The Author of Scripture

 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV).

 

Paul’s words to Timothy in our reading today offer practical advice for godly living. From an early age, Timothy had learned the truth found in the Scriptures. And here Paul encourages him to continue to read, learn from, and trust in God’s Word, which helps every believer focus on living God’s way for full, meaningful life. God’s Word can be trusted because it is not the mere words of imperfect human beings; it is the truth of the eternal God himself.

 

When we confess, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” we also affirm that the Holy Spirit worked in and through the people who wrote down the words of Scripture to reveal God’s design and purpose for us. Paul describes the Spirit’s work as “God-breathed.” Just as the Holy Spirit breathed life into the first human being (cf. Genesis 2:7), so the Holy Spirit breathed into the work of the Bible’s human authors, making the Scriptures full of life and giving all that we need for faithful living.

 

While there has been much discussion and debate through the centuries since the Scripture was written, we can be sure that it was not just a work of man. God had a direct and irrefutable hand in the writing.  That makes it a book of truth giving us the blueprint of how to understand and live for God today.

 

When you have questions about life, look first to the wisdom and truth of Scripture. There you will find all you need for every circumstance and question in life. The Holy Spirit has guaranteed this as well as our eternal life.