Daily Sctipture: 2 Timothy 3:10 But you, you have closely followed my teaching, conduct, purpose in life, trust, steadfastness, love and perseverance —
3:14 But you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, recalling the people from whom you learned it; 15 and recalling too how from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which can give you the wisdom that leads to deliverance through trusting in Yeshua the Messiah. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; 17 thus anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work.
Reflection Questions:Paul told his young friend Timothy the Scriptures were an important tool for learning God’s will. They were useful, he said, “for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good.” But he did not promise that the Scriptures would answer all of Timothy’s historical, scientific, relational or financial questions.
- Paul said the Bible is to “help you to be wise in a way that leads to salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus.” In which of the ways Paul listed (“teaching, showing mistakes, correcting, and training character”) have you found the Bible to have the greatest impact on your life? In what ways do you want to apply the Bible’s principles more fully in your day-to-day living?
- For Timothy, Bible-reading appears to have been a life-long habit, passed on to him by his devout mother and grandmother (cf. 2 Timothy 1:5). Whose example and influence played the largest role in making you want to read the Bible? What factors create a certain inner resistance in you to Bible reading? How do you deal with that resistance?
Lord Jesus, I’m aware that I need all of the things Paul said Scripture can do. I’m also aware, sadly, that many times I need them, but I don’t want them. Keep drawing me to you, and to reading my Bible in order to hear you speak to my heart. Amen.Insights from Steven Blair
Rev. Steven Blair is the Congregational Care Pastor of Live Forward and Live Well Emotional Wellness Ministry. www.cor.org/liveforward
“I found a ‘thingamajig.’”
“A what?”
“A thingamajig”
“Well, what does it do?”
The audience for 2 Timothy is eavesdropping on a conversation from Paul to his apprentice Timothy. Paul refers to this “thingamajig” called “Scripture.” He imagines their response: “Well, what does it do?”
Here is what Paul does not say. Paul does not say “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for piling more guilt on people who are already saturated with guilt.” Paul does not say “All Scripture is useful for making righteous people feel better than other people or making Christians feel like they have already ‘arrived’ at a superior plane of knowledge.” Furthermore, Paul does not say “All Scripture is useful for twisting and paraphrasing so that you can win arguments and others can lose them.”
Instead, Paul shares how he has been changed into being a person of greater love through experiences of persecution, suffering, and ultimately God’s Holy Word. This Holy Word is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. The letter is written to Timothy, with the intention that a community of believers will be reading it, too. The usefulness Paul speaks about refers to an internal usage of Scripture amongst the local church.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness.”
Teaching – Teaching shares knowledge of deep truths. Christian teaching shapes people into those who believe certain core truths about the faith, such as those we know as The Apostles’ Creed.
Reproof and Correction – These similar terms share that Christians can use Scripture as a railing on the path of Christ so that people do not get off track. This is not an invitation to attack others. Paul refers to “All Scripture” which refers to the entirety of the Bible and its big picture. One verse may suggest that God has forsaken someone, but the entirety of Scripture shows that God is always present, always loving. This correction is not done belligerently, but a loving correction. It is a loving correction much like the correction a grandmother gives her grandchild that “we don’t say words like that in this house.”
Training in Righteousness – Scripture is useful for teaching us how to live a Godly life. Teachings about forgiving people indefinitely and serving others as Christ served train us to live like Jesus. Training is slightly different than teaching because the aim of training is quite clearly, not just informing a person, but forming them to become something different. To be trained in righteousness means to allow the Bible to function as your field manual or spiritual exercise program so that you become a different person.
2 Timothy 3:10-17 raises the question, “What do you use the Bible for?” A weapon to attack people? A blanket to help you sleep at night (even when God may be wanting to make you uncomfortable)? A coaster?
Your house likely has multiple “thingamajigs.” What do they do?
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness” – 2 Timothy 3:16. Use accordingly.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
“I found a ‘thingamajig.’”
“A what?”
“A thingamajig”
“Well, what does it do?”
The audience for 2 Timothy is eavesdropping on a conversation from Paul to his apprentice Timothy. Paul refers to this “thingamajig” called “Scripture.” He imagines their response: “Well, what does it do?”
Here is what Paul does not say. Paul does not say “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for piling more guilt on people who are already saturated with guilt.” Paul does not say “All Scripture is useful for making righteous people feel better than other people or making Christians feel like they have already ‘arrived’ at a superior plane of knowledge.” Furthermore, Paul does not say “All Scripture is useful for twisting and paraphrasing so that you can win arguments and others can lose them.”
Instead, Paul shares how he has been changed into being a person of greater love through experiences of persecution, suffering, and ultimately God’s Holy Word. This Holy Word is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. The letter is written to Timothy, with the intention that a community of believers will be reading it, too. The usefulness Paul speaks about refers to an internal usage of Scripture amongst the local church.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness.”
Teaching – Teaching shares knowledge of deep truths. Christian teaching shapes people into those who believe certain core truths about the faith, such as those we know as The Apostles’ Creed.
Reproof and Correction – These similar terms share that Christians can use Scripture as a railing on the path of Christ so that people do not get off track. This is not an invitation to attack others. Paul refers to “All Scripture” which refers to the entirety of the Bible and its big picture. One verse may suggest that God has forsaken someone, but the entirety of Scripture shows that God is always present, always loving. This correction is not done belligerently, but a loving correction. It is a loving correction much like the correction a grandmother gives her grandchild that “we don’t say words like that in this house.”
Training in Righteousness – Scripture is useful for teaching us how to live a Godly life. Teachings about forgiving people indefinitely and serving others as Christ served train us to live like Jesus. Training is slightly different than teaching because the aim of training is quite clearly, not just informing a person, but forming them to become something different. To be trained in righteousness means to allow the Bible to function as your field manual or spiritual exercise program so that you become a different person.
2 Timothy 3:10-17 raises the question, “What do you use the Bible for?” A weapon to attack people? A blanket to help you sleep at night (even when God may be wanting to make you uncomfortable)? A coaster?
Your house likely has multiple “thingamajigs.” What do they do?
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness” – 2 Timothy 3:16. Use accordingly.
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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