All Scripture Is Profitable
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The Purpose of the Bible
Many readers may witness how often the Scripture is used in the back-and-forth comments on spiritual hubs. When it comes to using the Bible in matters of faith, we must go to this source and rightfully interpret it. This is why we are to go back to the original languages whenever we need clarification of what we read in English.
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes."
2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth."
Acts 17:11 "And these were more noble than they, in that they searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so!"
So, let’s look at what Paul writes in his letters to Timothy about the use of the Bible, not only in his walk, but in our ministering to others.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
Inspiration: theopneustos (theh-op'-nyoo-stos); divinely breathed in:-given by inspiration of God.
Profitable: ophelimos (o-fel’-ee-mos); helpful or serviceable, advantageous, profit (-able).
Doctrine: didaskalis (did-as-kal-ee’-ah); [from 1320 didaskalos (did-as’-kal-os) an instructor:-doctor, master, teacher]—instruction (the function or the information):-doctrine, learning, teaching.
Reproof: elegehos (el’-eng-khos); [from 1651 elegeho (el-eng’-kho) to confute, admonish:-convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove); proof, conviction:-evidence, reproof.
Correction: epanorthosis (ep-an-or’-tho-sis); a straightening up again, rectification (reformation):-correction.
Instruction: paideia (pahee-di’-ah); a trainer, teacher, discipliner:-which corrected, instructor.
Righteousness: dikaiosune (dik-ah-yos-oo’-nay); equity (of character or act), especially Christ’s justification:-righteousness.
Perfect: artios (ar’-tee-os); fresh, complete
Furnished: exartizo (ex-ar-tid’-zo); to finish out (time); to equip fully (a teacher):-accomplish, thoroughly furnish.
Work: ergon (er’-gon); from ergo (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication an act:-deed, doing, labor, work.
But note this passage in 1 Corinthians 10:23 "All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify." So we see the word "profitable" means to "edify". We must understand that while the Scripture does indeed contain laws, its purpose is not to bind people into the law of sin and death, but to edify us in the grace through faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior!
Don't Miss the Mark!
1 Peter 1:20-21 state, "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."
We know that incorrect interpretation of the Bible can mean “missing the mark” of salvation.
Correct interpretation of the Bible leads to Jesus as our Savior.
Incorrect interpretation of the Bible will lead away from Jesus as our Savior.
As I’ve shared in other hubs, I personally use the King James Version and New American Standard version of the Bible. The NAS places the actual defining word into the text, where the KJV sometimes can be misunderstood (i.e. the word “perfect”). The NAS uses the word “equipped”, which combines “perfect” and “furnished”.
Other tools I use are the Strong’s Comprehensive and Exhaustive Concordances of the Bible. Many Bibles have limited concordances added to them as a study help. It’s best to get a full concordance, so you can research every question you personally have. A Bible dictionary is wonderful, also. My fan and dear brother in the Lord, SirDent said that the Brown-Driver-Briggs Dictionary is awesomely accurate!
When you read a verse and even study it, read the context of the chapter before and after the verse, so you understand the meaning better. Also, check the margin of your Bible next to the verse to see if there are other verses (cross references) that confirm the verse you’re reading. For more on how to do inductive study, please read my hub How to do an Inductive Bible Study. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Let’s keep the Word rightly divided, so we don’t “miss the mark” (sin) of Salvation (righteousness through Christ Jesus)! God bless you!
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Thank you, Royal sister! I suggest you also read my hub "The Sword of the Spirit", which goes into the missing the mark doctrines! I look forward to reading your hub! God bless you!
My Sister in Christ Jesus you Bless me I love to search the Scriptures and they unfold to me each day in a different light the Lord shows me wonderful Truths in his Word. Amen
Brother Leroy, I know what you mean. I've spent so much more time in the Word since I've been writing here on HubPages, and nothing is overwhelming! Everything is the message that He set us FREE! It's beautiful and we just keep falling more and more in love with Him. AMEN!!
“Christians” with hidden agendas, skeptics and the devil himself will attempt to take scripture out of context in order to make it seem to say anything they want it to say. “Did God say…” (Gen 3:1b). I'm glad you gave great emphasis on reading the context. As some once said, "context is king." All blessings then.
Not only that, but I know one person who will not accept other properly translated words based on the original Hebrew or Greek text, and simply goes by the English word of the KJV. Here's why this is not as "profitable":
The KJV uses the word "hate" in two verses that, if not using the Greek text, would contradict itself:
Luke 14:26 "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."
1 John 4:20 "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:"
Also, in John 14:16, the KJV describes the Holy Spirit as "Comforter", yet this person says the Holy Spirit is not a Helper, Advocate, Paraclete, or Counselor. When indeed the Greek word is Parakletos, which means all of these. Various translations use each of these words.
He also doesn't believe we are to make disciples of anyone, based on Mat 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations", backing it up with Mark 16:15 "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel."
The fact is, we must not rely on any English translation 100%. You and I and so many Bible students know we must utilize a concordance, which will give us the proper Hebrew and Greek text to rightly divide the Word of Truth. AMEN!
I agree with this wonderful teaching here. One thing I can't stand is when teachers and preachers use commentaries as if they are just as valid as the Bible itself.
