保罗非常重视圣经的本质，他直言圣经是从神而来的（16节），但透过属神的人写出。「默示」一词可直译为「神的呼气」。我们未必知道神如何感动圣经的笔者，但圣灵却一直监管着他们的写作，确保所写的是神的说话。然而，这并没有排除每位作者本身的个性和风格。默示不是听写，而是圣灵感动他们写下神的信息。彼得后书一章21节用另一种方式来描述默示的过程。

这里描述圣经在教训、督责、使人归正和教导人学义这四方面，有着无可取代的重要价值。教训提醒我们，要从圣经中学习教义真理。许多异端就是将自己的教科书与圣经等同。我们若要试验某个教派是否异端，一个办法就是看它把圣经置于甚么地位。

此外，当我们犯罪的时候，圣灵就会借圣经责备我们。诗人提出一个问题：「少年人用甚么洁净他的行为呢？」答案很简单，就是「要遵行你的话」。圣灵会用神的话来指出我们的罪。因此，我们必须花时间勤读和考察神的话语。

接着是归正──圣经不仅指出我们的罪，还教导我们怎样生活和信甚么。当异端兴起，神的话就会向我们显明真理。我们在神的事工上还需要操练，以致我们能学义。这本奇妙而满有能力的圣经，正是神赐给每位基督徒的礼物，能满足我们的各项需要。

Day 19

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

2 Timothy 3: 10-17

10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,

11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,

15 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.

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Message

There is a marked contrast between the first nine verses of this chapter and our reading today. Those previous verses show the results in the lives of those who have turned away from God. Paul warns that this will only become worse and worse in the last days before Christ returns. But Paul recognises that Timothy’s life and ministry were very different. He had grown up in a Christian home and had early learned the way of life. That in itself is a tremendous advantage. It is tragic today that so few young people have had that privilege. Our Sunday Schools and youth work are still among the most important activities in any church.

Paul stresses the nature of what he calls the Holy Scriptures. He plainly states that they came from God (v.16) through men of God. The word inspired really means “God-breathed”. We may not know exactly how God energized the writers but the Holy Spirit superintended their writing so that what was written was God’s word. This did not do away with their personality. It was not dictation. It was the Spirit moving them to write God’s message. Look at 2 Peter 1:21 for another way to describe this inspiration.

Four ways are mentioned here in which the Scriptures are invaluable. They are for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. Teaching reminds us that this is the book from which we learn our doctrine. Many cults put their own textbook alongside the Bible. One test of a cult is what place it gives to the Word of God?

Then it is the book the Holy Spirit uses to rebuke us when we sin. The Psalmist asked the simple question: “How can a young man (or anyone) keep his way pure? By living according to your word.” The Holy Spirit uses the word of God to convict us of sin. Again it is clear we need to spend time reading and studying the Word itself.

For correction - the Scriptures not only convict but they show us how to live and what to believe. When heresy arises, the Word of God will show us the real truth. We need training in the things of God - the Word is there to do that for us also. What a wonderful, powerful book - the gift of God to meet our needs as we live the Christian life.