2 Timothy 3:17 - Biblical Sufficiency

2 Timothy 3:17
so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Message: Biblical Sufficiency

Time: Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy 4 years into Timothy's ministry at the church of Ephesus. Paul wrote this letter from a dark and damp Roman prison cell, just before his beheading in AD 67. Paul wrote again to this young leader in the church at Ephesus to provide him encouragement and fortitude in the face of difficulties and trials.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - I continue in the study of the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture. God's special revelation to us is through his speaking. He spoke directly in the person of Jesus, God's Son, and He continues to speak through the Word of God - which he inspired or rather breathed into men who would record those words for us to read today. God spoke through these authors and their words still express each of their gifts and personalities and the people that they were but their words of Scripture are God's words. They are infallible and complete. They are God's final revelation. Therefore, there are not new holy scriptures, like the Book of Mormon or the Qu'ran. The Bible is final.

I studied 2 Timothy 3:16 yesterday which speaks of All Scripture is inspired. The Scripture at the time of Paul's writing has different interpretations. It could only mean the writings of the Old Testament prophets. But, up to the Canon in the 5th century it came to be known also as all of the writings which would make up the Canon of Scripture. I'm curios now about a book by FF Bruce called The Canon of Scripture. I also came across a book called An Introduction to the Study of the Gospels by Brooke Foss Westcott from 1881 that looks to chronicle some of these men from the early centuries that helped in their involvement of the Canon of Scripture.

As it stated in 2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. The KJV stayed "profitable for doctrine" which would mean that all the doctrines that we need are found in these texts. It is for reproof which means it convicts and shows us how we cannot save ourselves. It is for correction so it shows us what evil is to be avoided and then also what practice is to be performed; this shows us that our strength lies in the Lord. It is for training in righteousness as the Spirit of God inspired writers to write and readers to read and understand, all for the purpose of the constant training of us, his followers, toward righteous living.

Therefore, so that the man of God, that is every follower or devoted person of God, may be adequate or perfect or stand complete in the will of God. Each follower is to be equipped for every good work. Faith works. Faith is not only recognition, but faith works. Faith leads to a life of service. Paul wants to be clear I think in his writings that we are equipped for every good work and we are created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10). This book may not cover every subject but it provides us everything we need to make every decision. There are principles here that guide and direct our paths and this often includes trusting in God and relying on the Spirit of God to direct our paths.

Promise: Scripture provides us God's will for our lives - completely. It is all we need. It is sufficient to give us what we need to please God doing good works in order to be made complete.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for this Word of Truth and reminding me that it is sufficient. It is everything that I need and this is why I continue to come to it each day to enrich my life and equip me. I never want to grow dull of this study and I trust that you will continue to equip me.


Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.