Paul explained in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
The word for “useful” can be translated “benefits” or “profitable.” Paul used it once before when talking to Timothy: “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8) In other words, working out in the gym is a good thing, but investing time and effort into understanding the Scripture and deepening your relationship with God has both immediate and long-term advantages. Your washboard abs and twenty-four-inch pythons won’t be worth much in the afterlife. That’s not true of your spiritual strength.
In the 2 Timothy passage above, Paul cited four ways the Bible is valuable for spiritual training:
1. It teaches. You can learn so much from its truth.
2. It rebukes. You will feel convicted of sin and error.
3. It corrects. You will find ways to rebuild and improve.
4. It trains. You will be shaped into the person God designed you to be.
All of this is so “that the man [or woman] of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:17) The result of your interaction with Scripture will be a thoroughly equipped you! Like a warrior in full armor or an athlete fully trained (or heck, a ninja, if you prefer), you will be prepared for the road ahead. The Bible is as reliable a trainer and shaper of our whole selves. It is especially important to remember this in these days when the Bible’s accuracy and trustworthiness are getting hammered from all sides.
