< 2 Timothy 3 >

God’s truth, though revealed in the Bible, is known by few today, and this is precisely the state of affairs predicted by the Apostles. For example, in this letter Paul foretold how perilous times would come for Christ’s disciples when love of his truth would be replaced by self-love and when commendable qualities among them such as love, joy, peace, meekness, goodness, faith, and truth would be replaced by the evil characteristics listed in the first few verses. This would lead to a corrupt form of religion: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof”. In view of this development the command is: “from such turn away” because “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived”.

Looking back on ecclesiastical history we can see this apostasy progressing through the centuries with people, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”. The antidote to this, says the Apostle, is to keep strictly to the teaching of the word of God in the “holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”. We have the assurance that, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God”, and we profit exceedingly by reading and learning from there because it instructs us how to live our lives according to God’s will: “All scripture... is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works”.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God" is a fundamental and vital first principle of the Truth. Sadly, many reject this, believing in 'partial inspiration'. They point out that the word 'is' is not present in the original Greek, and therefore the translation should read, "All scripture given by God is profitable...", enabling them to reject some parts of the Bible as not being the Word of God, e.g. Genesis 1. The answer is that the verb 'to be' is often omitted in Greek, only implied, and therefore must be added in the English translation - three times in this sentence: [is] given; [is] profitable; may [be]. The error is in failing to do this in the principal and most important clause only, which is misleading and nullifies Christ's declaration to unbelievers (John 5:46-47).Waiting for response for John 5:46-47