“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. 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 Timothy 3:14-17

Holy Scripture is unique. God’s Spirit brought about these writings. They were willed by God. God determined their content. The Spirit moved the writers to write in the way they did. The Scriptures truly are the Word of God. In the verses above, we receive encouragement to spend more time in Holy Scripture. 

The ability to make a person wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ makes Scripture a treasure beyond measure. It is only the Holy Scriptures that reveal the way of salvation, which is through faith in Jesus Christ. God wants you to be acquainted with Scripture so that you and those you love may be made wise for salvation. 

And church is to be teaching the Scriptures as part of fulfilling the Great Commission. When Jesus said, “make disciples of all nations,” he said to do this by “baptizing them” and by “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). The “all that I have commanded you” is what God has given us in the Holy Scriptures.

The Scriptures are profitable for “reproof,” for exposing and convicting of sin. The world is full of confusing and contrary opinions and values. God determines what is sin. In Scripture, God gives us the only reliable criterion on which to determine what is right and what is wrong.

Scripture is useful for “correction,” for restoring or improving those who fall. The law rebukes, convicts; but to restore the sinner, the gospel is essential. The gospel moves the heart, strengthens faith, builds up so that correction takes place. Only Holy Scripture proclaims the saving gospel that leads us to Christ, without whom we can do nothing (John 15:5).

And Scripture is profitable for “training in righteousness.” The Christian during his life on earth needs ongoing training to attain to the righteousness of life (sanctification) that is part of the being a Christian in this world of sin. The temptations of the flesh must be resisted. Scripture reveals to us the grace of God that brings salvation, that “trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” (Titus 2: 11,12)

God has given us his holy, inspired, infallible, powerful Word. Having this, every Christian “may be complete, equipped for every good work” the Lord may ask of him.