Explanation And Commentary Of 2 Timothy : 16
Paul is explaining to his protege, Timothy, whom he has left in Ephesus to oversee the churches there as Pauls apostolic delegate, that he should continue in what he has learned from the Holy Scriptures . He admonishes that they are able to make Timothy and all others wise for salvation.
Here he makes a powerful and definitive statement about the nature of the written Word of God, Scripture. God has breathed it out by his Holy Spirit into the prophetic minds of the authors of both the Old and the New Testament.
There is hardly any element of the Christian life that is not addressed by the Bible, and that can even be approached apart from knowledge of the Scriptures. A man of God will indeed be incomplete without a true knowledge of the Bible, and a heart to obey it.
The Bible Tells Us Of Jesus
Lastly, one of the reasons why the Bible is God-breathed is because it shares the story of Jesus life, Gods only begotten Son, and Gods perfect gift for humanity. The entire New Testament tells us the story of the Messianic prophecy being fulfilled.
This prophecy was already told in the Old Testament of the Bible and was fulfilled in the New Testament. In Revelation 19:10, it is stated,
At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, Dont do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.
Jesus is Gods only begotten Son and our Lord and Savior. This document, which tells us the story of Gods love for us through Jesus Christ, has to be God-breathed.
There is no other account that documents this either than the Bible, as it is written in 2 Thessalonians 3:5, May the Lord direct your hearts into Gods love and Christs perseverance.
The Bible described as God-breathed means that it is a representative of Gods perfect power, it is wisdom that God gave to man, it is inspired by God, and it tells the story of Jesus.
It tells us about Gods love for us and it also shows how we should live our lives in this temporary world to be in relationship with Him until we meet face to face.
We should constantly be in the Bible because it is the most tangible guide that God has left us in this physical world.
For further reading:
All Scripture Is Inspired By God
Some Chritians believe that some books/passages of the Bible are more inspired than others and therefore emphasize those over others.
This is a very dangerous belief that is blatantly false. All Scripture is God-breathed. Every book, passage, sentence, word, and letter is equally inspired from Genesis to Ruth to Songs of Songs to Nahum to Philemon to Revelation.
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Biblical Translations Of 2 Timothy : 16
NIV All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
NLT All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
ESV All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
KJV All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
NKJV All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
What Does It Mean That The Bible Is God
The Bible described as God-breathed means that it is a representative of Gods perfect power. It tells us about Gods love for us and it also shows how we should live our lives in this temporary world to be in relationship with Him until we meet face to face.
- Glory DyChristianity.com Contributing Writer
In 2 Timothy 3:16 , Paul states that the Scripture is Gods breath, as it is written: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.
Paul was referring to the Bible when he was talking about the Scripture. This is the only instance that the Bible is referred to as God-breathed.
When we talk about God-breathed, we refer literally to Gods breath the exhale from His mouth. Being God-breathed means that a specific thing or person is directly from God.
In this case, the Bible is from God directly because it is God-breathed. With this in mind, what does Paul really mean when he says that the Scripture or the Bible is God-breathed?
Let us examine different supporting verses in the scriptures to understand this fully.
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The Character Of The People Who Taught You The Truth
Second Timothy 3:14: But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it. One reason we believe the truth is because of the reliable sources from which we learn it.
For Timothy, this was probably his mother and grandmother. Notice how the next verse refers to Timothys childhood: and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings . And recall that in 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul referred to Lois and Eunice as the source of Timothys faith: I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
The point Paul is making is that part of Timothys reason for standing his ground for the truth he has learned is the character traits of the people he learned it from. Verse 14: Continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it. The point is not that nice mothers and grandmothers dont make mistakes. The point is that there was something about these two women that should make Timothy very slow to forsake their teaching. In fact, it should hold him fast in what they taught him.
The test is not infallible. But Paul is saying: part of the foundation of your confidence in what you are taught is the kind of people who teach you. Reliable testimonies are a valid source of true knowledge. And the quality of the witnesses increases the credibility of the testimony.
The Gospels Attest To Inspiration
The four gospels written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John give us the history, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.
They were written years apart by different authors at different locations yet all bear the same message. Although written from different perspectives, they somehow managed to narrate events with accuracy and fidelity to each other.
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Is The Bible Truly God
FROM THE DAWGHOUSE
Is The Bible Truly God-Breathed?
I cannot tell you how many times I have debated this subject with friends and family. Not easy. In fact, impossible to be truthful. Why? Because of what I have learned over the years from reading, studying, and listening to mentors like Pastor Pete Alwinson, regarding this subject. Consider this
When Jesus walked the earth so many years ago, He was faced with a very similar question when the people who heard Him teach wondered if His teaching was truly from God. Jesus answered them by giving this simple, yet profound answer, My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.
I believe we can apply this same principle to knowing that the Bible is truly from God. All those who desire to obey God will know by the very words of the Bible that it is indeed from God Himself.
Read that again, and digest slowly
Only those who truly want to do Gods will shall know the truthfulness of Christs message .
Truth be told, the Bible itself is sufficient proof for all who desire to know if it is from God. You dont have to prove anything to anyone, as I have tried to do so many times in my life.
The Bible itself is all the proof that is needed. It is self-authenticating. There is no need for additional proofs or miracles to establish the authority of Gods Word. It stands on its own.
