3:15
Then we come to the Scriptures. Timothy was instructed in the Scriptures from infancy. There is great value in teaching our children Biblical truths from childhood. Some call this indoctrination, but they are going to be indoctrinated with something, it is far better that it be the truth of God’s word, rather than the lies of the world. The Scriptures make us “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus”. The word of God is powerful and useful.
3:16
This is one of the most famous verses on the authority of Scripture, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”. We must remember that at the time they had the Old Testament, and some of the letters, maybe one or two gospels. This is referring primarily to the Old Testament at the time, so people who somehow consider the Old Testament to be inferior to the New are on very dodgy ground. Notice that it says Scripture is “God-breathed”. It is not dictated. The human element is important, as is obvious of we just look at Scripture. We see historical narrative, we see prophecy, we see heart-felt Psalms, we see the outpouring of Job’s anguish. The human element is essential, but it is God-breathed. At the same time it comes from the heart of God, expressing what God wanted it to express. God fulfilling His purposes through men and women does not mean that men and women were controlled like robots, but nor does it mean that God was not in control.
3:17
It is the word of God that makes us fully equipped for every good work. And if we see the latter part of 3:16, that includes bing rebuked and corrected. We are taught by Scripture. Unless we are taught by Scripture then we are very lacking in our learning. The word of God is God’s primary means of speaking to us, of revealing His will to us, of revealing His heart to us.
No comments:
Post a Comment