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2 Timothy 3:16–17
“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.”
There should be no doubt regarding how the author to the Hebrews understands the Scriptures. We have seen already his use of the Word of God to craft sound arguments for the superiority of Jesus to the old covenant (Heb. 1:1–4:13). He views God’s Word as powerful, able to pierce the soul and separate truth from error (4:12–13), and this because the author of Hebrews understands Scripture to be nothing less than God’s speech. Just consider Hebrews 3:7, where the author introduces his quotation of Psalm 95 by saying, “As the Holy Spirit says.” The words that follow were penned by a man, and yet they are the Spirit speaking. The Bible is no mere human word, but it is the express revelation of God Almighty.
In order to better understand the nature of God’s Word, we will base our next three days of studies on Dr. R.C. Sproul’s teaching series Holy Scripture. Today we will consider the inspiration of Scripture, which in Ephesians 6:17 and Hebrews 4:12 is likened to a sword. God’s Word is a spiritual weapon, and it is effective because it comes from the Lord, and it is crafted perfectly to accomplish His purposes.
When we consider the crafting of the sword that is the Word of God, we are really talking about the inspiration of Scripture. The Lord established this spiritual sword for us by inspiring human authors to give us exactly what He wants us to know about Him and His will. The key text here is 2 Timothy 3:16–17, which describes “all Scripture” as “breathed out” by God. Scripture is not merely a witness to the Word of God. Scripture does not simply contain the Word of God. Scripture needs nothing added to it to become the Word of God. No, Scripture is itself the Word of God, breathed out by Him and belonging to Him no less than our words are breathed out by us and belong to us.
As the very breath of God, Scripture carries with it the full truth and authority of our Creator. It “cannot be broken” (John 10:35). What God gave the Apostles and prophets to write down cannot be viewed as anything other than fully true in all that it teaches, and it is incapable of leading people astray. This follows necessarily from the nature of God, who is holy and true (Isa. 6:1–3; Rom. 3:4). And because it is the Word of God, Scripture cannot fail to accomplish God’s will, for God is able to accomplish all His holy will. No purpose of His can be thwarted (Job 42:2).
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
We should be suspicious anytime we find a professed Christian teacher who is reluctant to affirm that the Bible is itself the very Word of God. This is how Scripture presents itself, and we have no right to have a lower view of the Bible than it has of itself. Let us make sure to sit under only those teachers who are committed to the full inspiration of every word of the Scriptures.
For Further Study
- Exodus 34:1
- Deuteronomy 29:29
- Acts 17:10–11
- 2 Peter 1:21