From ''Notes on Second Timothy " by W. Kelly.

Scripture then, everything which comes under the designation of Scripture, is inspired of God; not merely holy men of God spoke, borne by (under the power of) the Holy Spirit, but everything written in the Spirit with a view to permanent guidance of the faithful is inspired of God. This simply believed must necessarily exclude error from Holy Writ; for who would say that God inspires mistakes, great or small ? Those who think so cannot really believe that every scripture is inspired of God. Time was when God's word was of course inspired but not yet written; now it is, in infinite mercy, written by His gracious power who knew the end from the beginning, and would provide an adequate and perfect and permanent standard for every need spiritually on earth. Hence it is written, and to be divinely authoritative, is inspired of not the sacred letters of the Old Testament only, but the writings of the apostles and prophets of the New Testament; the foundation on which the Church is built (Eph. 2).

Indeed, it is the prophetic character of gift which especially is in exercise for writing Scripture. The apostles as such governed as well as began the Church. But some were prophets who were not apostles; and the Church, or Assembly, was built on the foundation of both. This explains the true source of the authority in the holy writings of Mark and Luke. To attribute it to Peter for the one, and to Paul for the other, betrays the worthless character of early tradition, such as appears in the speculations of Eusebius of Caesarea. For whatever may be the value of his history of his own times, or of those not long before, his account of the apostolic age has more value as a contrast with the inspired record, short as this is, than as a true reflection. It even abounds with plain ignorance and error, and never rises to the spiritual bearings of what he sets before us. The inspired account in what is called the Acts of the Apostles, is impressed with the dignity, depth, power, and design of Scripture as decidedly as any other book of the Bible. A similar remark applies to Luke's Gospel, as well as to that of Mark. They are scripture, and inspired of God, each having an aim, laid bare by the contents, wholly distinct from that of Matthew and of John, yet no less certainly divine; each, therefore, contributing its own elements of profit proper to each, and found in none other as in them, though others furnish what is not therein. This is characteristic of inspiration, and is found nowhere but in Scripture.

It is full of interest to observe that the apostle quotes Luke as scripture in i Tim. 5:18. Some might hastily affirm that the last clause of the verse was drawn from the apostle Matthew, chap. 10:10; but a closer inspection proves that he cites from Luke 10:7, though he who disbelieves in verbal inspiration might cavil and evade its force. He, however, who is assured on God's authority that inspired men spoke, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth, gladly owns that the apostle of the Gentiles cites literally from the Gospel of his own fellow-laborer. It is as if God meant to confirm the principle by Paul's not only quoting Luke, but quoting his Gospel no less than Dent. 25:4 as "Scripture." He knew and refuted beforehand the skeptical theories which blindly seek to deny the authority of both.

We all know that Peter in his Second Epistle (3:16) speaks of all Paul's Epistles as "scripture." This again is beautiful in that late communication of the great apostle of the circumcision. But it is not so generally seen, though it is no less certain, that in the preceding verse he renders testimony to Paul's having written to the believing Jews, who were the objects of both his own Epistles. Thus we have it on inspired authority that not Barnabas, nor Silas, nor Apollos, nor any other than Paul wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews. A few words of inspiration are decisive against endless argument.

Chap. 3:10, 11 reminded Timothy of his special opportunities, and his personal knowledge of the apostle's teaching, course, and life, individual and ministerial, with a solemn supplement (vers. 12,13) as to the godly and the wicked, whether in resemblance or in contrast. Ver. 14 is a grave exhortation to Timothy thereon to abide in those things which he thus learnt and was assured of, based on his knowledge of their character and authority from whom he learned them, as well as on his familiarity from infancy with the ancient but living oracles of God, which were able to make him wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (ver.15). Then comes a dogmatic conclusion of the subject, as plain as it is momentous…."Every scripture is given by inspiration of God, and profitable," etc. It thus covers all that might be added by inspiration of God, as well as what had been so given already. It expels from the field not only the bold cavilers at the divine Word, but with no less peremptoriness the unworthy, though professedly orthodox, apologists, who surrender the Holy Scriptures, either in detail all over the Bible; or, sometimes, in whole books, through a compromise with the adversary.

For what is Scripture useful, or "profitable" ? We must not regard the passage as an exception to the general principle which governs all the Bible. It lays down only what is in harmony with the context. Nor is any other place to be put beyond this in wisdom as well as power and interest. We are thus compelled to eschew partial search if we would seek really to understand the mind of God revealed in His written word; we must read and study the Scriptures as a whole. With Christ before us we shall not peruse in vain. Beginning at Moses and all the prophets our risen Lord expounded in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself; and this said of the Old Testament is yet more evidently true of the New. We err, therefore, when He, the constant Object of the inspiring Spirit, is not our Object; but the manner is as different as the books which compose the Bible; for each book has its own peculiar design, and all contribute to form a perfect whole. " Profitable," accordingly, is limited by accordance with the character of this Epistle. Other uses are shown elsewhere.

First in order is the profit of every scripture "for teaching," or doctrine. Of this there cannot be a richer or finer instance than the Epistle to the Hebrews, wherein the grand truths of the gospel are elicited in a way equally simple and profound from the words and figures of the Old Testament. Can any means be found so well suited to help the believer to its clearer understanding and application in other parts? One truth rightly apprehended prepares the way for another. For no new truth supersedes that which you have already, but rather confirms and helps to more.

Next stands its use for "conviction." The Epistle to the Galatians may be taken as a salient example. See how admirably the apostle employs "the blessing" and "the curse" in chap. 3 to illustrate the promise and the law, which these saints were confounding, as millions have done yet more since. Take again the "Seed"; not many, but one, in the same chapter; and the principle of a mediator in the law confronted with one God, promising and sure to accomplish. Take the still yet more evident application of the two sons of Abraham in chap. 4, from the law, with prophecy brought in to illustrate, and the final sentence from Gen. 21 to convince the Judaizers of their ruinous mistake.

Thirdly comes "for correction."Here we may refer to the frequent and telling use of the Old Testament in the Epistles as a signal illustration. Almost every chapter of the first Epistle furnishes samples, of which chap. 10 is brimful.

Fourthly; who can mistake the Epistle to the romans as the brightest and most palpable specimen of Scripture used "for instruction in righteousness," and this, as in the others, not only the Old Testament so applied with divine skill, but its own supplies to the same end? Thus is the aim distinctly and perfectly met, "that the man of God may be perfect (complete), thoroughly fitted unto every good work." So it was in Timothy’s case, so for every other who follows a like path. It is the Holy Spirit’s injunction, expressly in view of grievous times in the last days.