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2 Samuel 23:2
The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his wordwas in my tongue.

Matthew 21:42
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Matthew 22:31,32,43
But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, …

and is.

Psalm 19:7-11
The law of the LORDis perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORDis sure, making wise the simple…

Psalm 119:97-104,130
MEM. O how love I thy law! itis my meditation all the day…

Micah 2:7
Othou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened?are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?

for doctrine.

2 Timothy 3:10
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

for reproof.

2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Proverbs 6:23
For the commandmentis a lamp; and the lawis light; and reproofs of instructionare the way of life:

Proverbs 15:10,31
Correctionis grievous unto him that forsaketh the way:and he that hateth reproof shall die…

for instruction.

2 Timothy 2:25
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Deuteronomy 4:36
Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.

Nehemiah 9:20
Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.

and is useful for instruction
The Scriptures serve as a comprehensive guide for teaching and imparting knowledge about God, His will, and His ways. This aligns with the Jewish tradition of using the Torah for teaching and instruction, as seen inDeuteronomy 6:6-9, where parents are commanded to teach God's commandments to their children. The New Testament continues this tradition, with Jesus often referred to as "Teacher" and His teachings forming the core of Christian doctrine. The Bible provides moral and spiritual guidance, helping believers understand the nature of God and the principles of His kingdom.

for conviction
Scripture has the power to convict individuals of sin, revealing areas in their lives that are not aligned with God's standards. This is seen inHebrews 4:12, which describes the Word of God as living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, able to judge the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. The conviction brought by Scripture leads to repentance and transformation, as seen in the story of King Josiah, who, upon hearing the words of the Law, tore his robes in repentance (2 Kings 22:11). The Holy Spirit uses the Word to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).

for correction
The Bible not only convicts but also corrects, guiding believers back to the right path when they have strayed. This corrective function is akin to the role of a shepherd guiding sheep, as depicted inPsalm 23. The process of correction is part of God's loving discipline, as described inHebrews 12:5-11, where God disciplines those He loves for their good, so they may share in His holiness. The corrective nature of Scripture helps believers grow in their faith and conform more closely to the image of Christ.

and for training in righteousness
Scripture serves as a tool for training believers in righteous living, equipping them to live lives that reflect God's character. This training is akin to the discipline and preparation of an athlete, as Paul describes in1 Corinthians 9:24-27, where he speaks of running the race to win the prize. The Bible provides the principles and examples necessary for developing a life of holiness and godliness, as seen in the lives of biblical figures like Daniel, who remained faithful to God despite living in a pagan culture (Daniel 6). This training prepares believers for every good work, as stated in the following verse,2 Timothy 3:17.

The rendering followed by the English version, and which is certainly grammatically possible, by making--"all Scripture" the subject, and "given by inspiration of God" the predicate, declares positively the inspiration of all the Old Testament Scriptures, for this is what the Apostle must have referred to, if we understand this verse as we have it rendered in the English version above. The New Testament at this period was certainly not all written; for instance, St. John's Gospel, St. John's Epistles, the Epistle to the Hebrews, and the Apocalypse, with several of the Catholic Epistles, probably were composed at a later date than that assigned to this letter to Timothy. St. Paul, massing together an evidently well-known number of writings under the term???? ?????, spoke of the Jewish Scriptures, the "canon" of which was then determined.

But such a declaration of the inspiration of these writings to Timothy and to those associated with him would seem unnecessary and uncalled for. Timothy and the trained Jew of the first century would never dream of doubting the divine origin of their most prized and sacred writings. There is nothing in the verses immediately preceding which would call out such a statement. It seems, therefore, on exegetical, as well as on grammatical, considerations best to follow the interpretation of those ancient and venerable witnesses the Syriac and Latin (Jerome's) versions, and to understand St. Paul's words here, as asserting that every inspired writing (this, it should be observed, does not exclude those recent sacred compositions which--Gospels or Epistles--he had seen or written himself, and the divineorigin of which he well knew) is profitable for doctrine, &c. Thus he exhorted Timothy to show himself a contrast to the false teachers--ever shifting their ground and waxing worse and worse--by keeping steadily to the old teaching of doctrine and of life.He was not to change, not to advance, but was to remember that every inspired Scripture was profitable for doctrine and for life. It was by these writings, St. Paul would remind him, that he must test his teaching. On the way in which "inspiration of God" was understood in the Church of the first days, seeExcursus at the end of this Epistle.

Inspiration of God.--This thought, perhaps, rather than these words, is admirably paraphrased by St. Peter: "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2Peter 1:21). The various uses of Holy Scripture in the training of the man of God are set forth in the enumeration which closes this verse. These sacred writings must, in all ages, St. Paul would urge, be the hand-book of the Christian teacher. From it he must prove the doctrines he professes; hence, too, he must draw his reproofs for the ignorant and erring. It must be the one source whence he derives those instructions which teach the Christian how to grow in grace.

EXCURSUS ON NOTES TO II. TIMOTHY.

ON THE WAY IN WHICH "INSPIRATION OF GOD" [2Timothy 3:16] WAS UNDERSTOOD IN THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

"See and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."

--Jeremiah 6:16. . . .

(1) that such a sentence as that which arises from (B) necessarily implies that there are someγραφαὶ which are notθεόπνευστοι, just asΠᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθόν implies that there are some works which are not good;πᾶσα εὐλογία πνευματική (Ephesians 1:3), that there are some blessings which are not spiritual;πᾶν ἔργον πονηρόν (2 Timothy 4:18), that there are some works which are not evil; and so on. But asγραφή is invariably used in the New Testament for "Scripture," and not for any profane writing: it is not in accordance with biblical language to say, "every inspired Scripture," because everyScripture is inspired.

(2) The sentence, taken according to (B), is an extremely awkward, and, as Alford admits. harsh construction, net supported in its entirety by one single parallel usage in the whole New Testament.

(3) The sentence, taken according to (A), is a perfectly simple one, and is exactly parallel with1 Timothy 4:4,Πᾶν κτίσμα Θεοῦ καλόν καὶοὐδὲν ἀπόβλητον, "Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused." . . .

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