What Scripture Is For

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may
be thoroughly equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of
Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his
appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared
in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience
and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with
sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around
them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you,
keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an
evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry” (2 Timothy 3:16-4:5).

This is an instance where there should be no chapter
division. Notice that the Scripture is inspired, what it is useful for, and why
it is useful: 1) Word of God. 2) Teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training.
3) Man of God is thoroughly equipped.

Now notice the commands: 

1) Preach the Word. 

2) Be prepared
all of the time. 

3) Correct, rebuke, and encourage. 

4) Do this with patience
and careful instruction.

Now we see the reasons: 

1) Men will not stand for sound
teaching. 

2) They will get teachers to please them. 

3) They will turn from
truth and to myths.

Next, we have a few more commands: 

1) Keep your head in all
situations. 

2) Endure hardship. 

3) Do the work of an evangelist. 

4)
Discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Written October 1993.

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