All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16-17)."All Scripture." That's the Old Testament (which may be a surprise to some who argue that we're done with the Old Testament). Jesus didn't have a copy of the New Testament at the time, so references to "Scripture" were drawn from the Old Testament. But some argue that that's the end of it, and it isn't. Paul quotes Scripture when he says, "The laborer deserves his wages" (1 Tim 5:18), but the only place that's written down is in Luke's gospel (Luke 10:7). When Paul gives his instructions on Communion (1 Cor 11:23-32), he quotes from Luke's account (Luke 22:17-19). Paul considered Luke's gospel "Scripture." And Peter calls Paul's writings "Scripture" (2 Peter 3:14-16). Clearly, the New Testament writers understood that "Scripture" was not limited to the Old Testament. So Paul says "All Scripture is breathed out by God." Now, I know, most texts say "inspired," but that word has been diluted. Anything might be "inspirational." The word is theopneustos and doesn't really indicate our modern "inspired" as much as God-breathed (the most literal translation). It appears in the Bible exactly once. The suggestion by scholars is that Paul might have made the word up himself. This isn't "inspirational." It's a unique process of God breathing it out. And if God breathes it out, you can be sure it's true, inerrant, and infallible ... because God is.
The text goes on to say that it's a pretty good thing. No ... it's "profitable." It provides an advantage. What advantage? It tells us the truth -- "teaching." It tells us when we're wrong -- "reproof." It tells us how to correct it -- "correction." And it provides "training in righteousness" -- how to keep doing this over and over as we apply it to living. Because of this, Scripture makes God's people "adequate" in the sense of being "equipped for every good work." Scripture is ... sufficient. So don't let them talk down about the Bible. Don't let them tell you it's full of errors and made by human invention. Don't let them tell you there is a better source on matters of faith and practice. That's just ... Satan's old ploy: "Did God really say ...?" (Gen 3:1) And, yes, He did.
When I was brought to a saving faith in the Lord at age 20, I was woefully Bible-illiterate. I didn’t grow up hearing, reading, or studying the Bible nor being taught a proper reverence for it. Therefore, when a coworker witnessed to me about God, using her Bible to show me some scripture, my response was, “Why should I care about that old book? Isn’t that first part about the Jews and the second part for Protestants?” As one can imagine, the very first challenge for me during this time was this: Do I believe that this book, the Bible, is something special? that it is from God and contains truth about Him (rather than stuff made up by churches seeking proselytes)? My change of heart regarding the Bible did not come overnight, but steadily my knowledge of and trust in it grew exponentially. When I did not know the Bible, I did not know God; the more I know the Bible, the more I know God; it’s that clearly and incontrovertibly connected in my mind--and my life--now.
ReplyDeleteLorna, it's interesting how this ... evolves. But Jesus said, "My sheep know My voice," and I believe every genuine believer, at whatever pace they may, ends up at that sweet love for God's Word.
DeleteI can't imagine any other better source. If the Bible isn't God's Words, then He has not communicated with us outside of nature, and there's only so much we can know about Him from that. Any other source would be just as fallible as any other, and we could never have any assurance any if it is right. Thank God that He deigned to lisp to us through men He breathed through.
ReplyDeleteGod has a lisp? シ
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