No book has been more vigorously attacked throughout history than the Bible, both from outside the Church and from within by sceptical scholars. The faith of God’s people has sometimes been severely shaken by such attacks. We need to be clear as to what we believe about the Bible. Consider II Timothy 3:16-17 God-breathed Scripture
1. The source of Scripture
Our fundamental belief about the Bible is set out in v16 ‘All Scripture is God-breathed’ – familiar from the AV as ‘inspired by God’. Here is the root of the authority and power of this book: it is God’s word to his people. The word often translated ‘inspired’ literally is ‘God-breathed’ (as in NIV). It is more than the ‘inspiration’ of writers and artists – we are to think of the Bible as God’s speech. What Scripture says, God says. How did God use the writers? 2 Peter 1:21 ‘men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit’: the mysterious, miraculous, sovereign working of the Holy Spirit. This was not simply divine dictation (although sometimes God did give a message word for word), but God used the different personalities, etc, of the writers, including e.g. Luke’s research (Luke 1:3). Inspiration does include the words used – ‘Scripture’ is written. God did not merely give ideas that the writers were to express in their own fallible words. Note 1 Corinthians 2:13 ‘words taught by the Spirit’. This is ‘verbal inspiration’. Note ‘All Scripture’ – the OT and also the NT which was beginning to be written. 1 Timothy 5:18 shows that Luke 10:7 was already regarded as ‘Scripture’. Under the guidance of the Spirit the Church came to recognise the books that were ‘God-breathed’. It is the Spirit who opens our eyes to see the true nature of the Bible. Accepting inspiration is part of the conversion experience. Inspired Scripture is without error in all it teaches: ‘your word is truth’ (John 17:17). We stand under the authority of God and of his Word.
2. The usefulness of Scripture
Scripture is ‘useful’ – it is to have life-changing effects. It is ‘able to make you wise for salvation’ (v15). The Bible contains everything we need to begin and continue on the Christian way. Its usefulness is comprehensive:
(i) Teaching: true knowledge of God’s truth is essential for spiritual health.
(ii) Rebuking: The Spirit uses Scripture to expose our sin and stir repentance.
(iii) Correcting: offering the positive answer to sin, setting out the right path.
(iv) Training in righteousness: guiding us to growth in likeness to the Lord.
Used as God intends, the Bible transforms us into his image stage by stage.
3. The goal of Scripture
The goal of Scripture is set out in v17 – ‘that the man of God may be competent’ (ESV. NIV omits). The word means complete, capable, in fit condition. The Bible is sufficient to equip the people of God for whatever work he assigns them. Bible study is to prepare workers, doing the ‘good works’ (Ephesians 2:10) God has prepared. We must always approach the Bible in dependence on the Spirit, seeking edification and transformation.