“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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
II Timothy 3:16-17 KJV
No one likes to be corrected, but everyone enjoys being right. That’s what Scripture does for us. It provides us with sound doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. When you are righteous, you know what’s right and you do what’s right. God intends for Scripture to guide and influence our lives toward holy living that we may be “perfect and thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” That means that God will use His holy Scriptures to make us complete in Christ and that He will equip us with everything we need for all the good work He has for us to do.
When the Bible says that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,” it means that God guided the writers to make known through the written word exactly what He wanted mankind to know as a revelation of his mind and will; the writing of all Scripture. Therefore, their writings are infallible because God is infallible.
II Peter 1:21 says, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
The Bible may have been penned by many different authors over the course of hundreds of years, but the Author is God Himself. (That’s why it’s called the Word of God.)
And it is profitable
- for doctrine…to teach us the truth about our origin, the origin of sin, God’s plan for salvation, judgment day, and prophecies yet to be fulfilled.
- for reproof…to reveal our sinfulness and show us the way to salvation.
- for correction…to draw us out of sin and guide us toward a holy lifestyle.
- for instruction…to help us live in a way that pleases God.
If we allow God’s Word to penetrate every area of our lives, God’s righteousness will shine through us.
Romans 15:4 says, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
Everything in God’s Word is there to guide us in some way.
II Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
God gave us His Word “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
May God’s Word light your path each and every day.