But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

Here Paul is writing to Timothy. To put these verses into context we need to read verse 1: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Does this sound familiar? Maybe you have seen these things around you and have asked yourself, “What should I do?” “Does it matter what I do?”

Verse 14 starts with “but.” But what should Timothy do, what should we do in a world where we increasingly see that love grows cold and people love themselves rather than others.

The text says, but as for you, continue in what you have learned and become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Timothy had learned the Bible when he was a child from his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois, just as many of us learned to read and listen to the Bible from our parents. Paul says “continue in it.”

The Scriptures are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. They tell us everything about our Lord Jesus, what he has done for us so that we can have a relationship with God and love others. Knowing him is eternal life. What a hope and joy that is in difficult times! John 17:3 says, Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. How do you get to know someone? By taking time to listen to what they have to say, the same is true for Jesus: we get to know him through his words in the Bible.

In verse 16, Paul says that all of the Bible (66 books) is “God-breathed,” not just some books, but all. So if this is true─ and I believe it is ─ shouldn’t we pay attention to it, read it and study it daily? As Jesus quoted from the Old Testament: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). 

Maybe you wonder if it isn’t it too difficult to study the Bible? According to verse 15, Timothy started reading the Scriptures when he was a child, so it shouldn’t be too difficult for us.

Lastly, how are we equipped to do good works? The answer again is in the text; the Bible is there to teach, rebuke, correct and train us in righteousness, so that we will be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

If you would like to start this new year by taking more time to study the Bible and enjoy encouragement from God’s Word, why not sign up for a Bible study or home group and study together with other IPCers and become equipped for every good work? You could ask the office for the best fit for you, there are many different possibilities.

Prayer

Lord, we thank you for not leaving us without hope and without guidance. Thank you Lord for giving us your Son, Jesus, so that we may know you and have life forever. Thank you that we can get to know you by reading and studying your Word and all of its wonderful truths. Help us Lord to be diligent and equip us for the works you prepared for us to do.