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2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)
Righteousness.
Gr. dikaiosunē, that quality or condition of which God can approve.
Only the Bible outlines a way of life of which God can approve.
Instruction.
 Or, “discipline,” “training,” translated “nurture” in Eph. 6:4. As a child is taught the basic responsibilities of manhood, so the Christian finds in the Scriptures those principles that will help him to grow up to the “perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). This process of growing up to be like Christ is known as sanctification, a training that continues throughout life.
Correction.
Or, “restoration to a right state,” “improvement.” Ever since its first page was written, the bible has manifested its re-creative, transforming power in the lives of men.
Reproof.
 Gr. elegmos, “censure.” For the related verb, elegchō, see on John 8:46; 1 Tim. 5:20. Not only does the Bible censure the sinner; it also provides a refutation of perverted teachings such as those with which Timothy had to contend (see on 2 Tim. 2:14, 16-18, 23; 3:7-9, 13).
Doctrine.
 Or, “teaching” (see on v. 10). The Bible alone is man’s textbook of salvation. Only God can offer man salvation; thus God alone can reveal its nature and scope. All that needs to be said regarding man’s responsibility to God has been said in the Scriptures.
Profitable.
 Paul here expands into four functions the underlying purpose of the Holy Word, thus revealing in precise detail how the Bible makes men “wise unto salvation” (v. 15).
Given by inspiration of God.
 Gr. theopneustos, literally, “God-breathed,” “God-inspired.” Here Paul states why the Bible makes a man “wise unto salvation” (v. 15): it is the very thought of God communicated to men (see on 2 Peter 1:21). The vitality of the Scriptures is due to the life breathed into them by God Himself. The endurance of their charm and their adequacy to satisfy every need of man testifies to their divine authorship.
 For a discussion of the nature of inspiration see GC v-xii; EGW Supplementary Material on 2 Peter 1:21.
Some commentators translate the first clause of this verse: “Every scripture inspired of God,” or “All inspired scripture.” They assume that theopneustos limits the word it modifies. Consequently, these commentators believe that only those passages of the OT, or any other body of writings, that are inspired are here referred to. However, even though the Greek permits this translation, the reading of the KJV comports more closely with what the Bible has to say about itself. An eminent modern scholar, C. F. D. Moule, contends that this phrase “is most unlikely to mean ‘every inspired scripture,’ and much more probably means ‘the whole of scripture [is] inspired’ (An Idiom Book of New Testament Greek, p. 95).
 Other commentators have advocated the active sense of theopneustos, thus translating the clause, “All scripture breathes God.” However, grammatical usage and the testimony of the Scriptures themselves support the passive interpretation. Compare 2 Peter 1:21. The active reading nullifies the apparent assertion that all Scripture is inspired by God; the text would then state merely that the Bible, like other religious writings, is God-centered and contains man’s best thoughts about God.
All scripture.
Although Paul here refers specifically to the OT, his statement is also true of the NT. God does not authorize men to attempt to differentiate between that which they suppose to be divinely inspired and that which they assume to be merely a product of human ingenuity.