Joe Bouch
Do Different Translations Change The Wording Of This Verse
Different translations, and even paraphrases, of the Bible can help us to understand Gods word by changing the wording, but we should be wary lest the meaning of the text seems to change. We can assure were interpreting Scripture the right way by finding the root of the original language used to pen the pages of Scripture, easily accessible through study Bibles and commentaries. The New International Version, which I quoted at the beginning of this article, is a popular translation of the Bible. The following translations are also popularly quoted versions of the same Scriptural truths:
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.
The Amplified Bible:All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for instruction, for conviction , for correction , for training in righteousness so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The New English Translation:Every Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.
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The Marks Of Divine Holiness In The Scriptures
Verses 1415a: Continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings. The term sacred writings means literally holy writings. Dont forsake the Scriptures of your youth, Timothy, because they bear the marks of God’s holiness.
The holiness of the writings refers to their divine quality. They are separate and different from other writings. They bear the marks of their divine author, the Holy One of Israel. Not only do we believe things because of the character of the witnesses, but also because of the intrinsic marks of truth. And in the case of the Bible, the intrinsic marks of divine truth the marks of holiness. Just as Gods holiness is his utter uniqueness, so the Scriptures share in that holiness and have their own self-authenticating unique traits. So, Timothy, stay in what youve learned, because these writings are holy, they bear the distinguishing marks of the one and only God. Dont turn away from them. Ask God to give you eyes.
Feeding From The Scriptures
Perhaps the most pointed question I can ask as we close is: If Paul says that bodily exercise is a little profitable, and godliness is profitable for eternity, and if the Scripture is the key to equipping you for that godliness, then are you giving as much care to the godliness of your life as you are to the physical health of your life? Husbands, heads of households, are you taking as good care to feed your family with Scripture as you are to feed them with food?
Feeding yourself and others is a joyful task.
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full . Feeding yourself and others is a joyful task.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold
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Bible Verses About Breath Of God
By His breath the heavens are cleared His hand has pierced the fleeing serpent.
The Spirit of God has made me,And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
But it is a spirit in man,And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak and He will disclose to you what is to come.He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.All things that the Father has are Mine therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of ones own interpretation,for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.Do not be amazed that I said to you, You must be born again.read more.The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
Scripture Is Reliable Relatable Relevant
Scripture and prayer are costly lifelines weve been given to our Heavenly Father. Christ Jesus, our Savior and Messiah, came to fulfill Gods Word. John reminds us He is the Word . His sacrifice on the cross broke the chain of sin on our lives. We no longer have to be slaves to sin, but can live free lives in truth! This is a freedom that can never be stripped from us, by anyone or anything. Scripture is God-breathed however, faith serves as an essential component of our understanding of Gods inspired revelation in the Bible .
The key to living in freedom lies in prayer and daily study of Gods Word. Life is not a sum of coincidences, but a purposeful existence set in motion by our omnipotent and sovereign God. He is in control, all-knowing, and compassionate, surrounding us with people, creation, and access to Him via prayer and His word. He seeks a relationship with us. Scripture is reliable, relatable, and relevant because it is God breathed.
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What Is Scripture Useful For And Why
For since the creation of the world Gods invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse .
It was important to Paul that Timothy understand Scripture wasnt just inspired by God, but breathed by God, useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness . God has purposed our lives to bring glory and honor to His name.
When Jesus came to earth and willingly took on our sin at His crucifixion, our spiritual lives forever changed. In Christ, we come directly to the Father in prayer, and through His Word. Through His Holy Spirit, we contain a supernatural power to live out the attributes Paul penned to the Galatians: love, joy, peace, forgiveness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control . Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires, Paul wrote to the Galatians, Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit .
The very Spirit of the Living God lives in everyone who believes in and accepts Jesus Christ as Savior. Our salvation unlocks the supernatural, God-breathed elements of Scripture: not just to interpret it historically, but to embrace its application in our everyday lives. The Holy Spirit not only translates what we cannot put into words in prayer to God, but also allows us to discern Gods Word as we daily read and study it.
Jesus View Of Scripture
Jesus speaking to the people of His day said, Scripture cannot be broken . Jesus quoted from the books of the Old Covenant as treated it as historical and accurate.
He believed Jonah was in the belly of the fish for 3 days and that Moses was the author of the Torah/Pentateuch. Jesus considered the reading of Scripture as God speaking to us .
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The Undeniable Power And Reliability Of Scripture
What’s in a Word?
Nineteen years old and quite a skeptic. That described me as I left college and traveled to Europe to do research in an attempt to disprove Christianityspecifically to show that the Bible was historically unreliable and that Jesus was by no means the Son of God.
Standing in the Glasgow University library in Scotland, I stared at an ancient New Testament manuscript. It was a fragment from John 16, and the ink and papery substance on which it was written were more than sixteen hundred years old. This rare, third-century, handwritten portion of the Gospel of John was housed under a protective glass case in the university library. It was a priceless artifact that quoted the words of Jesus.
As I stood there, a strange and unexpected feeling washed over me. Though I could not read or understand a single line of the Greek in which that manuscript was written, those words seemed to reach out to me in an almost mystical way. Even though I was an unbeliever at the time, I sensed an uncanny power about those words.
Today’s Noisy Words
Words. The right ones used in the right way can be powerful. But in today’s world, I’m afraid a lot of people use a lot of words to produce merely a lot of noise.
Listening for the Meaning of Words
As Dottie and I look back at our honeymoon now, we laugh about it. But it taught us the importance of words and of listening and interpreting and finding the true meaning of thoughts and feelings that flow from our hearts.
You don’t either.