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THE GUIDEBOOK OF LIFE. II Timothy 3:16-17. 11/20/2022. #11.
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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
1. The miraculous canon
a. The Bible was written over 1500 years by approximately 40 writers from Moses to John
a1. Those who were chosen to pen Scripture were moved by Holy Spirit to do so (II Peter 1:19-21 – Scripture is from the Spirit moving select men to “loosen up” or reveal the Word of God – not interpretation as in KJV)
a2. The Bible was not “dictated” by the Spirit, but God used the personality and skills of chosen men to reveal his will
b. Job = ancient Hebrew, Moses = common Hebrew, John = elementary Greek, Luke = polished Greek
c. Many genres = narrative, history, poetry, prophecy, figures of speech, allegory, parables, doctrine, wise sayings, prayers, biography…
d. The Bible accurately reveals positive and negative aspects of biblical characters and heavenly beings
e. Those who received the Word recognized it as from God and they recognized when writings weren’t of God
f. The Bible has been preserved, is complete, and any differences in copies are minor and mostly easy to reconcile
2. Exclusive inspiration
a. God inspired (God breathed) the Word of God
a1. Man did not originate the Bible
a2. The Bible is a miraculous book that progressively revealed God’s plan and will
b. Word is specifically to instruct man in ways of God
a1. Dt. 29:29 reveals all God wants us to know
a2. Revealed over time what each age needed
c. No other writings are God-breathed and can’t be used to reveal the will of God
d. The Bible claims exclusive rights as God’s Word
3. The unique and eternal benefit of God’s Word
a. God’s Word is profitable (beneficial, valuable) to instruct man in all spiritual aspects
a1. No other writing, people, or organization can claim the authority given only to Word of God
a2. Proper interpretation (literal, grammatical, historical, linguistic, contextual, and natural) of Bible reveals God’s will for man
b. Profitable for DOCTRINE (lit., teaching)
a1. The Bible is designed to instruct us in the ways of God (enlightening, convicting, admonishing, corrective, confirming…)
a2. Can’t be interpreted by man’s philosophy, opinions, speculation, desires… (Hebrews 4:12)
a3. Psalm 119 the Word of God is complete to lead one into all righteousness
c. Profitable for REPROOF (to discover or uncover error; convict, rebuke) – reveals deviation from God’s will (John 16:5-11 – a work of Spirit with Word)
d. Profitable for CORRECTION (lit., to place upright again) – not only does God’s Word tell us when we are wrong, but how to get right again (Psalm 1)
e. Profitable for INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS (English word, pedagogy – tutor a child) = the Word tells us how to stay right and teach others correctly
f. Profitable to thoroughly equip us for all good works
a1. Believers are all appointed to be equipped (furnished, fitted out) for God’s service
a2. Believers are not saved to sit and enjoy their salvation, but to help others via witness, prayer, teaching, helps, modeling godliness)
g. We are to equip ourselves by the Word of God
a1. The more we know and follow Word, the better equipped we are to be of service
a2. Those who know much are more useful than those who know little (Paul vs. Hebrews 5)
Key verse: Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.