The apostle Paul wrote his last letter to Timothy while he was in prison, facing death. The wisdom he emphasizes for his young friend is this: “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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). There is a lot packed into that statement, but what does it say about the usefulness of Scripture?

Useful for Teaching⤒🔗

First, Paul says all Scripture is profitable for doctrine or teaching. This goes back to the idea that Scripture teaches us about things we would not otherwise know. It reveals who God is. It teaches us who we are, what we need, and what we can be in Christ. It informs our lives so we under­stand the world around us. It builds our world view.

Scripture is also useful because it teaches us the law. The law was God’s guideline for the delivered Israelites — their obligation to God and their neighbor. Surely, one of the lessons built into the Ten Commandments is, “You may not do this! You break this every day! You need a Savior!” And mercifully, Scripture also teaches us about Christ, who came not to take away the law but to fulfill it. If we see the Bible as a teaching tool, it will not just be an ornament in our homes, looking good on the shelf or under the coffee table. Do not think that just having a Bible will do us any good if we do not live by it. As Paul is instructing Timothy, we need to use it to teach ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren.

Useful for Reproof←⤒🔗

Secondly, Scripture is useful for reproof. This is a result of its teaching: the light of the Word on our path does not just light the path, but it also shines on us. Sometimes we prefer to live in the dark because then we can think we are clean. But when the light of the Word shines, it shows us that we are stained and we are filthy. We see ourselves as we ought to. And that can convict and reprove us.

Consider for a moment the histories of Scripture — the inspired and inspiring accounts of heroes of faith such as Moses, Gideon, David, and Elijah. Each of these mighty men also had faults and sins that God needed to reprove. When we read about leaders who question God, we too are reproved. When we read of the judges’ struggles, or God-fearing kings who backslide into sin, or saints wondering if they were the only ones left, we too are reproved. Through Scripture, God reproves us in our sin and struggles. Then we need to confess, “Lord, I am guilty of Moses’ sin, Gideon’s sin, David’s sin, and Elijah’s sin.”

But Scripture also reproves our opponents and their errors. It helps us to see where others went wrong. This is not designed to be condemnation, but helpful or loving reproof. As Christians, we need to use Scripture to help others just as gently and lovingly as God does with us.

Useful for Correction←⤒🔗

Third, Scripture is useful for correction. This flows from the other aspects of its work. Once the light of Scripture reveals our sin and we realize who we are, it shows us what is necessary for that to change. The Word has the power to change your life. It corrects your view of yourself, of your sin, and of Christ. It puts you through the refiner’s fire. That is one reason that the Word never becomes dull: every time you read it, you see more. God does not correct you equally in all areas as soon as you become a believer. Instead, He gradually unwraps this gift so you see its usefulness more all the time.

Some of the most explicit correction is contained in the prophetic books. Here we read clear warnings: “Hear the word of the LORD: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land” (Hos. 4:1). But the prophets also give proper directions to correct our waywardness: “O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God ... Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously” (Hos. 14:1). The prophets also show the love with which this correction is intended: “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him” (Hos. 14:4).

Useful for Training←⤒🔗

Fourthly, Scripture is useful for training in righteousness. As God’s people are taught, reproved, and corrected, they are being disciplined to live the right way. No athlete is going to win at the Olympics without a training program that is intensive, daily, and demanding. Christians also need intensive, daily, and demanding training for righteousness — through the Bible. Why did Timothy’s mother and grandmother train their little boy? Because they wanted him to grow up properly and be a good Christian. Why should we use Scripture for training ourselves? Because we want to be mature Christians who fulfill the will of God in our lives (1 Peter 1:23). Scripture is useful in bringing us to spiritual maturity. No one wants to be a baby for life, and spiritually we ought not to want that either. Some people just care about, or cultivate part of their person. But God wants complete, perfect people.

The area of Scripture that focuses on training and education is the Wisdom Literature. Job prepares us to interact justly, Proverbs illustrates applied wisdom for us, the Song of Solomon celebrates the intimacy and power of love, Ecclesiastes sketches the vanity of living without the fear of the Lord, and the Psalms are the songs flowing out of the hearts of God’s people. This is real training for all areas of life: praise, doubt, anger, words, relationships, alcohol, work, money, purpose. The Bible is a light for our daily path, not just our Sunday path.

This clear training continues in the Gospels. The God-breathed message includes the miracles, the difficult prophecies of Christ, the anti-Pharisaical speeches that con­demn the human heart, the rebukes of Christ! As Scripture is blessed to us and forms our right habits, character is transformed and good works result.

Useful for Equipping←⤒🔗

Finally, Paul says Scripture is useful for equipping for every good work. As the goal of the farmer is to cultivate land and plants in order to gain fruit; so it ought to be with our read­ing and study of the Scripture. Everything up to this point about the purpose of Scripture flows from this purpose: that the man of God may be complete, fully qualified and ready for all good works.

What equipping did Paul have in mind? What does he mean by good works? The good work is not to simply increase knowledge. We read and study and memorize Scripture so that we can discern and teach — whatever our sphere of life. The Holy Spirit does need to open our eyes to the truths of Scripture, but we are still commanded to do the work. “Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it” (Luke 11:28). They will be equipped for the work they need to do. You cannot be a fruitful Christian if you are not in the Word.

There are thousands of books explaining this one book, but this is the only book that holds authority above all the thousands. There are seven billion people in the world, all with opinions, but there is only one book that presents the reality of all seven billion people. And that is why its use­fulness will remain. Do you believe its usefulness? Do you believe that all the histories, the laws, the prophecies, the wise sayings and Psalms, the Gospels, and the epistles are God’s Word to you? If you say you believe it, do you act on what it says? There is an eternal issue at stake here. Your religion is connected to what you think of Scripture. Let us use the stories, the songs, the warnings, the miracles, and the letters of Scripture for our doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in holiness, that we all might be perfect, thoroughly furnished for all good works.