Our world is full of competing voices. It is a cacophony of opinions, most of them false, all jostling to be given attention and credibility in the ever-shifting arena of public opinion. But there is one Voice that transcends them all. There is one Voice that rises above the rest and has the power to topple kingdoms and create worlds. And that Voice is the voice of the Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and earth, the triune God who thunders in the pages of sacred Scripture.
All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17)
The church has always existed in a world of competing voices. Indeed, one of Paul’s primary concerns in his second letter to Timothy is ensuring that Timothy be equipped to navigate the chaotic waters of controversy and strife. For instance, he instructs Timothy to “not dispute about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers” (2:14) and to “refuse foolish and ignorant speculations,” since they produce quarrels (v. 23). One of the challenges facing Timothy, then, was that of managing the unwanted babbling of certain unstable voices, and to do so in a manner that would both protect the sheep and honour God.
One of the ways Paul seeks to advise Timothy regarding this matter is by reminding him of the unique character of the tool at his disposal. In contrast to the “godless and empty chatter” of his opponents (2:16), Timothy has been entrusted with the “sacred writings” (3:15), and these have a twofold ability. For one, they are able to make him “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus,” and secondly, they are profitable for “teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work” (vv. 15–16).
In other words, the Scriptures are an incomparably valuable resource in the fight of faith, and the mob, no matter how loud, cannot hold a candle to them.
It’s important to note, however, that the reason Scripture possesses these qualities is because of its utterly unique and peculiar character. Like no other resource in all the world, Scripture, Paul says, is “God-breathed.”