THE GOD BREATHED BOOK

2 Tim 3:15-17

Morning Meditations 10/24/14

This morning we will look at the God breathed Book: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

First of all, Paul is speaking to Timothy his son in the faith and ministry. We have two pastoral Epistles because of Paul’s relation to and care for Timothy. Paul reminds Timothy that he has known something from his youth. Paul says, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures.” What a recommendation of Timothy’s mother and grandmother (2 Tim 1:5)! This is where the teaching of the Scripture should begin. Eunice and Lois were faithful in teaching Timothy the Word of God. It prepared his mind and heart for the time that He would be confronted with his need of a personal Saviour. And it worked!

The words “holy scripture” said something to Timothy. The word “holy” (hieros) means according to Strong: “sacred Scriptures, because inspired by God, treating of divine things and therefore to be devoutly revered.” The word “scriptures” (gramma) means “a letter; any writing, a document or record.” Paul is saying to Timothy that the “writings are sacred and belong to God.” It is Scriptural to call our Bible “Holy Bible.” The writings are not man’s but God’s.

Paul goes on to explain to Timothy how this takes place. He wants Timothy to have a theologically correct view of the Sacred Scrolls. He says “All scripture is given by inspiration of God...” The word all means “each and every.” All Scripture came from God. Not just some. This means that Paul is teaching Timothy to regard the whole Bible as sacred and wholly inspired of God. Timothy is not going to have to search the Bible to find out what part is inspired and separate it from the uninspired part. He won’t need to make those kinds of decisions.. He is telling Timothy, “When you open the Scrolls, you are opening the Word of God. Where ever you open it, it is the Word of God.”

The words “is given by inspiration of God” (theopneustos) is the translation of a word meaning "God-breathed, breathed into by God, inspired." The rabbinical teaching was that the Spirit of God rested on and in the prophets and spoke through them so that their words did not come from themselves, but from the mouth of God and they spoke and wrote in the Holy Spirit. The early Church was in entire agreement with this view." - Linguistic Key. I like to think of it this way. Just like we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide, God breathed into the writers of Scripture His Word and it was breathed out by them in writing it down. God breathed into them His Word and when they exhaled the pen in their hand started moving (2 Pet 1:20-21). Hallelujah! And that kind of inspiration ended with the Revelation. No one has ever had that kind of inspiration since.

I am going to skip the profitableness of the Scripture for the sake of the length of this meditation. He tells Timothy “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” Paul could have said to Timothy, “You are a man of God, Timothy, and I want you to know what the Scriptures will do for you. They will make you complete. There will be nothing lacking. You will be furnished with God’s instructions for all good works.” But he didn’t say that. He said that “The man of God” so that every man of God would be included. This was not just for Timothy’s benefit and Paul knew it. What a title to be given those of us who are called into the ministry. I’m not sure that the words “man of God” does not go even further than just God called ministers. But that is a matter of interpretation. That this is speaking to Timothy about the classification of a man of God is not an interpretation but a declaration.

The words "may be" (eimi) are the translation of a present active subjunctive verb meaning “I am.” The present tense means something going on right now. The subjunctive mood means that it is potential. The active voice means that Timothy must commit himself to this end. The word "perfect" means, "fit complete, capable, sufficient; i.e., able to meet all demands." Ling. Key. This is what the Word of God will do for the Man of God. When I am in a counseling session and run into a problem, I do not have to go to modern psychology to find the answer. The Scriptures make us complete, capable and sufficient with the correct solution to every problem. God has the answer and He has given it in Scripture to the man of God.

The words "Throughly furnished" is a perfect passive participle from a word meaning, "completely outfitted, fully furnished, fully equipped, fully supplied.” The word was used of a completely outfitted rescue boat." Linguistic Key. The words "Unto all good works" means that the Word of God gives directions for every good work. If God wants us to do it, He will have directions in His Word on that truth. When man steps outside the instruction of the Bible to do anything he is on human viewpoint one-hundred percent. When he does this, he assumes that God did not know enough to instruct him on every subject and need. See Prov. 3:5; Prov. 16:25.

We have a God breathed Book. We do not have to waste our time searching for the parts of it that is inspired. It is wholly inspired in every part. We do have to search the Scriptures to find what Gods says on the various subjects. We will spend the rest of our lives doing that. Sometimes I am a little nervous over some particular thing that arises as to my knowledge of God’s will on that matter. But I am never doubtful that God has covered that subject and His answer is in Scripture. You see, I am throughly furnished unto all good works. Amen!

Another thing that the man of God needs to know. God has not authorized us to send those under our watch care to a human psychologist as an alternative fix if they will not receive what the Bible has to say. People need to know that God has the answer and if they do not receive His answer they are rejecting Him. It is either take God’s Word or Satan’s word. There is no middle ground. One cannot reject the revelation of Scripture without rejecting God. You say, “I still believe in God. I just don’t agree with Him on every subject.” The fact is you don’t believe Him. James 2:19 says, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” A person who says he believes there is a God has done no more than Satan. If you believe there is a God and you believe Him, that is a different matter. The God who is has said something. What He has said is declared in Scripture. If you run into some things in the Bible you do not agree with, then you do not believe Him on every subject. I believe Him on every subject without exception. I do not believe that there is the possibility of error in God or in His Word. He is God and God is not capable of making mistakes.

I praise Him that He has given to us His inspired, infallible, inerrant Word. It is as holy as God and should be reverenced but not worshiped. The Bible instructs us in worship; it is not the object of worship. God is Spirit and they who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Earl White