By The Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist

Read:2 Timothy 3:10-17

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable…” (2 Timothy 3:16)

The Rev. Ron Purkey

The men who framed our Constitution knew they were writing the basic document for a government of free men; they recognized that men could live as free and independent beings only if each one knew and understood the law. They were to know their rights, their privileges, and their limitations. They were to stand as equals before the court of law, and few judges could be unfair; for the judge, too, was bound by the same law and required to try each case accordingly.

As the Constitution is the highest law of the land, so the Bible is the highest law of God. For it is in the Bible that God sets forth his spiritual laws. It is in the Bible that God makes his enduring promises. It is in the Bible that God reveals the plan of redemption for the human race.

2 Timothy 3:10-11: Having reviewed the present circumstances and the dangers ahead, Paul encourages Timothy to continue to follow him. In contrast to the false teachers, Paul was known for his faith, patience, love, endurance, character and conduct that Timothy had adopted as his own. The true servant of God is others-centered, not self-centered. Paul maintained devotion to God and people in spite of the persecutions and sufferings he had faced. His troubles were many and overwhelming, yet the Lord rescued him from them all.

2 Timothy 3:12–13: Notice the universal nature of this statement: “All who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Not everyone will suffer in the same way because persecution takes many forms, but if you seek to be a visible and verbal follower of Christ and give allegiance to his kingdom agenda in every area of your life, you will face significant opposition from the devil and the world.

What should Timothy do in light of this reality? Continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. Don’t deviate from your present course. Continue to follow God through Jesus Christ. Keep to the truth of his Word (2 Timothy 3:14–15).

2 Timothy 3:16-17: If all scripture is inspired by God, then all scripture is profitable for teaching (instructing you in the truths that you need to know), for rebuking (reproving you for what you’ve done wrong), for correcting (showing you what is right), and for training in righteousness (guiding you to approach life as God intended it to be lived). Why are we to use the Bible in these ways? So that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. To faithfully accomplish the difficult task ahead of him, all Timothy needed was the inerrant word of God. Everything that you need in order to be what God wants you to be is already in scripture.

The only weapon that defeats wickedness is God’s inspired word. Christians, God will help us!

Read Ron Purkey’s Bible study outlines free at rcpbibleoutlines.com. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.