When I was trying to help one pastor that was leading his flock astray because he didn't understand a particular scripture properly, he referred me to his commentary when I was referring him to the Word!
I told him that commentary was not the Word of God, and he scowled at me: "I'll die with this commentary!" I recognized the spirit that was influencing and deceiving him, I calmly turned to him and said, "yes, you will" and 'dis-fellowshipped' my family from that church.
If we can't agree on the fact that God's Word alone is truth IN THE CHURCH and as ministers, and that every man is a liar - there's really not much for us to talk about.
thefount, amen, brother! So many people are going by man's commentaries or teachers they trust ~ but, just like the Jews in Berea that received the gospel, they searched the scriptures daily to test what the apostles told them. We must do the same. I know I've come up with conclusions after studying on my own, then found confirming commentaries or publications that arrived at the same conclusion ~ that's more confirmation than merely holding as fact something taught by any man. Amen!!
I've seen too many commentaries lead people astray with half truths, scriptures taken out of context, etc., etc.
And when certain church leaders depend on those commentaries, study them, and pledge allegiance to them above the Bible itself, don't study the Word for themselves the way you described in this hub, too lazy to study to show their own selves approved by God; such ones are actually willing to take a chance with the souls of those whom God has entrusted them with by listening more to man rather than God.
And we wonder why there are so many denominations and false religions that come from ONE Word of God in the world today? Indeed.
I know I had a pastor once that took 1 Cor 12:15 literally to mean we will be a hand or foot (or perhaps a toenail) on Jesus' body in heaven. He also took the description of the New Heaven (the New Jerusalem) literally, in that the names of the 144,000 are on the gates, the names of the 12 apostles are the foundation stones...so, we might be a doorknob. He had never learned inductive study, and the Lord moved him to ask me to teach him and the body there how to study using a concordance with Hebrew/Greek dictionaries and so forth. I pray it helped alleviate some serious doctrinal teachings ~~ as I moved out of state when the class was completed (military).
What a great hub! I definitely agree with you that correct interpretation of the Bible leads to us to Jesus.
ecoggins, Amen!! The more I study and while it brings the "sword" (of healing), I fall so in love with Jesus because He sets us free from bondage when we know the truth (you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free!) I have a hub called "Will He Know You" and it has a wonderful photo at the end of the Word of God hugging us. Another brother in the Lord said the Bible is full of love letters to the saints! I am so thankful for His Word, as it sets straight the crooked and twisted (as in "serpent") teachings out there in the world that are oppressing people and leading them down the pathway to death. The Bible is LIFE!! Amen! God bless you!
Another GREAT HUB my friend!!! 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." Matthew 7:16 where Jesus said to His disciples, “You will know them by their fruits.” He was warning them to beware of false prophets (verse 15), and telling them to judge whatever prophets come to them by their fruits! And what, my dears, are the “fruits” of false prophets? False prophecies! Apple trees bring forth apples, pear trees bring forth pears, and false prophet trees bring forth false prophecies! Blessings!
AMEN, drpastorcarlotta!! There are many mysteries in the Bible, and it keeps us busy studying to make sure we're not led astray by man's alluring interpretations. Whoever knows that Jesus is "I AM", our Savior and the only Way, Truth and Life, is standing on the right foundation.
Truly, man can twist the Word and bring about fruitless doctrines that cause people oppression and eventual rejection of Christ. For example, some pastors teach "profitable" (as in "give me your money and as much of it as you can"), so the simple gospel must be known and people need to stay in prayer! They must put God, through the name and the blood of Jesus Christ, above all things, and trust His Spirit to teach them all things, as He promised, through dilligently (inductively) studying the Word of Truth! AMEN!!
YES! YES! I love to study! I need Jesus! I am lost without Him... He saved me!!!
We will praise Him forever because He SAVES. AMEN!!!
Judah's Daughter--this is an excellent piece. Not only for those in search of knowledge gleamed from the Bible, but useful rules-of-thumb for research in general.
Thank you!
Hey Ixxy! So good to see you!! I am thrilled you came to read and are edified in the quest of research and the knowledge of God's truth. Awesome! Thank YOU, also!! God bless you!
I agree.
Since writing Hub I have been using a Bible Concordence and it helps explain in todays terms a lot of what was said and menat back then.
Good for you.
And Good for You, teacherjoe52!! If we didn't have these study tools, we'd be in a world of hurt...it helps keep prophets and teachers accountable to the disciples (students)!! It helps keep us on the right path, interpreting the scriptures to the best of our ability. God bless you and thank you for reading and commenting :-)
Royal Diadem Ministries 2 years ago
You are so in tune to the Holy Spirit, right now the Lord has given me the same message, but in a different way. It will soon be on my Hubpage.
Don't Miss the Mark!
1 Peter 1:20-21 state, "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."
Don't Miss the Mark!
1 Peter 1:20-21 state, "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."
The section do not miss the mark is so important and makes a lot of sense. There is a lots of incorrect interpretation of the Bible. I have had to listen, and, read some of them. for the type of ministry the Lord has given me. To find that every body, who is suppose to be ministering, preaching the same thing, the same way. I know that you are really taking your ministry serious, your writing have a fresh revelation that only the Lord could have given you to share with us.