2 Timothy 3:16-17
(NIV) (Literal) (Explained)
All Scripture is God-breathed
All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God
The writer uses an absolute elipsis by
using the word "Scripture" in the first part of the phrase, and then by
alluding to this word but not using it in the second part of the
phrase.
The writer also uses an anaphora, (the redundant use of the word "for")
for each of the following four things ,
"doctrine", "reproof", "correction", "instruction in righteousness"
and this causes us to concentrate on the object (Scripture) rather than
on the four things that scripture is profitable for.
This statement says that God has given "all Scripture" not "every
Scripture" through inspiration.
and is useful for teaching,
and is profitable for doctrine
The
Scriptures will outfit those that study the Scriptures with discernment
and understanding of doctrine.
rebuking,
for reproof
The
Scriptures will outfit those that study the Scriptures with the
knowledge to rebuke those that stray from the way.
correcting
for correction
The
Scriptures will outfit those that study the Scriptures with the
knowledge of how to point to the pathway back to the way.
and training in righteousness,
for instruction in
righteousness
The
Scriptures will outfit those that study the Scriptures with the
knowledge and understanding of how to live holy and righteous lives.
so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped
that the man of God may be perfect (or
perfected) [verb "artios"]
The
language here is similar to the rigging of a ship, or in preparing for
battle, as -
the man of God may be fitted, fitted out unto all good works,
or for all the circumstances and emergencies of life.
If this is what studying the Scriptures will do, ("becoming a man of
God") then the opposite,
of becoming a "man of men", or "studying only the books of man will
become (at best) a man of men.
He will only be only what man's wisdom can make him, a prey for every
enemy, exposed to every danger."(1)
(1)
(Figures of Speech, Bullinger.)
He
will then be unfitted, unprepared, not ready.
for every good work.
throughly furnished unto all good works.
fitted out unto all good works.
The message in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is the hearing part of this message,
and matches
the second, third, and fourth verses of the next chapter, which is the
doing part of this message.
2 Timothy 4:2-4
Preach the Word;
Preach the word
As we have heard the word preached to us,
we should preach this same word to others.
be prepared in season and out of season;
be instant in season, out of season
Be prepared to preach this word at any
moment, when we feel prepared, or even when we don't (emotion).
Especially, be prepared when we feel like it, and even when we don't
feel like it (will).
correct,
reprove
Only hold to the word as your authority,
not the wisdom, learning, or laws of man.
rebuke
rebuke
Straighten our your brothers and sisters
according to the Word.
and encourage—
exhort
Encourage, or give courage and hope to your
brothers and sisters that they can be prepared for or "fitted
out unto all good works,
or for all the circumstances and emergencies of life."
with
great patience
with all longsuffering
Preach the word you have heard to others
without tiring, without complaining, with all authority, power,
compassion, and love.
and careful instruction.
and doctrine
Preach doctrine, only pure Christian
doctrine from the Bible, and not mixed with moderninsm, or the corrupt
wisdom of man.
For the time will come
for there shall be a season
For a time shall come, of which we are
probably in now...
when men will not put up with sound doctrine.
when the sound teaching they will not
suffer
when people will not tollerate sound
(correct) doctrine (Bible truth)...
Instead,
but
but instead...
to suit their own desires,
according to their own desires
they will stop listening to God's Word, and
only listen to their own word.
they will gather around them
to themselves
they will gather to themselves (put in
authority over them, put into office, and give creedence to...
a great number of teachers
they shall heap up teachers
a whole lot, a plethera, of teachers,
ministers, priests, pastors, bishops, televangelists, "Christian"
authors, religious experts...
to say what their itching ears want to hear.
itching in the hearing
that
say and teach whatever they are paid to say, regardless as to whether
it completely and outrageously contradicts the Bible.
They will turn their ears away from the truth
and indeed, from the truth the hearing
They will hear the truth but they won't
accept it because they don't like it, yet knowing that it is the
truth...
and turn
aside to myths.
they shall turn away, and to the fables
they shall be turned aside.
and will turn from God's path that leads to
heaven, to man's path (prosperity doctrines, name-it-and-claim-it,
Christianity mixed with New Age, "Kingdom Now", "Rhema" based Christian
witchcraft teachers, secularized "Christian"
intellectualism, etc.) that leads to destruction, by following
myths, fables, and false teaching because this is what they want to
hear.
Conclusion -
As
true believing Christians,
we have heard the inspired Word of God and have believed.
This Word, (the Scriptures) and the influence of the Holy Spirit
(prayer) is everything we need
to outfit us for any emergency,
and for any circumstance, and for any season,
for doctrine (correct teaching)
for rebuking (setting straight)
for correcting (showing the right path)
and for training in how to live a holy and righteous life.
Now that we have benefited from the gift of God, in the form of the
Scriptures,
and now that we have new life, new hope, and new understanding...
We are called to also preach this truth to others.
Amen, Franz Sigel Shroy