We’re now onto 2 Timothy 3 from verse 10, in Graham’s preaching series.
2 Timothy 3:10-17
1) Example
Paul’s example, verses 10 to 11
Timothy’s example, verse 14
My example and yours.
2) Our Example despite of opposition
The last days are terrible times for those who follow the Truth. (But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. Chapter 3 verse 1). They “will be persecuted”
3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
3) Our Example is sustained by God’s word. All scripture is God-breathed
“All scripture”
Strictly speaking refers to the Old Testament as the works that now make up the New Testament were in the process of being created. Christians now accept this principle to apply to the New Testament too, even though Paul’s words did not exactly include the NT.
“God breathed”
The point of course is not the explanation of a technique but of the source of this revelation. Peter says something similar.
Is all of the Bible true? No!
Well, it depends upon what is meant by the question. Often when it comes from a ‘God-dodger’ (atheist) they have their own meaning loaded into it. I believe the scriptures are a gift of God to us, the manufacturer’s handbook. But I do not believe that all that is in it is true.
See the incident in Job when, after a great personal disaster, he is visited by his friends. First of all, is this an account of events or is it a book of philosophy which presents, through Job’s friends, the dominant philosophies of the day?
Whether literal or not, the first of the friends to speak talks rubbish, and we are meant to realise this. Job pours out his grief and Eliphaz the Temanite replies unsympathetically.
Job 4:12-21 A word was secretly brought to me, my ears caught a whisper of it. Amid disquieting dreams in the night, when deep sleep falls on men, fear and trembling seized me and made all my bones shake. A spirit glided past my face, and the hair on my body stood on end. It stopped, but I could not tell what it was. A form stood before my eyes, and I heard a hushed voice: ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker? If God places no trust in his servants, if he charges his angels with error, how much more those who live in houses of clay, whose foundations are in the dust, who are crushed more readily than a moth! Between dawn and dusk they are broken to pieces; unnoticed, they perish for ever. Are not the cords of their tent pulled up, so that they die without wisdom?’
Eliphaz tells of a special revelation he received. The revelation came to him in terror and spoke of condemnation and a god that does not value or love people. Many would recognise this as a demonic visitation. It is preserved for us to make us wise, but it is not true. It is to be compared with the rest of scripture and its consistent message of God’s grace culminating in the redemption bought by Jesus by his death on the cross.
Another problem is if we take poetry in the Bible and attach literal meaning to it, or some of the metaphor that we find in scripture. When Jesus spoke to the woman from Samaria in John’s gospel Jesus was saying something literal about what God is.
John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.
But there are also metaphors. The Bible does not teach his eye-balls have little legs to run about on.
See 2 Chronicles 16:9 (New American Standard Bible) For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.
Nor does the Bible say that God has wings, or is a giant chicken!
See Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Nor is God a building.
See Psalm 61:3 For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.
See 2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Though it is important to know why we can be confident the Bible is from God, it is a more important thing is to know that it is to our guide for living.
Timothy was told to remember who had showed him what was in the scriptures - people. His grandmother and mother. See 2 Timothy 1:5
I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
He is told to remember who the scriptures come from in the first place, God himself.
See 2 Peter 1:20-21 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
He is told to remember what the scriptures can do, they can equip us for “every good work”.
They remind us how to live. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
They teach us how to live. Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
The scriptures penetrate to the inner person in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
