3:14-15 In his personal life Timothy should continue living as he had rather than turning aside to follow the example of the evil men Paul just mentioned. Timothy's conduct grew out of what he had learned that gave him personal convictions.
"Jewish parents were expected to teach their children the Law from the age of five onwards."70
These convictions grew stronger because Paul's life had backed up the truth that Timothy had learned from him. Furthermore they were consistent with the sacred Scriptures that he had known all his life (i.e., the Old Testament, cf. 1:5). These inspired writings convey wisdom and lead to personal salvation from sin because they point to Christ. Thus they are reliable and powerful.
3:16-17 Paul wanted to reemphasize the importance of Scripture in Timothy's present and future ministry. His emphasis in verse 15 was on its importance in Timothy's life in the past.
There is no reason to limit the universal force of "all"to matters of salvation. When the Greek word translated "all"or "every"(pas) occurs with a technical noun such as "Scripture,"it is better to render it "all"rather than "every."71Paul had been speaking of the Old Testament as a whole in verse 15, and he undoubtedly carried that thought over into verse 16. All Scripture is divinely inspired (Gr. theopneustos, lit. God-breathed, cf. 2 Pet. 1:21). This fact in itself should be adequate reason for proclaiming it. It does not merely containthe Word of God or becomethe Word of God under certain conditions. It isGod's Word, the expression of His person (heart, mind, will, etc.). This was the view of the Old Testament that Jews in the first century commonly held.72"Scripture"means sacred writing and refers to all divinely inspired writings (Old and New Testaments).73When Paul made this statement the books of the Old Testament were the inspired writings he had in view primarily. However even in Paul's day Christians recognized some New Testament books as inspired (cf. 2 Pet. 3:16).
Scripture is useful. Therefore Timothy should use it in his ministry. It is profitable for teaching (causing others to understand God's truth) and reproof (bringing conviction of error when there has been deviation from God's truth). It is helpful for correction (bringing restoration to the truth when there has been error) and training in righteousness (child-training type guidance in the ways of right living that God's truth reveals). This is a selective rather than an exhaustive list of the ways in which the Scriptures are useful.
"They are profitable for doctrine (what is right), for reproof (what is not right), for correction (how to get right), and for instruction in righteousness (how to stay right)."74
Consequently the man of God has all that is essential to fulfill his (or her) ministry. The man of God refers to Timothy (1 Tim. 6:11) but also anyone who commits himself (or herself) to God, especially, in view of the context, those in positions of spiritual oversight. He is adequate (complete, filled out, equipped with all the essential tools he needs). "Every good work"is the ultimate goal of our lives (Eph. 2:10). The mastery and use of Scripture so strongly emphasized in seminary is only a means to an end, not an end in itself. God did not give us the Bible to satisfy our curiosity alone but to enable us to help other people spiritually.
"The divine inspiration of the Scriptures is stated in the Pastorals more forcefully than anywhere else in the NT."75
