- 2 Timothy 3:15-17 - and that from childhood you have known
the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through
faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (New King James Version)
“At the time Paul wrote this, "all scripture is
inspired of God, and is profitable" referred to the Old Testament. Paul
probably did not know that what he was writing would become Scripture.
“At its worst, saying that the law—or any portion of the
Bible—is "done away" could be spiritually suicidal. At the very
least, it will hinder growth because a person will not be thoroughly furnished
to all good works. It is similar in principle to a student attending school who
ignores certain selected sections of the textbook on the basis of his own
perception of what he needs.
“I recall from my own school days expressing the opinion
that I could not see why we had to study ancient Greek, Egyptian, or Roman
history. I could not see what good I would ever get out of such courses, but
others, much older and wiser, insisted that the history we were taught included
teaching in these areas. My narrow point of view was that of an immature kid
who did not understand what is required to produce a well-rounded citizen of
the United States of America.
“In a similar manner, but with far greater
accuracy and consequences, there is nothing extraneous in God's Word. We are to
live by every Word of God (Matthew 4:4). If God is all-wise and all-powerful,
if everything that He does is in love, and if He is working out a purpose that
is in our best interest (that we might live forever with Him), why would God
even give a body of laws—which Jesus said would never pass away until all is
fulfilled (Matthew 5:18), and which Paul wrote is spiritual, holy, just, and
good (Romans 7:12)—if God did not intend that its letter and/or spirit should
be used for all time? God does nothing without meaning, so the law is included
in Scripture for the sake of Christians."
(http://www.theberean.org/, John
W. Ritenbaugh)
