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.
Commentary for this verse has not been generated yet.