Did You Know:
The Bible was written over a period of 1,500 years
The Bible was written by over 40 different authors (Among them were kings, military leaders, peasants, philosophers, fishermen, tax collectors, poets, statesmen, musicians, scholars, and shepherds.)
The Bible was written on three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe.
And this, the Bible is a book of great diversity, yet, in spite of this, it unfolds a single continuous story, and it does so without ever contradicting itself.
And that: The Bible has for its main character God Himself, made known through the person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Introduction
My father-in-law shared that he recently went through a box that contained old pictures, and papers, and at the bottom, he found his mother’s Bible. His mother grew up going to church and the Bible was gifted to her for “Perfect Attendance”. It was dated 1940, she would have been 14.
He shared that a handwritten note in her Bible front said “The Eleventh Commandment John 13:34” while small paper bookmarks were placed in Revelation 21-22 and in Proverbs 12-13.
Bibles were cherished family treasures and often gifts for special occasions. Bibles in our family were often places to keep things like newspaper clippings and funeral cards. For some who do genealogy Bibles are a source for dates of births, marriages, and deaths.
A Minnesota man recently found a family bible from 1767 in the floor of his Aunts attic. It is believed that the world’s oldest family bible has been in the same family since 1572. While the oldest bible known is called the Latin Bible and it was published between 300 and 305 AD.
Bibles are more than just family treasures that store clippings and unlock genealogical secrets. The Bible is God’s authoritative Word, showing us clearly who God has been in the history of humanity and what he desires for us individually. And it must be read regularly in order to know what it says.
So What Does The Bible Say about itself?
The Bible uses a variety of symbols and word pictures, to describe itself. These images help us understand the character of the Word of God.
Milk: Hebrews 5:12-14
Solid Food: 1 Corinthians 3:1-2
Gold and Honey Psalm 19:9-10 NKJV
A Mirror James 1:23-25
A Seed That Is Sown1 Peter 1:23
Fire and a Hammer Jeremiah 23:29
A Lamp and a Light Psalm 119:105
An Anchor Hebrews 6:18-19
A Light Shining in the Darkness 2 Peter 1:19
It is Water: a necessary source of life. Ephesians 5:25-26
In the world of the Bible, water was very precious. The hot, dry climate created the need for saving water in every possible way. In the same manner, God’s Word is both necessary and precious.
We also see it as a Sword. The sword is a powerful illustration of what the Word of God can do; it cuts to the heart. It illustrates the power of God’s Word to penetrate to the depths of our being. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
2 Timothy Chapter 3
If you have your Bible handy open it to 2 Timothy specifically chapter 3 but we are going to work our way there….
2 Timothy is a letter that was written by Paul the Apostle. It is believed to be the last one he wrote in Rome before his death (c. 64 or 67), and he addressed it to Timothy. We can all agree that Paul is a good example to follow. We have seen throughout the new testament his steadfast faith continuing to follow the teachings of the Scriptures even while under persecution. And we understand that Paul is imprisoned in a dark dank dungeon in Rome.
Paul had taught to Timothy the same gospel which he had received after his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road and had learned from the apostles who had been with Christ. Timothy had the advantage of personally learning the teachings of Christ from Paul and other early Christians prior to the completion of the New Testament writings.
This very personal correspondence contains 4 charges to Timothy. He is to guard the scriptures, suffer for them, to continue or remain in them, and to preach them. Ultimately what we see in this letter is a last will and testament from Paul to the Church.
Chapter 3 begins with Paul providing Timothy with a warning about false teachers who deviated from the gospel. These false teachers are risking their faith and those who followed them. In some translations, unorthodox teachers are called blasphemers and even the term abusive is used. Verse 5 is a clear warning for Timothy and his congregation to stay clear of these false teachers and Paul’s words are a charge to Timothy to keep away from unorthodox beliefs.
2 Timothy 3:5 “Avoid such people and keep far away from them.”
What is the purpose of the Holy Scriptures?
Now the main scripture we will be looking at today is found in 2 Timothy 3:14-17.
We see Timothy is challenged to maintain a close relationship with the Word of God. Paul tells him of the benefits that come from such a relationship. He is reminded that it is the Scriptures that have taught him what he knows about God.
It is the Word of God that fed him and led him to this point in his life.
The Scripture had been foundational in making him the man of God he is, v. 14-15. He is to continue in them so that he might continue to progress as a believer and as a man of God.
Paul is instructing Timothy to commit to Paul’s teaching. But it is more than that. We see Paul passing the mantle of the Pauline mission over to Timothy. Timothy had been with Paul for over 15 years. In 1 Corinthians 4:17, Paul references Timothy as “my beloved and faithful child in the Lord”. With the passing on of this ministry, Timothy is being called out for leadership in ministry. A position that he would not have been naturally inclined to do. Timothy was shy and prone to illness. In other correspondence, Paul had to prompt the churches to be kind to Timothy. And here we see Paul building Timothy up reminding him that he can do this. He must do this because if not him then who.
