ODJ: whose word?

February 6, 2015 

READ: 2 Timothy 3:13-17 

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives (v.16).

Whether it was the 10 hour TV series The Bible or the films Son of God and Noah, the world has watched a lot of stories based in varying degrees on the Bible in the past few years. But what do people truly believe about God’s Word?

A 2013 State of the Bible survey (conducted in America) revealed that the percentage of individuals who are sceptical of the Bible—thinking it’s “just another book of teachings written by men that contains stories and advice”—has nearly doubled from 10 percent to 19 percent in just 3 years. The survey results also declared that just 56 percent of the respondents believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

Paul prophesied that people would increasingly “turn away from the true faith” and “[scoff] at God” (1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:2). So he reminded Timothy to remain faithful to God’s Word (3:14). He also told him not to be ashamed of the Bible, but to be diligent in “correctly explain[ing] the word of truth” (2:15). Paul emphasised how essential and important the Scriptures are (3:15), affirming that God’s Word is accurate, truthful and helpful for daily living.

“All Scripture is inspired by God” (v.16) literally means that the Bible is “God-breathed” (NIV) or contains the words that come “from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). The human authors of the Bible clearly acknowledged that what they spoke or wrote were “the Lord’s instructions” (Exodus 24:3-4, 34:27; Jeremiah 30:1-2; Hosea 1:1; Joel 1:1; Haggai 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:1). They simply wrote down what God revealed to them (2 Peter 1:21).

Let’s “remain faithful to the things [we] have been taught” because “they are true . . . and have given [us] the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:14-15). —K.T. Sim

365-day plan› Exodus 7:1-14