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Why All Scripture?

-Dr. J. Vernon McGee, from the 2 Timothy Bible Companion

All Scriptureis given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. -2 Timothy 3:16

The only antidote we have against a world of apostasy is the Word of God. Understanding and applying Scripture is the only resource and recourse that will help us combat the evil of false teachers. Paul tells Timothy to continue in the things he has learned. Timothy has had a godly heritage and grew up on the Word of God. Now he needs to grow in his salvation. 

Wait—didn’t you say Timothy was already saved? Yes, but salvation occurs in three tenses.

• You have been saved from sin. Jesus Christ bore a judgment death for you. When you believe on Him, you pass from death to life. You are no longer condemned. (See Romans 8:1.)
• You are being saved from sin. He is working out a salvation in you, but it won’t be complete in this life. A day is coming when you will be like Christ. (See 1 John 3:2.)
• And someday, you will be saved from sin.

Paul says Scripture not only tells us how we are saved but also helps us to grow and gives us deliverance down here. The constant study of the Word of God is the only help we have, helping us be “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” It makes us wise in knowing how to live down here.

Memorize this verse: “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).

When Paul says “all Scripture,” he means all of it, from Genesis to Revelation. “Inspiration” means “God-breathed.” The writers of Scripture were not just pens the Lord picked up and wrote with. The marvel is that God used these people’s personalities, expressed things in their own thought patterns, yet got through exactly what He wanted to say. Through these writers, God has given us His Word. If He spoke out of heaven today, He wouldn’t add anything to what He has already said.

This Word we have is good for teaching, good for conviction, good for setting things right in your life. That’s how you can test whether the Word of God is moving in your life. If you read this book like any other book, then the Spirit of God is not moving in your life. But if it convicts you, then you know the Holy Spirit is at work within you. God’s Word is good for instruction, helping you think and act in accordance with God’s will. This will help you to grow in maturity.

The Word of God will thoroughly furnish you—it will fit you out for life for every good work. Three easy lessons will not bring you to Christian maturity, but all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and all of it is to be used to meet your spiritual needs.

Timothy had been taught the Word of God, and now he is to declare the Word of God. Paul has emphasized that in the days of apostasy our resource and our recourse is to the Word of God, and it will adequately meet our needs.

We have seen that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God—it is God-breathed. It says what God wants said, and it has said everything He wants to say. For this reason it meets the needs of the human heart.

When it gets into your life it does something that no other book can do because it is the very Word of God.

Why should we read Scripture aloud? To comfort and to teach. The Word of God needs to be read. A main function of the church is to get people into the Word of God.

This is true for us personally. We can only grow personally by reading the Word for ourselves. Are you further along spiritually today than you were this time last year? Are you growing in grace and the knowledge of Christ? The only way to do so is by reading the great truths of the Word of God.

My Turn

1. Dr. McGee asks a great question: We can only grow personally by reading the Word for ourselves. Are you further along spiritually today than you were this time last year? Are you growing in grace and the knowledge of Christ? How would you know?
2. Paul reminded Timothy that what he needed in his life wasn’t something new; it was to practice daily what he already knew from God’s Word. Are there things you know from God’s Word, but that maybe you have forgotten to do? What would you like to pick up again going forward?
3. If you could go back in time and ask Paul about why he emphasized the importance of the Word of God so much in his very last letter, what do you think he would say?