All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
All over the world one can find manuals on how to do just about anything and everything. There are also videos online on how to do everything.
In every good manual there will be pointers on what to do and what not to do. There will be sections that warn of the dangers and sections that show the benefits of doing something the right or wrong way.
Right after warning Timothy of guaranteed coming persecution, he tells him that the scriptures is inspired by God and is good for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness to equip the believer for good works.
Every person who has chosen to follow Christ has to learn what that means and how to do it. He needs to learn how to do the good works God is calling him to do.
There is not a book in the world that will do it completely correctly, because the world’s view is from a temporary and selfish viewpoint, not God-centered and eternal.
The bible will teach the new believer what God expects and how to live his life. It will also rebuke the believer, when he chooses to disobey God, sin and follow the ways of the world. The bible will correct a believer when he steps off the path God has him on in any area of his life. It will also train the believer in the best ways to please God and accomplish His mission for his life.
God has chosen to make the bible in this way, so that the believer will be completely equipped to do the work God has called him to do.
If you have any questions about how to live your life, you can find the answers in the bible. There is nothing that you will face or have to do that the bible does not say something about. God has a mission for you to carry out while you live on this earth.
Do not try to accomplish it on your own, but allow the Holy Spirit to use God’s word to guide you correctly so that you will be completely equipped and ready for the job.
Are you using God’s word? Or does it sit on a shelf, ignored?
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know and seek God’s word for your life; that you will study the bible to know what God is saying to you; that you will allow the bible to equip and change your life; and that you will do the work God has called for you to do.
How could we know what Apostle Paul meant by “ All scripture”? From my limited understanding, he also read the apocrypha, such as the Book of Enoch, apocryphal psalms, and the Book of Tobit. Is it possible we would be missing out some of critical information by not studying the Books Apostle Paul studied at his time? Especially if he included apocryphal in what he referred as “all scriptures,” I feel strongly compelled to study them as well. I wish if he made an appendix listing what he considered as all scriptures. Not to mention, several parts of the New Testament were not completed when Apostle Paul made this statement. How could we apply what he said at the time to our current version of the Bible?
You raise a good question. The best way to understand what is meant by “all scripture” would be to get an understanding of how we have the scriptures that we currently use.
Some reasons why the apocryphal books are rejected are: While there are some true things in the apocryphal books are many things more that contradict what the rest of scripture states. The Jews never accepted the apocryphal books as the inspired scripture by God (this can be verified by Josephus). No where in the New Testament does a writer quote from any of the apocryphal books.
As I see it, from studying a little, Paul meant ‘all scripture’ very closely to exactly what we have today. I also believe God is in complete control of His word and was able to preserve it correctly over the centuries.