“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Timothy 3:16 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” 2 Timothy 3:1-2 Paul,an apostle of Jesus Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, wrote to Timothy and gave him the instruction that would help him in his ministering to others the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul gave Timothy, a young preacher, sound advice in admonishing the Christians in his care.Timothy was to preach and teach sound doctrine, concerning the faith of Jesus Christ, whereby, the ones in his care would grow in their Christian faith. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 4:1-6, Paul told him to prepare those, who he was ministering to, to know the Scriptures and be prepared to refute false doctrines that were creeping into the Church. The admonition Paul gave to young Timothy is for our instruction as well. For there are many that are not preaching the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, is no different than in Paul’s day, where false preachers and teachers are leading Christians astray. Their mission is to lead Christians away from the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is why it is so imperative that we know God’s Word, so that we can refute false doctrine and not be entangled in it. The principle that needs to be adhered to is this; Scripture proves Scripture. God does not say one thing in one Epistle and something else in another Epistle. God uses the same standard throughout the Bible, Old and New Testaments. To prove any preacher or teacher, we must read the Scriptures for ourselves. In so doing, we will discover whether the message from the preacher or teacher is from God. Paul, with all urgency, wrote to Timothy and told him to be aware of those who would deceive the Christians in his care. Let us look at 1 Timothy 3:16-17 and 4:1-5 and be convinced in our hearts that we need to study the Word of God diligently and take the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world and refute false doctrine that is creeping into our Churches. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul gave the avenue to sound doctrine. “16“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, filled with Holy Spirit, said, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” “All scripture,” not a few passages here and there taken out of context, but “All scripture is given by inspiration of God”. “Inspiration means”, “2. The act of breathing into any thing. 3. The infusion of ideas into the mind by the Holy Spirit; the conveying into the minds of men, ideas, notices or monitions by extraordinary or supernatural influence; or the communication of the divine will to the understanding by suggestions or impressions on the mind, which leave no room to doubt the reality of their supernatural origin. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. 2 Tim.3.” 1611 King James Dictionary Literally, “All Scripture” is “God-breathed,” and is profitable for doctrine”. “Doctrine” is, “1. In a general sense, whatever is taught. Hence, a principle or position in any science; whatever is laid down as true by an instructor or master. The doctrines of the gospel are the principles or truths taught by Christ and his apostles. ... 5. Instruction and confirmation in the truths of the gospel. 2 Timothy 3.” 1611 King James Dictionary “All Scripture” is for “reproof”. “Reproof” is, “ 1. Blame expressed to the face; censure for a fault; reprehension.” 1611 King James Dictionary “Censure for a fault” is “an official reprimand”, Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “for a fault”. “All Scripture” is for “correction”. “Correction” is, “1. The act of correcting; the act of bringing back, from error or deviation, to a just standard, as to truth, rectitude, justice or propriety”. “All scripture” is profitable for correction. 2 Timothy 3.” 1611 King James Dictionary “All Scripture” “is for instruction in righteousness”. “Instruction” is, “ 1. To teach; to inform the mind; to educate; to impart knowledge to one who was destitute of it.” 1611 King James Dictionary Instruction is bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost. Instructing Brethren in “righteousness” i.e., walking in the commandments of Jesus Christ. And all of this is so, “That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” In 2 Timothy 4:1-2, Paul “charged” Timothy to ”Preach the word”. “1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” The “charge” to Timothy was before God and the LORD Jesus Christ, “who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom”. Timothy was to, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” Paul.s message, from the Holy Spirit, to Timothy is for every preacher and teacher and for every Christian today. For we Christians, what ever talent(s) God has given to us, teaches with the testimony of our lives first and foremost, which someone has said is, “the greatest sermon that we will ever teach or preach”. In 2 Timothy 4:3-5, Paul told Timothy that sound teaching in the word of God will unmask the deceivers. “3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” Paul told Timothy that there would come a time Christians would not endure sound doctrine; but rather they would be led away by their own lusts, by “heaping up”, i.e., “amass”, “accumulate”, “lay up”, “collect in great quantity”, to themselves teachers “having itching ears”, i.e., “Having a sensation that calls for scratching”, embracing false doctrine through false teachers. Paul told Timothy that they would “turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Then Paul told Timothy, “ But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” (The definitions for Heap up and itching ears came from the 1611 King James Dictionary.) In conclusion, let us always hold to sound doctrine, sound preaching, and sound teaching, that we know in our hearts to be true, namely, “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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Let us read our Bibles, with all diligence, from Genesis through Revelation and when we get done, let us read the Bible through again and again. The more we read and reread the Bible the more we will learn what is God’s will for us. References: King James Version Bible Gateway - Thank you for public access to Bible verses. By Public Domain Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words - Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers - Copyright 1985 - Thank you for the definition of the Greek word, “elencho,” which means “to convict, rebuke, reprove’. 1611 King James Dictionary - Thank you for the definition of, “Inspiration, “doctrine, “reproof, “correction, and “instruction.
Posted on: Tue, 26 Aug 2014 03:19:29 +0000
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