Sola Scriptura

August 28th, 2025
by Lance Waldie

2 Timothy 3:15-17 …that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

The Apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé Timothy back in the first century, and in v. 15 he affirmed Timothy’s strong knowledge of the Scriptures that led him to salvation. Timothy had known this salvation since childhood as a result of having been taught the truth of Jesus Christ by his mother and grandmother (cf. 2 Tim 1:5). The “sacred writings” in v. 15 is a reference to the OT teachings which give wisdom to those who read them, and they lead one to salvation in Jesus Christ which comes from faith. Timothy thus knew Christ from the OT Scriptures.

In v. 16 Paul speaks of the “inspiration” of Scripture. Once again, “Scripture” is a reference to the OT writings since some of the NT writings had not been completed at that time. Of course passages like 1 Timothy 5:18 and 2 Peter 3:15-16 clearly show that some NT writings had been accepted as Scripture, but Paul’s main reference is to the OT. These writings are said to be “inspired”—literally “God-breathed.” In other words, God Himself participated in the writing of the Scriptures and guided the writers to say exactly what He wanted them to say. As such, Christians can firmly believe in the accuracy of God’s Word, its infallibility and inerrancy.

God’s Word is not only without error as a result of being “breathed-out” by God, it is, as a result, “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (v. 16). First, it is “profitable” but not in the sense of financial profitability. The Greek word simply means “beneficial” for teaching. This is logical in that if God inspired the sacred writings, He did so for the benefit of those who would read it. Therefore, reading His words is profitable, for they are beneficial to the reader. Second, the inspired Scriptures are profitable for “reproof.” This word has to do with conviction of sin. The reading of God’s infallible Word (the Bible) is beneficial to anyone seeking to be convicted of sin. Nothing else works like Scripture!

The third purpose of God’s Word, and the reason He inspired it, is for the benefit it grants for “correction.” This means “to set right; to restore to an upright state of being.” So if one follows the word order in v. 16, one is first taught, then convicted of sins, then instructed on how to make one’s life right with God. The Scriptures are profitable for correction. Finally, the Scriptures are beneficial “for training in righteousness.” The Greek word for “training” is a verb form for “child,” and it is one that is often translated as “discipline.” In short, God’s inspired Word is about instruction which has as its aim the increase of virtue in those who utilize it.

Verse 17 is a purpose clause. It reveals that the purpose of God’s inspired Word is so that “the man of God may be fit, equipped for every good work.” In other words, God protected and guided His Word, the Bible, so that all who read it will be fully enlightened, in need of no other instruction to do God’s good and perfect will. The Bible alone is given for that very purpose.

Food for Thought
Sola Scriptura (“scripture alone”) was the rally cry of the Reformers in the 16th century. Man’s traditions had crept in and clouded the pure words of the Bible and had led many astray, chasing doctrines that were ungodly because they were unbiblical. Even today people continue to seek salvation through man-made traditions and secular books written by so-called Christian authors. How about just studying the Bible? It is God-breathed, inerrant, and it reveals the true Savior. Man’s ideas, passed down as traditions, are rarely based upon God’s inspired words. The fact that God’s word equips us for “every good work” means that it is all we truly need!