DAY EIGHTY-NINE: 

All Scripture is God-breathed 

2 Timothy 3:10-4:8

 Evangelist Matthew and the Angel, by Rembrandt Van Rijn, 1661

The apostles walked and talked with Jesus. They witnessed His miracles, His death, His resurrection and His ascension. They spoke about what they had seen and heard. But now they're passing off the scene. Paul's days on earth are numbered. Where will the young church find what it needs when there are no more apostles? Paul taught Timothy to rely upon the Scriptures.

The word "however" in verse 10 indicates that we need to look at the verses before our passage. "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people." (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Wow! This list sounds like it was ripped from the headlines! But if this was true back then, what about now? Have we been in the last days for nearly 2,000 years. Yes. Hebrews 1:1-2 says, "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son..." Jesus came to set right what sin had ruined, and He is working even now to build His Kingdom on earth. Yes, we live in the last days, as did all the Christians who have gone before us. That means we have an urgent task before us, and that our work won't be easy.

Paul told Timothy to avoid people who exhibit those qualities. "You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings..." Timothy traveled with Paul and new first-hand how he conducted himself, even in the face of persecution and suffering. By God's grace Paul, formerly a murderous persecutor of God's people, became His greatest ambassador. Timothy learned a lot from what Paul said, but he also learned from what Paul did. It's good for us to imitate people who live godly lives, and for us to be people that others should imitate, especially our children.

Verse 12 says, "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Jesus said, "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12) If you live for Christ you'll stand out from the crowd. Your very lifestyle will make them feel guilty for their sinful way of life and will confront them with a choice: They can learn more about Jesus and become a Christian; or they can ridicule and persecute you to drown out the conviction for their sins.

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings,which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." At the beginning of this letter Paul wrote, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well." (1:5) Timothy grew up with a Christian mother and grandmother. He was a part of the church, and we read in Acts 16:2, "He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium." Timothy was well-grounded in his faith and familiar with the Scriptures. Paul is referring primarily to the Old Testament, as the New Testament was  being written at that time. The witness of the Scriptures makes one wise for salvation, showing the way to Christ.

"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." Breathed out by God is all one word in Greek, theopneustos, literally God-breathed. The Bible is not merely a human work, even though many human writers had a hand in it. I like the painting above of an angel whispering in Matthew's ear as he wrote his Gospel. But we're told that it's the Holy Spirit, not an angel, who works in the authors of Scripture. 2 Peter 1:21 says, "For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." When you hold a Bible in your hands, then, you are holding not just a book. You're holding God's revelation! Emile Caillet, an atheist who grew up in an atheist family, came to trust in Christ because someone gave him a Bible. He said, "This is the book that understands me."

Paul said that Scripture is profitable. Time spent reading and applying the Bible is time well spent. Paul said that the Bible is profitable for:

• for teaching- The Bible is the textbook of the Christian faith. All of our teaching and preaching must be grounded in Scripture;
• for reproof- This word is a legal term. It means to convict someone of wrongdoing. Each of us has an obligation to rebuke one another when our lives aren't matching up with our witness. We do this with Bible in hand, ready to point to book, chapter and verse.
• for correction- The Greek word means to stand something upright that had fallen over. The Bible provides us with the encouragement and hope that we need to heal the wounds life inflicts, and to overcome habitual sins; and
• for training in righteousness- The Greek word is paideia  Here's what Thayer's Greek Lexicon defines the word: "The whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment) It also includes the training and care of the body." The Bible is profitable for training the whole person in God's righteousness. This goes way beyond mere head knowledge. This training also shapes the heart and soul of the believer.

What is the end result? "...that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." Police and firefighters go through rigorous training not for the sake of the training itself, but so that they can apply what they learn to keep us safe. In the same way, our training is not for our sake but so that we can be a blessing to others. We have all that we need to serve the Lord.

Paul then addressed the subject of preaching. "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." That's a very strong charge! In front of God and Christ Jesus! This is very serious stuff. The word for preach means to make an announcement. With the Bible in hand, the preacher is announcing God's Kingdom and calling those who hear to align their lives with the God's will. Use the Bible, Timothy, to reprove, to show the people their sins and call them to repent. Use that Bible to rebuke, a stronger form of confrontation when reproof falls short. Exhort the people from the Scriptures. The word means to come alongside and help. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Comforter, which comes from this word. Reproof and rebuke are a kick in the seat of the pants. Exhortation is an arm around the shoulder and comforting words. The wise pastor must learn to discern what the congregation and individuals within it need at the time. It's all in there!

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." Faithful preaching of the Bible is bound to offend some people. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." The message of the cross is that we can't save ourselves. We must rely on Jesus Christ, who died to take away our sins. If the terms God offers us in the Gospel are unacceptable to some, they can go elsewhere and find what they want. The New Age Movement and Eastern religions teach that you are God. Other sects bind their members up in a web of works righteousness. Some groups give license for indulging the lusts of the flesh. There's a great big smorgasbord table with all kinds of choices for those who don't like the Gospel message. But you, Timothy, hang in there with Christ! Do the work of an evangelist. This is excellent advice for us pastors. We work in the church and can become isolated from the world around us. Paul told Timothy to go out and meet your neighbors, get to know them and share the Gospel to win them to Christ. 

I always feel sad when I read about the lives of the great people in the Bible. I feel like I've gotten to know them, and I mourn just a little bit when the likes of Abraham, Moses and David give their last words before they die. These are Paul's last words: "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing." Paul went through so much agony during his service for Christ. But he didn't give up! Sometimes he staggered, like a boxer saved by the bell. Sometimes he was so weary that he couldn't go on. But he kept putting one foot in front of the other and continued on in the race that was set before him. The finish line is in sight! He can see the prize that waits for him. That prize is a crown of righteousness. The crown here is not a diadem, a kingly crown. That's for Jesus to wear. Paul's crown is a stephanos, the victor's crown. Winners in the ancient Olympic Games and other competitions received a wreath of laurel leaves, which was placed on their heads. Of course that crown didn't last long, but while it did it was a real badge of honor for the victor. 1 Corinthians 9:25 says, "Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable." Hebrews 12:1 tells us, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..." Let's run that race together, as the Body of Christ, and encourage one another to keep going toward that finish line!

It's not enough to start well. It doesn't matter if a baseball team is in first place for 161 games. If they're not there after the 162nd and final game, then they haven't won. I've seen many people start out with such promise but end up with their faith in tatters and their service for the Lord nonexistent. Paul is the perfect example of someone who finished well. He stayed with Christ until the end. His whole life was dedicated to Christ, and even while he was imprisoned he used his time to write letters that have encouraged generations of Christians. 

This passage makes me look at my life in a different light. This life is a long, long race. Long enough that there's just about always time to get back in it and make up for lost ground when we go astray. We can't change the past, but we can resolve to go forward and serve Christ with zeal.

Here's a beautiful song sung by South Sudanese refugees. They suffered much for the cause of Christ yet persist in their faith.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmBaNYKv5OY