Tested, Proven, Reliable, Eternal - 2 Timothy 3:10-17 (Part 2)
The Heart of Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16–17
“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.”
We dig into what this means:
Scope of Scripture: Paul was referencing the Old Testament, which points to Jesus; the New Testament explains who He is and what He accomplished. Jesus is the central theme from Genesis to Revelation.
Inspiration: The Holy Spirit guided human authors so their writings reflect God’s truth, expressed through their culture, personality, and context (2 Peter 1:20–21; Hebrews 4:12).
Why the Bible is Reliable: The Five Ps
Profession: Scripture itself claims to be God-breathed.
Production: Written over ~1,500 years, across three continents, by ~40 authors in three languages—yet unified in message.
Prophecy: Over 300 Old Testament prophecies point to Jesus, with fulfilled probabilities that defy chance.
Preservation: God preserved His Word through meticulous copying, canon recognition, and manuscript evidence. For perspective, the New Testament has a ~25-year gap to the earliest copy, with 5,700+ manuscripts—far surpassing other historical texts.
Personal Testimony: Scripture transforms lives, giving evidence through countless personal experiences of change and spiritual growth.
Profitable Uses of Scripture
Teaching: Reveals truth about God, salvation, and life.
Reproof: Shows what’s wrong.
Correction: Guides us back to the right path.
Training in Righteousness: Helps us stay right, forming habits of obedience amid life’s pressures.
“Equipped for Every Good Work”
The verse emphasizes that Scripture doesn’t just equip leaders—it equips all believers thoroughly. The language is even described as “super equipped,” meaning no gaps or missing areas.
Closing Thoughts
Prioritize daily Scripture reading. It’s true, reliable, transformative—and sometimes funny! (Yes, Elisha and the bears count.) For a fun resource, check out The Bible is Funny, a podcast and card game highlighting humorous biblical moments.