Please open your Bibles to 2 Timothy.
A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through social media when I came across a video clip. I won’t get into the denominational leader being interviewed, or the denomination he represented, but the video was titled [SLIDE] “Jesus Too Woke for Christians.” In the interview, the leader explained that he had been approached by multiple pastors over the last several years with the same complaint. They would be preaching from the Gospels (particularly the sermon on the mount) and after the sermon, they would be approached by members of their congregations with the same question: “Where did you get those ‘woke’ talking points?” They would explain that they were literally just quoting Jesus but the people would respond, “Yea, but that doesn’t work anymore. That’s weak!”
The sad thing about this is the fact that, although I had not heard such a bold disregard for God’s word before, I had been exposed to that mindset. It is not an uncommon thing to hear among mixed denominational groups that certain parts of scripture are irrelevant to today—particularly the Old Testament. “The law is too strict—and doesn’t work today!” “The prophets don’t apply to us today!” “Old Testament God was vengeful and harsh—so the Old Testament no longer applies because of the New Covenant.” And now, it seems, the Gospels are being viewed as irrelevant to today by some.
But what does the Bible say about all this? 2 Timothy 3 starting in verse 14: [SLIDE]
14 You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [SLIDE] 16 Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work. [SLIDE]
4 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction. [SLIDE] 3 For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things. 4 And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths. [SLIDE]
This is the Word of God, for the People of God
Thanks Be To God [SLIDE]
Now, here is the thing about this passage. “The Scriptures” Paul is referring to is not The Bible as we know it. No, he was referring to the Old Testament as the current canon did not exist yet. Even the Gospel’s were not included in this due to the fact that they were not thought of a “scripture” yet but were merely accounts of those who walked with Jesus.
But I feel it necessary to point out that, just because PAUL was not referring to the Gospels, his letters, or any of the rest of the New Testament does not mean that the New Testament is not inspired. It is!
So, what did Paul mean by “every Scripture” or “All scripture” as some of your translations might say? Well, the word Paul uses is “Pas” which, translated means “All”—which means “ALL”
Old Testament
New Testament
All of it
It was not that Timothy doubted the inspiration of scripture—He was raised too well for that. His mom and grandmother invested their lives to teach him the value of the scriptures, and it was largely due to them that he was even in ministry. So, no, it was not the inspiration he doubted.
He struggled with the usefulness of it.
He struggled with it’s application.
He struggled with the purpose of it.
So, what is the purpose of scripture?
To teach: To provide doctrine
To Reproof: to prove or to test.
To Correct: To restore to upright! To improve life or character
For training [cultivating minds and morals; increasing virtue; chastising evil] in righteousness [The condition acceptable to God].
That is the purpose of Scripture—and how we use it is by preaching the word: proclaiming the gospel message
Reproving: refuting, correcting, and exposing wrong.
Rebuking—which, interestingly enough translates to “to show honor to” as well as to place upright.
Exhort: to encourage, to strengthen, to instruct, comfort, teach, console.
All with patience and instruction
For there will be a time:
They will turn away from the truth because the truth is “too offensive”
They will see it as “too fundamentalist” or “Too ‘Woke’”, it will be “too rough” or “Too weak”, it will be “too much of something.”
But the thing about scripture is that is reveals the nature of our savior, Jesus.
The same Savior we are meant to emulate.
So, if the nature of our savior is seen as “too Fundamentalist” to some, let us become more like Jesus. But if our savior is seen as “too woke” to some, let us become more like Jesus. If our savior is seen as “too rough” or “too weak” Let us do what we are called to do and emulate Jesus.
If scripture’s purpose is to teach, let it teach me!
If it is to Reprove, let it reprove me!
If it is to correct, let it correct me!
And if it is to train in righteousness, let train me!
So that, I can be more like my Jesus!
