What is the purpose of God’s Word? What is the need of Scripture? And why do we need God’s Word? Do we need to proclaim God’s Word? Do we need to study the Bible if we have the Holy Spirit?
We know that we must read it, study it. Some say to “meditate” on it, which is not necessarily wrong, but could be wrong if practised in the manner of Eastern mystical religions.(The question would be: what is the purpose of this meditation?)
Some even “use” it to change their lives, to prosper, to create their future, to speak healing… But is it right to use God’s Word for our own purposes? It’s a strange idea (but widespread) to think that you can use the living Word of a Sovereign God to influence your destiny. Have you ever heard such statements:
- “confess God’s Word and start creating your new reality unfold”
- “There are no limits to what you can achieve, and absolutely no restrictions to how high you can propel yourself, – your mind’s greatest potential can only be reached through the education of the human spirit with God’s Word”
- “God’s Word is a propelling force”
- “Use the word of God to address your problems; use it for your maximum benefit.”
- “The Word is the No. 1 weapon God has given you to win in life. When applied correctly, it can solve any problem—financial disaster, chronic illness, crumbling marriage, broken relationship, political unrest… anything!”
In this way, the Word of God is used as a tool to unlock blessings and direct your life. We’re not far from incantations and magical powers, or from the genie in the magic lamp: rub it well, and it will do your bidding and give you the desires of your heart.
But surely there must be God’s holy way of using the Scriptures, rather than man’s selfish and conceited ways. Let’s see what the Bible itself has to say about the usefulness and necessity of God’s Word:
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:16
The AMPC Bible says:
Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),
Let’s therefore look at those four words Paul uses :
- teaching (instruction)
- reproof
- correction
- training in righteousness
TEACHING
From the Greek didaskalia (Strong G1319) : doctrine, teaching, learning, instruction.
When we study Scriptures, we learn. We are taught, we’re at the feet of Jesus. We receive God’s instructions by which we are to walk and live. Yes, we learn what is right, what pleases Him; His Will. We learn to understand our salvation, our inheritance (which is our Father in Heaven), our Saviour Jesus, and the Spirit he has given us. Likewise, we build our faith and hope.
REPROOF
From the Greek elegchos (Strong G1650) : a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested, a conviction. Synonyms of reproof are : rebuke, reprimand, reproach.
From the root word elegcho (Strong 1651): to confute, admonish:— to convict, to convince, to tell a fault, to rebuke, to reprove.
The AMPC Bible says: for reproof and conviction of sin. Other translations will say: for rebuking, to reprove, correcting error, pointing error, to convince.
The true meaning of “reproof” must then be understood with this connotation of refutation, rebuke, and reproach. Moreover, the original meaning of “to convince” — which is now obsolete, is to prove or find guilty. There is therefore something to be brought to light, that was hidden or going against God’s precepts. The Word of God will rebuke us and convict us of sin. It will cause some remorse (leading to repentance).
This is mainly a form of rather severe (moral) correction, an internal reckoning with sin.
This may seem harsh, as we often want to “feel” blessed, favoured, loved, excited, strengthened, full of hope, rejoicing when we read the Bible — which God’s Word can do, of course. But let’s not forget that he is also our corrector! And that’s a much less pleasant process, albeit for the glory of God : to conform us to His image. The Bible says that God the Father corrects his children because he loves them (Hebrews 12:4-11).
CORRECTION
From the Greek epanortosis (Strong G1882) : a straightening up again, i.e. (figuratively) rectification (reformation):—correction.
The outline of biblical usage is : restoration to an upright or right state, correction, improvement of life or character. This is a rectification, reformation or correction.
From the root:
– epi (Strong G1909) : upon, on, at, by, before
– anorthoo (Strong G461) : make straight, set up, lift up, to set up, make erect (of a deformed person). To rear again, build anew.
The AMP says: “for correction [of error and restoration to obedience]”. Most english translation will use “correcting”, “correction” or “to correct”, except for:
NMB – to reform
NTFE – for improvement
TLV – for restoration
WYC – to chastise
Correction for restoration and improvement
The connotation of “correction” here is one of rebuke or punishment, as with “reproof” above. And more than that, the Greek word epanortosis implies restoration, a lifting up to what is right, hence the choice of improvement or restoration for some translations.
