It Starts Small

God’s Word provides detailed explanation of Heavenly wisdom, which leads to godliness, or earthy demonic wisdom which leads to corruption.

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This is in my top of favorite scriptures! Paul makes one of the most frequently quoted statements: All scripture is breathed out by God.

The statement “All Scripture” refers to the Old Testament. Remember, during Paul’s time, there was not a New Testament. At the time that Paul wrote this, the Gospels, Revelation, James had not been written. However, this principle still applies to all Scripture given by God including the 27 books of the New Testament. The authors of the New Testament recognized Scripture even as it was written:

¹⁵ Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. ¹⁶ He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.

2 Peter 3:15-16

In our scripture today, “God’s Word” in the Greek is theopneustos. This is very literally translated as “God-breathed.” Human authors put the words to paper through their own personal perspectives and styles. If you spend time reading Paul, the Gospels, Peter, and others, you can hear the difference in their writings, but the Words themselves were inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Greek word here gives us an even more layered description. The use of “pneo” means wind, breath, a spirit, or “the Spirit.” When Jesus speaks to Nicodemus, the same word is used (john 3:8). Paul is speaking here that all of God’s Word is an extension of God’s will, formed out of His Spirit, in written form.

All Scripture is perfect!

If we had time, we would go to Psalms 19 and 119 as they give us great detail on the Word of God. I encourage each of you to take time to pour over both chapters. Paul says that the Word of God is perfect and profitable for many areas of life. Then Paul lists four areas.

Teaching: Paul says scripture is profitable for teaching. This is God teaching us and instructing us to know Him better.

Reproof: Some translations use the word rebuke. God’s Word exposes and points out sin.

Correction: God’s Word gives the solution to sin.

Training and Righteousness: Similar to teaching, it is focused on personal application.

From scripture, we learn what is true, what is wrong, how to correct the wrong, and how to apply truth.

The Paul says God’s Word makes a man complete.

How many of us want to have a completed heart? A whole heart? A healed heart?

The description “man of God” was used in the Old Testament:

 This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave the Israelites before his death. Deuteronomy 33:1

Look,” the servant said, “there’s a man of God in this city who is highly respected; everything he says is sure to come true. Let’s go there now. Maybe he’ll tell us which way we should go.” 1 Samuel 9:6

But the word of God came to Shemaiah, the man of God: 1 Kings 12:22

Paul refers to Timothy as a man of God in our scripture today and also in his first letter to him (1 Timothy 6:11). The man (or woman) of God is helped by scripture in two areas.

To be complete: This term refers to maturity. We need to study the Word of God and apply it to our hearts, to allow God’s Word to make us mature Christ followers who can successfully lead other believers.

To be Equipped: No matter what was needed, Timothy would be given the worldview he needed to properly live out his faith. It is accurate biblical understanding that enhanced his biblical application to life’s issues.

We can not do life without God’s Word. We need to daily feed upon the Word of God. Many of us are stuck being hand-fed the Word of God because we do not make the Word of God a treasure. We do not go to the word of God and feast upon the living water and endless supply of bread it offers our soul. Without the Word of God we will remain spiritual babes. A pursuit of godliness can only be found in the Word of God and by apply it to all we are.

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If you are following along in the Journal, the back pages have a table of Heavenly Wisdom vs. Corrupted Wisdom. Today’s scripture is in the first block under the column Heavenly Wisdom. If you get stuck, you can visit this page and see my example.

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