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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: Paul our pattern to follow, not Jesus? |
Bible Note: Your what if questions can only call for speculation. What if I only had the writings of Paul? Have you seen the movie "Time Changer"? This movie seeks to answer the question "what if you separate the teachings of Jesus from the authority of Jesus? Without the Person of Jesus, without the authority of God, why should anyone obey the Law of Love? It all points to Jesus, and the fact is, we have the entire Bible. So to ask "what if we didn't?" is looking for an answer that we don't know. I believe the Holy Spirit is able to teach a man who does not have the Scriptures, or the complete Scripture, but that does not describe you, or me, or whomever is asking you this question. Did the early Gentile believers have access to all of the Bible? Obviously not, so long as the New Testament was still being written and distributed. But the did have the Apostles who penned the New Testament. Acts 2:42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. The Apostle's teachings, whether spoken or written, fed the early church. Do I think that God gave sufficient Scriptures to Paul for the Gentiles? How many are enough? Is some of God's Word enough when there is more available? Not to me! Is some enough when that is all you have? God will make it to be enough. He Who multiplied the fish and the loaves can multiply His Word in your heart. Think of how much depth you can receive as you sit and meditate on one verse! But is that any reason to think we don't need something that God saw as important to give us? I would not be so bold to say that. We have been given a Law of Love to keep, which is the summation of the entire Law. It is from Jesus example first that we can learn to keep that Law, and also through Paul's example. Understanding what the Law means to the New Covenant believer will add a richness to life that does not come another way. We do not gain righteousness by the keeping of the Mosaic Law, and yet, Jesus lived that law, and wants to live His life through us. The Law tells us how to have relationship with God, with others, how to treat animals, and the planet, and ourselves. What part would you say in unimportant? Love in Christ, Mark |