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NASB | 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God's will, both publicly and privately--behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; |
Subject: On the use of Study Bibles |
Bible Note: Quotations from one's favorite study Bible are common on the forum. We've seen posts that contain little, if anything, more than direct quotations, many quite long and often tedious, from study Bibles, commentaries, or excerpts from "authorities" copied directly from various web sites. While it may be fitting, on occasion, to cite this or that Bible scholar as a point of reference or background, it can easily be overdone. Long, multi-paragraphed quotations generally make for singularly laborious and unconvincing reading; a summary statement of the view of, say, John MacArthur on an issue might well suffice. A short, pithy excerpt from his writing may be all that is necesary. The reader may, if he so desires, go to MacArthur and read the rest of what he has to say about a given subject. But why bore the reader with the entire passage merely in an effort to nail down some point or another?...... If, in the rush to respond to a question or note, one can't quite provide enough Scripture upon which to base a sound response, it is hardly the proper thing to resort to a quotation from this or that study Bible that "appears" to answer a question. It would be far better in this instance, to let the question pass. Perhaps someone else is better equipped to answer it..... In summary, there can be found little fault in the sparse and occasional use of quotations from study Bibles, commentaries, or favorite web sites. But, do we accomplish anything of much value when we make the forum little more than, as one user has observed, a medium for comparing study Bibles? Our final authority for faith and practice is the Bible itself. --Hank |