August 7: God-breathed

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, and you know that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.    (2 Timothy 3:14-17 — Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Paul the apostle encourages Timothy, a young pastor, to continue in the godly teaching he received all through childhood. His mother Eunice and grandmother Lois had taught him all about the sacred Scriptures. Their lives and the lives of other people of faith, combined with the Word of God to create a strong faith in Timothy. 

God’s Word and the Holy Spirit are essential for salvation and any other change we want. Without the Spirit, God’s Word has no life or power. But when the two are combined God’s Word becomes a life changing force inside of any one of us. It is a living and active force.

Paul emphasizes the source of all Scripture: God. Inspired literally means “God-breathed”. True, the various books of the Bible were actually written by men, but Paul explains that God was actively involved in the revelation of His truth and ideas to those who wrote it down. The Bible we hold in our hands was written by God Himself. He is its Author, not man. So whenever we read the Bible we can be sure that those words are true and eternal, and if obeyed, will bring about fruit.

Scripture teaches us what is right, true, and godly. The most important part of the Bible is the New Testament because it contains the revelation of the Lord Jesus and how we are to follow Him. No one can hope to be a strong Christian without reading the Bible every day, or at least daily meditation on it. It teaches, rebukes, corrects, and trains in righteousness. It makes us complete; it equips us for anything as long as we understand the link between knowing the Word and applying it to our lives.