to help us understand the nature of Scripture.  It is not the writers who are inspired (“breathed out”) but the Scriptures.  The words the biblical authors write are God’s words.  It is obvious that each author of Scripture has a different vocabulary, different style, but God somehow uses that to say exactly what He wants said through these authors.  So it is not dictation (though there is some of that, like in the ten commandments), but God’s use of the human mind to communicate God’s mind.  And since it is God’s mind and words, it is without error.

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 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.  (2 Timothy 3:10-17 ESV)

What Paul encouraged Timothy to do, training those who would be faithful to train others, he has done with Timothy, and Timothy has continued the process.  He has imitated Paul, and Paul was worthy of imitation.  This is the kind of discipling we must do.  But with it comes persecution, and Timothy has imitated that also.  In fact, all who want to live godly lives will suffer persecution.  Evil people, on the other hand, will go from bad to worse, as he depicted earlier.

Nevertheless, though Timothy has done well, Paul challenges him to continue this way, modelling himself after Paul.  We always need the challenge to continue on in the faith.  One of the most important components in growing as believers is the Scripture, which makes us wise to salvation.  And here Paul gives us the correct perspective on Scripture.

Scripture is God-breathed, that is, it is the very words of God uttered on His breath.  As such, it is reliable as a source of teaching (doctrine), of reproof (warning us of what is evil and what is good), of correction (showing us the right path to life) and of training in righteousness (how to live for the Lord).  If we follow it, it will equip us for every good work.  It is God’s indispensable tool for our growth in holiness.