2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
1. THE INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE 16
"All Scripture is inspired by God:"
a. The Event of Inspiration.
All Scripture IS INSPIRED by God (Theopneustos) : God breathed it into his
prophets, as he had breathed life into inert man (Genesis 2:7). The Scripture
authors were inspired. "Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but
holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Pet 1:21).
Inspiration is a fact to be reckoned with.
b. The Extent of Inspiration.
ALL SCRIPTURE is inspired. No scissors-and-paste theology: "every inspired
scripture is also profitable..." (RV of 1881). All is equally inspired, though
not all is equally applicable to any particular situation.
c. The Fount of Inspiration.
All Scripture is inspired BY GOD. "Knowing from Whom you learned it..." 14.
Only God could have witnessed Creation or reported the minutes of the Divine
Council ("Let us make man...", Genesis 1:26; prologue to Job, etc.).
2. THE APPLICATION OF SCRIPTURE 15-17
"All Scripture is inspired by God AND IS USEFUL."
a. Useful for its Didactic Intent. 17
"It is useful for Teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and
giving instruction for right living; so that the person who serves God may be
fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed." The wise
Christian sits under Scripture in obedience, not over it in criticism.
b. Useful for its Dominical Content. 15
"Ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are
able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ
Jesus." Jesus Christ is LORD (Dominus). He is the Dominant Theme of all
Scripture. The wise Christian inquires within upon everything to do with
salvation.
c. Useful for its Practical Aspect. 17; 4:2-5
"Do the work of a preacher of the Good News, and perform your whole duty as a
servant of God". There are only two occasions to preach the Good News - when
the time is right and when it is not. The time is not right in the West where
people have itching ears for the myths of the "New Age": Gaia the earth
spirit; pantheism; occultism; anything but God's Truth. They want to pick and
mix their own religion from the great Smorgasbord of World Religions. The time
is not right in the Middle East where the Qur'an is the only permitted book.
Christ is coming to judge the living and the dead, and to rule as king. Only
He has the words of eternal life (John 6:68; 1 Peter 4:12).
"For the Word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the
joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart" (Hebrews 4:12).
____________________________________________________________________________
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
