Sunday Devotional: 2 Timothy 3:16b

… and beneficial for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for training in righteousness…

Last week we looked at the context of the passage and considered what it means for every Scripture to be God-breathed. This week we examine the uses of Scripture listed by Paul in verse 16. These things are “beneficial.” This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the ways in which Scripture can be used. But it is an important list of ways that Scripture can benefit our lives and the life of the church.

The first is “teaching,” or “instruction.” There are those who believe they can know God aside from any revelation of Himself in Scripture. Frankly, according to Romans 8:6-8, this is impossible. For us to know God, He has to make Himself known to us. He has done so in Christ, and through the Scriptures which He has given to us. These Scriptures tell us about God, His character, and His will for us. It is in Scripture that we read of the salvation He has provided for His people through Christ. If we want to know who God is and what He wants us to do, we need only turn to Scripture. And godly men, who are well-trained in handling God’s word, can help us learn more and plumb the depths of what God has revealed.

The second is “conviction” or “reproof,” even “punishment.” Recognition of wrongdoing should never be a matter of personal opinion, especially within the church. When a sin is committed, the accusation should never be based on what one person thinks is sin, or what a group of people consider to be sin. The word of God tells us the things that please and displease God. And when we consider Jesus’ teaching in The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), we see there are many heart attitudes that need to be checked. This way, we know when we have done something we shouldn’t, and it’s not based on the opinion of our peers, but on God’s authoritative word.

The third is “correction,” or “restoration.” The idea here is not punishment (which we sometimes think when we hear “correction”), but of setting straight. When we wander away from where we should be, we need to be put back on the right path. In a way, this goes along with the previous benefit: Scripture not only convicts us of sin, but also helps us get back to where we should be. It doesn’t just point the finger, but it points the way.

The final benefit Paul lists is “training in righteousness.” The word paideia can be used both for instruction, and for discipline. The first benefit spoke of teaching generally, here we’re speaking of specific training, even disciplined training in the way of righteousness. We might even consider this to be a summation of all the above, since through teaching, conviction, and correction, we experience the disciplined training of the Lord for the purpose of conforming our lives that we might think, speak, and behave in ways that bring honor to His name.

But that isn’t the only purpose Paul wants us to recognize here. Next week we’ll look at verse 17. Have a great Sunday!