3:15 from a child. Timothy had been trained in the Old Testament Scriptures by his mother and grandmother (II Timothy 1:5) before any of them knew about Christ, but all three received Christ when they heard the gospel. This is a powerful testimony to the value of teaching God’s Word to young children.

3:15 Christ Jesus. The Scriptures in and of themselves do not bring salvation, but it is through the Scriptures that we learn of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (note James 1:18; I Peter 1:23-25). The Scriptures are the initiation of our salvation, then they become the medium of our spiritual growth (II Timothy 3:16) and finally of our ultimate perfection (II Timothy 3:17) in Christ.

3:16 All scripture. “All Scripture”—that is, every individual “scripture”—is included in this reference, not just the thoughts, but the actual writings, the words written down. Thus the words, not just the “thoughts,” are inspired of God. This one verse repudiates the idea of “partial inspiration” and also that of so-called “dynamic inspiration.” The true doctrine is plenary verbal inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. Since God is omniscient, the Scriptures are, therefore, infallible and free from error of any kind.

3:16 inspiration of God. “Given by inspiration of God” is all one word in the Greek, theopneustos, meaning “God-breathed.” This word refutes any idea of human inspiration (such as a poet, or musician might claim). The Scriptures, by whatever particular methods God may have used in their various parts, including the individual human abilities and researches of the various human writers (whose abilities He had created and whose researches He had guided), as they finally came from their Spirit-guided minds and pens, are in effect God-breathed.

3:16 doctrine. “Doctrine” is the same as “teachings.” All that the Bible teaches is true and profitable for study.

3:16 reproof. “Reproof” means “conviction” or “evidence” (as the word is translated in Hebrews 11:1). The Scriptures themselves give abundant internal evidence of their own divine inspiration.

3:16 correction. “Correction” means “setting right.” This is the only occurrence of this particular word (Greek epanorthosis) in the New Testament.

3:16 instruction in righteousness. “Instruction” (Greek padeia) is translated “nurture” in Ephesians 6:4 and “chastening” in Hebrews 12:5,7,11. The Scriptures not only teach doctrine, but also provide evidence of their truth, correction of any mistaken notions, and then any needed conviction and discipline warranted for our training as babes in Christ.