In this context, it is not simply a matter of correcting, but of correcting with a view to rebuilding: the Word of God straightens, restores, rebuilds, sets one right. There is, so to speak, a connotation of healing (within the restoration) and of progress, improvement, strengthening, consolidation (within the improvement).
When we understand this, we know that we don’t need success seminars or management coaching! The Word of God accomplishes its work in us, strengthening and improving us. Now, this is for the glory of God and not for our personal agenda.
A spiritual straightening-up which only God can do
This Greek word epanortosis is only used once in the New Testament, in this verse. So it’s a very specific action and it’s specifically attributed to Scripture.
Similarly, the root word anorthoo is used only once to refer to straightening or restoring a person, in Luke 13:11-13:
And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight (anorthoo), and she glorified God.
This was a physical act to show us how the living Word of God straightens us up in the same way, spiritually, in our soul and spirit. And then, we can glorify God, just like this particular woman.
TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS
Training
From the Greek paideia (Strong G3809) : tutorage, i.e. education or training; by implication, disciplinary correction:—chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines it as such:
1. 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 (Ephesians 6:4)
2. “whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, especially by correcting mistakes and curbing the passions”; hence:
a. instruction which aims at the increase of virtue (2 Timothy 3:16)
b. according to Biblical usage chastisement, chastening (of the evils with which God visits men for their amendment) – (Hebrews 12:5, Proverbs 3:11, Hebrews 12:7f, Hebrews 12:11).
It is worth noting that paideia, as in a tutorage, implies an individualised teaching. In fact, the Word of God instructs us directly, individually and personally. To study Scripture is to come “face to face” with God, before God’s “mirror” (James 1:23, 1 Cor 13:12, 2 Cor 3:18). It has the power to penetrate to the very depths of our soul (Hebrews 4:12).
Righteousness
From the Greek dikaiosyne (Strong G1343): equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification.
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon expands with defining righteousness as such:
- in a broad sense: state of him who is (righteous) as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God.
- a) the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God
- b) integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting
- in a narrower sense, justice, or the virtue which gives each his due.
The majority of english translation say “righteousness”, and the Amplified Bibles defines it well:
for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage] (AMP)
for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action) (AMPC)
Interestingly, the Wycliffe’s Bible (WYC) says : “to learn in rightwiseness“. Vine’s Expository Dictionary tells us that “rightwiseness” is the old spelling for “righteousness”, and which clearly expresses the meaning : right – wise – ness.
Conclusion
This breakdown of 2 Timothy 3:16 shows us that the Scriptures (God’s Word), are there to educate us, to train us in right character, in integrity and purity of life, in moral, ethical behaviour.
As well as growing in learning (1), this process undoubtedly includes the uncomfortable but necessary correction, chastening, rebuke (2,3,4) to straighten our crooked nature and build us into the edifice that God wants to see.
So the role of Scripture is to train us to live according to God’s nature: justice, righteousness, holiness, and to do His will. The next verse, v17, says: “That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Although Paul was addressing Timothy, a young pastor, this is the goal for every disciple of Christ: to be complete and suitable and trustworthy for every good work.
Let us remember that we are God’s living stones and He is building an edifice. He is the master craftsman, cutting and carving His precious stones. There is no reason whatsoever to use God’s Word as a tool for self-promotion, or to unlock blessings, or to speak things into being. That is a misuse of God’s Word.
Can powerless, humble and unfinished stones use the master’s carving tools to carve themselves?
Notes
All Greek Strong references, definitions, and citations from the Thayer’s Greek Lexicon were taken from the Blue Letter Bible based, on the Interlinear of 2 Timothy 3:16.
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon is the most widely acclaimed lexicon of the New Testament published in the 19th century. Joseph Thayer devoted 25 years of his life to this much-used lexicon of the Greek New Testament. This is a comprehensive lexical work with over 5,000 entries corresponding to every Greek Strong’s number in the New Testament.
This is my study on 2 Timothy 3.16, which I particularly enjoyed doing, to reflect on the role of the Word in our lives, and undo some teachings received in the past (as quoted in the introduction). In a later post, I’d like to share what Calvin himself wrote on this subject (the need of Scripture) in his major work, Insitutes of the Christian Religion.
For this article in french, see La nécessité de l’Écriture : à quoi sert la Parole de Dieu ? (still on my blog – yes it’s a bilingual blog!). Please share!