What does Verse 17 say about the purpose of the scriptures?
Paul is letting Timothy know that if he stays true to the teaching he will be thoroughly equipped for every good work. The scriptures are here to equip and are a basic need in our lives just as we need the air and water to survive.
We need the Word of God so that we can become all he created us to be for His glory. If we are going to grow in the Lord we need to know his word.
Let’s jump back one verse to 16.
Here we see the purpose flushed out –
We are told here that the infallible inspired words of God are “profitable”. This word means “beneficial and useful”.
It Reveals God and His mind if we just open his book and read it.
Scripture reveals God’s person. The scriptures show us that God is Sovereign, Holy, loving, just, eternal, glorious, exalted, gracious, merciful, and infinitely good.
Scripture Reveals God’s Plan
The Bible is what teaches us that we are sinners in need of a Savior, Rom. 3:10; 3:23; Gal. 3:22.
The Bible demonstrates the wrath of the Sovereign Rom. 6:23; John 3:18, 36; Psa. 9:17.
The Bible demonstrates the worth of the soul 2 Pet. 3:9; John 3:16.
The Bible demonstrates the way of Salvation John 3:16; Matt. 11:28; Eph. 2:8-9; Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12.
In scripture, God’s REDEMPTION is revealed.
The Bible is the unfolding of the story of redemption. Verse 15 reminds us that the Scriptures are “able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” This story of redemption culminates with the death of Christ on the cross for the salvation of the lost.
Scripture is a reinforcement
Verses 16 and 17 speak of the benefits that can be derived from a careful and close study of the Bible. After we have received God’s revelation and are part of His redemptive plan, the Bible serves as a reinforcement tool, helping us to grow and to develop into all that God wants His children to be.
Let’s speak a little truth: the Bible has its critics.
Some say The Bible is full of myths, legends, and old wives’ tales. While others say Science has proven the Bible to be untrue. The one I want to address, the one that many of us have had to or are currently dealing with are those who see the bible as a rule book. As humans, we like to do our own thing and we see the bible being used as a way for God to tell us how to live.
The guidelines found in the Bible enable us to live lives that bring honor and glory to the name of God.
Jesus said in John 14:15.“If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.” this is tangible evidence that we really love Him,
John tells us that obeying the Word of God is proof of our salvation, 1 John 4:6. “We are from God, and whoever knows God [through personal experience] listens to us [and has a deeper understanding of Him]. Whoever is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know [without any doubt] the spirit of truth [motivated by God] and the spirit of error [motivated by Satan].”
Don’t look at the bible of a list of don’t’s but rather of do’s. My mother once said “Don’t get hung up on all the do’s and the don’t’s. If you will spend your time doing the do’s, you won’t have the time or the energy to worry about the don’t’s!”
To address Biblical criticism Billy Graham said “The Bible’s message is straightforward. No writer changed the message to put himself or his friends in a better light. The sins of mankind are frankly admitted, and life is presented as it actually is.
Critics claim the Bible’s full of forgery, fiction, and unfulfilled prophecy; but the findings of archaeology have corroborated rather than denied the Biblical data.
The Christian faith is not dependent upon human knowledge and scientific advancement. The inability to comprehend fully the mysteries of God doesn’t in any way curtail the Christian faith but enhances it. The Bible’s the greatest document of the human race and remains a bulwark of national, personal, and spiritual freedom.
The first requirement placed upon the critic is that he or she read every page of the Bible. The critic should also know something of the Bible’s history and the miracle of its writing. Biblical history is fascinating and makes us appreciate the Book, which has been preserved for us to this day.”
The Word in Action
In Matthew 4:1-11 we see how three times Jesus was tempted and three times Jesus replied with the Word of God. Jesus had been taught the word and engaged in it.
Before we can stand and use the Word as Jesus did we must be familiar with it. Just as Jesus, Paul, and Timothy were. We know that when we attempt to fight our life battles on our own we will fail but when we fight with the Sword of the Spirit we are guaranteed victory.
Studying the Scripture also enables us to grow spiritually -Going back to 2 Tim. 3:15 – We are told here that the Scriptures have the power to make us “wise”. The word means “to teach or to have understanding.”
A well-known quote by Yale educator William Lyon Phelps, stated, “I thoroughly believe in a university education for both men and women, but I believe a knowledge of the Bible without a college course is more valuable than a college course without the Bible.”
We have already determined that knowing scripture is the source of wisdom and guidance. We see how reading the Word helps us understand who God is and what he expects of us.
1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.”
1 Peter 3:15 calls every Christian to always be “ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you.” Not everyone is called to be an expert in this field, but we should all be ready to make a defense of the truth of Christ as recorded in Scripture.
And so I Challenge you… Let’s get to know our Bibles better. Let’s make a habit together. Whether you use the reading plan provided or one of your own – Just open up your Bibles and READ. “so that we, men and women of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Be on the lookout for Part 2 of This and That: Bible-ology
Simply,
Jess
