“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
The story of how God’s living Word came to man stretches throughout history, but it is described in two important New Testament verses: 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21. The first tells us the divine side: all Scripture is inspired or “God-breathed.” The second tells us the human side: holy men spoke as they were moved or carried by the Spirit of God. The wonder of it! A cooperative work between God and man, all under the sovereign guidance and protection of the Lord! And so Holy Scripture is living and powerful (Heb. 4:12) and therefore, as our verse says, profitable.
We are not left to speculate about what profit God has for His people through this revelation. The Scriptures are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. These four works ensure that the Christian believer can become fully mature and properly equipped for every good work.
I like to think of these four great terms as describing the narrow road upon which the believer walks: the way of righteousness. Both their meaning and their order are significant. Look at it this way:
Doctrine describes the path on which the believer walks. Reproof (or conviction) tells us when we get off the path. Correction tells us how to get back on the path. And instruction (or training) in righteousness helps us go along more successfully next time. Thus, we continue toward spiritual maturity and fruitfulness which glorifies God.
Doctrine
Anything of value in this life can be traced back to the Word of God. Doctrine means the teaching of truth from God, and it must come first in any list. This is seen, for example, in the activities of the early church as recorded in Acts 2:42. God speaks first, and a number of effects will necessarily follow. Wherever the Word of God takes hold, life springs forth.
Now there are many different types of literature in the Bible: history, poetry, prophecy, letters, etc., but, taken together, they present to us God’s complete revelation. Through them, we know God, we learn of God’s redeeming love for sinners, and we learn how to live our lives for Him.
Because His Word is both living and life-giving, it does more for the believer than just educate him. It actually changes us to become more like our Creator. As one old preacher used to say, “When you read your Bible, try to understand it; but if you don’t understand it, read it anyway because it’s food for your soul.”
In speaking of this process, the Lord Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:32). The person who exclaims, “I’m a practical person; don’t give me a lot of doctrine!” does not yet grasp the meaning of the Lord’s parable about the wise man who built his house on the rock (Mt. 7:24f ).
Paul told Timothy to “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Tim. 4:16). The reference is not to initial conversion to Christ (after all, it includes Timothy) but rather to the outworking of inner salvation (cf. Php. 2:12).
Healthy doctrine brings life more abundant; false doctrine brings harm to the church and to the soul.
Reproof
This word can also be rendered conviction and refers to that special work of the Holy Spirit that takes place in the heart of a Christian when he or she sins. When God’s truth (or doctrine) is disobeyed, the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to trouble the soul of God’s child so that we realize we have stepped off the path of righteousness.
Of course, all people have a conscience, or degree of light, from God that gives them a basic knowledge of right and wrong. But the Christian can enjoy a far more intimate sensitivity to the right ways of God because of the ability to discern both good and evil (Heb. 5:14).
As we read our Bibles, we should not be searching for passages that confirm our words and ways, thus making us feel better about our lives. Rather, we should have the heart of King David who prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24).
The wise man wrote, “He that refuses instruction despises his own soul: but he that hears reproof gets understanding” (Prov. 15:32). We ought to count as friends those who love us enough to reprove us when necessary.
Correction
Having stepped out of the light, we are not left to wander in the darkness. The inspired Word gives us clear guidance about how to remedy the problem. No acts of penance or fretting are required. Psalm 32:5 provides the key: “I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’; And You forgave the guilt of my sin.” Upon confession, we are instantly restored to walking in the light. What a wonderful provision through the finished work of our Savior!
We as believers must understand that no matter how quickly we confess our sin, we are always the second one to speak. The word confess means “to agree with; to speak the same thing.” The Lord says, “That was sin.” We respond, “Yes, Lord, that was sin.” When two are agreed, they can walk together (Amos 3:3) and we are enabled to continue along the path of righteousness.
It is only our adversary who seeks to keep us lying in the darkness, feeling sorry for ourselves by reminding us of our failures and past sins that have been confessed and dealt with. In some religions, poor souls are persuaded that they must keep offering sacrifices to God, hoping to obtain favor. But the way we first came to the Lord was simple and not dependent upon our efforts and merits. The way we receive correction, as dear children, is exactly the same.
Instruction in Righteousness
Sometimes rendered “training in righteousness,” this expression is the subjective side of doctrine. In other words, it is the practical application of truth in our lives through daily experience, including the various disciplines allowed by the Lord to shape and mold us. The root word used is actually “child training,” such as a godly father would use in seeking to train up his children.
The Christian life is a walk of faith, for only through faith can we please God (Heb. 11:6). Such a faith looks beyond all situations, trials, and hardships and sees our heavenly Father in the background, working all things together for good for those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). It is not through the strong will of the flesh or self-determination that the believer gradually learns to keep on the path of righteousness, but through the gracious training provided by a watchful Father who never sleeps. One little child explained: “He loves me too much to hurt me, and He’s too smart to make any mistakes.”
The Result
What will be the outcome of allowing these four works to permeate the life? In beautiful simplicity, the text says that the man of God will become spiritually mature (perfect) and will be furnished or equipped for every good work. Both in character and actions, such a believer will bring delight to the heart of God because of the reflection of the glory of His Son who was the perfect Servant of the Lord and who “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38).
The psalmist described such a man when he wrote Psalm 1. By delighting and meditating in the law of the Lord, he became a fruitful tree that never stopped bearing fruit in dry times because it was intimately connected to the living water. Similarly, after speaking about the fruitful branch, the Lord Jesus affirmed, “In this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples” (Jn. 15:8). Let us not complicate the matter: the God-breathed Word makes Christians fruitful.
Uplook Magazine, July-August 2012
Written by Jack Spender