** Treasure Valley Fox - The Wicket Gate**
2 Timothy 3:16 (3:1-17)
“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 3:16-17 NKJV
This verse affirms the divine origin and practical sufficiency of all Scripture. God-breathed and without error, the Bible is the complete and final authority that equips believers for every aspect of faith and life.
Never Read a Bible Verse
— 2 Timothy 3:1-17 NKJV
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that 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.
Mainstream Understanding of the early church
Paul contrasts the perilous times and false teachers of the last days with the sure foundation of Scripture. Timothy is urged to hold fast to the sacred writings he has known from childhood. The apostle declares that all Scripture is God-breathed (theopneustos) — not merely inspiring, but literally breathed out by God Himself. Because of this divine origin, Scripture is fully sufficient to equip the man of God for every good work.
Key Commentary Points
- The phrase “All Scripture” refers to the entire body of God’s written revelation (both Old and New Testaments as recognized in the canon).
- “Given by inspiration of God” means the very words are the product of the Holy Spirit moving the human authors.
- The fourfold profit — doctrine (teaching what is true), reproof (convicting error), correction (restoring the right path), and instruction in righteousness (training in godly living) — shows Scripture’s complete practical usefulness.
- The goal is maturity: the believer becomes “complete” (artios) and “thoroughly equipped” (exartizō) for every good work. No additional revelation or human tradition is needed to live the Christian life.
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