Every scripture [is] divinely inspired, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;
Paul is writing to Timothy about dangerous days ahead. Against that background he points to something permanent. Scripture is breathed out by God, and that is why it is useful.
Commentators are careful to say the claim is about the text, not only about the men who produced it. One writer warns against confusing the two:
William KellyIt is a distortion of the truth to say that the writers were inspired but the writings were not. If 2 Peter 1:21 supports the first, the claim for the second is even plainer in 2 Timothy 3:16... It is not a question of human weakness, but of God's power. Every Scripture is inspired by God. According to Paul, not only the men were inspired, but the writings as well.
One commentator explains the word by going back to the making of man:
F. B. HoleIn creation God shaped a body out of clay — "the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground" — and it became a living being only after God breathed into it. In the same way, these writings would otherwise be only a pile of separate pieces. But God breathed into every part, so they became one living whole. They are living and powerful, because they are the inspired Word of God.
Writers point out that this verse widens the frame. The wording quoted below comes from an older translation:
Hamilton SmithNo doubt the Holy Scriptures Timothy had known since he was a child were the Old Testament Scriptures. But then the apostle states that "Every Scripture is divinely inspired." So he includes the New Testament and all the writings of the apostles. We know that Peter classes all Paul's letters with "the other Scriptures" (2 Peter 3:16).
If God breathed out all of it, then no part of it is dead weight. One commentator presses this to an uncomfortable but useful test:
Leslie M. GrantSince all Scripture is from God, it is all profitable, even genealogies and names of cities. If my interpretation of it does not give spiritual profit, then my interpretation of it is not right.
Teaching, reproof, correction and training are not a random list. They form a sequence, and it starts where all real change starts:
Arno Clemens GaebeleinNote the order. First it is profitable for doctrine. We get doctrine from the Word of God alone, and it is the foundation of everything. Next comes "reproof," or conviction. After that come correction and instruction in righteousness. It starts with doctrine and leads, after conviction and correction, to righteousness.
The same writer warns that letting go of this verse is where drift begins: "All apostasy starts with the denial of this fact."
The verse does not stop at teaching; it aims at a person fitted for work. The word translated "complete" appears nowhere else in the New Testament. One commentator draws out its force:
C. H. MackintoshIt means being ready right now for any situation. The man who knows the Word of God and is subject to it is ready for every emergency. He does not need to cram for the moment, or go and look things up in his reference books, or get ready on a point beforehand. He is ready now.
The placement matters. Paul says this where he has been describing dangerous days:
William KellyHe brings out the infinite value of the Scriptures — that is, of what was written. They are the one supreme resource for dangerous times, when we no longer have apostles present to help us in person. It is not only what had been preached. It is something permanent, given for the good of God's people on earth.
- Breathed — the claim is not only that inspired men wrote. The writings themselves are God-breathed. The result is His, not just the process.
- Whole — the breath reaches every part, so every part repays reading. If a reading gives no profit, the fault is in the reading, not in the text.
- Ordered — the profit comes in order. Teaching first, then conviction, then correction, then training in righteousness.
- Finished — the goal is a person complete and fully equipped, ready right now for any situation.
- Timely — God gives all of this for dark days. The apostles are gone, and the written Word stands as the one permanent resource.
that the man of God may be complete, fully fitted to every good work.
Paul has been describing the ruin and corruption of the last days. He then points Timothy to Scripture and names its goal in this verse. Who is "the man of God"? What does it mean to be complete, and how far does this equipping reach?
The title is older than Paul. It already belonged to men who stood before others on God's behalf:
H. L. RossierA man of God is a servant who represents God before men and upon whom God has impressed His own character. Such a man speaks for God; his words carry the weight of God's own words. It is a solemn and dignified role. But it reduces man to nothing and takes away all confidence in the flesh. Moses and David are each called a man of God; this name is also applied to the prophets in a time of ruin. Timothy was a man of God. 2 Timothy 3:17 shows us that he was prepared for his commission by the Word.
Commentators differ over how wide the phrase reaches. Some take it as describing every believer who walks in obedience when the days are evil:
Hamilton SmithIn the New Testament the expression "man of God" only occurs in the letters to Timothy. In the First Letter it is applied to Timothy himself. In the Second Letter it covers all who walk in faithful obedience to the word of God in an evil day.
Others read it more narrowly, and tie the equipping to how far the Word is obeyed:
Leslie M. GrantTimothy himself is called a "man of God" (1 Tim. 6:11). Sadly, this cannot be said of all believers. It is true only of those whose one chief object is to honour God. As far as this is true of us, the Word will furnish us "unto all good work." … The Word holds the complete furnishing, but we must apply it seriously and practically.
Both words in the verse are rare. Older translations render them "perfect" and "thoroughly furnished," which is the wording the writers below quote:
Edward DennettFinally, Paul adds the goal of a true knowledge of the Scriptures: "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Weigh the added force of the words "perfect" and "thoroughly furnished," and they will guide us into the Apostle's meaning. The first word is found only in this place. It might be translated "complete," "suitable," or "exactly fitted." The second is used only twice, and might be given as "fully equipped."
That first word points to a readiness that is there before the need arises:
C. H. MackintoshThis word means present readiness for any emergency. The man who knows the Word of God and is subject to it is ready for every emergency. He has no need to go and cram for an occasion — to consult his authorities — to make himself up on a point. He is ready now. If an anxious inquirer comes, he is ready; if a curious inquirer comes, he is ready; if a sceptic comes, he is ready. In a word, he is always ready.
Earlier in the letter Paul spoke of a vessel "ready for every good work" (2 Timothy 2:21). The two verses are not saying the same thing:
Edward DennettThe preparation for every good work in chapter 2 refers rather to the personal state required for service. The passage before us points out something further. Divine knowledge, gathered from the Scriptures, is also needed to make the man of God suitable for service, and to furnish or equip him for every good work.
The final phrase settles how far Scripture reaches:
F. B. HoleThe Bible is enough on its own to perfect — that is, to completely equip — believers who are so far on spiritually that they are called "men of God." Suppose the verse had stopped at the perfecting of the man of God. People could then have argued that Scripture perfects us in broad doctrine but not in the details of daily conduct. But no, Scripture completely equips the man of God in a detailed way to all good works. It covers all work that God can call "good."
This promise stands in a letter full of ruin and failure:
C. H. MackintoshHere we have "the man of God" in the middle of all the ruin and confusion, the heresies and moral corruption of the last days. He stands out in his own distinct individuality, "perfect and thoroughly furnished to all good works." And may we not ask: what more could be said in the church's brightest days? Go back to the day of Pentecost itself, with all its display of power and glory. Have we anything higher, better, or more solid?
- Source — the Word prepares the man of God for his commission. He represents God before others, stamped with God's own character.
- Shaping — "complete" means exactly fitted and ready now, with no cramming for the moment. "Equipped" means fully supplied.
- Two sides — chapter 2 gives the personal state fit for service; chapter 3 gives the knowledge that furnishes it.
- Scope — the equipping is not limited to broad doctrine; it reaches every work God can call good.
- Result — even in a day of ruin, Pentecost offered nothing higher than a person complete and furnished for every good work. But the furnishing has to be used.