2 Timothy 3:16–17

3:16b Scripture is “profitable” for readers in regard to four very specific tasks:

(1) “Teaching.” Scripture tells readers positively what they must believe; it gives sound doctrine.

(2) “Reproof.” Scripture tells readers negatively what they should not believe; it disabuses readers of unsound doctrine.

(3) “Correction” means “setting right, . . . most likely with a reference to conduct.”¹ Scripture tells readers negatively what not to do.

(4) “Training in righteousness” indicates “teaching” or “education” in right living. Scripture tells readers positively what they must do.

These four items form a chiasm, with the two negative terms on the inside and the two corresponding positive terms on the outside. John Stott argues that these four terms address creed and conduct. Teaching and reproof relate to right doctrine, while correction and training in righteousness relate to right living:

Paul now goes on to show that the profit of Scripture relates to both creed and conduct (16b, 17). The false teachers divorced them; we must marry them. . . . As for our creed, Scripture is profitable ‘for teaching the truth and refuting error’ [NEB]. As for our conduct, it is profitable ‘for reformation of manners and discipline in right living.’ In each pair the negative and positive counterparts are combined. Do we hope, either in our own lives or in our teaching ministry, to overcome error and grow in truth, to overcome evil and grow in holiness? Then it is to Scripture that we must primarily turn, for Scripture is ‘profitable’ for these things.²

3:17 Scripture is “God-breathed” and “profitable” so that it might produce something in the “man of God” who reads it. Some think that “man of God” refers to the pastor in particular. Such an interpretation would mean that Scripture equips the pastor for the work of ministry only, but another interpretation takes “man of God” more inclusively. On this view the phrase refers to “any person of God,” though it may focus on Timothy in this particular case.³

If this second sense is accurate, then Scripture enables any “person of God” to be “complete”—“capable, proficient” or “able to meet all demands” (BDAG, s.v. ἄρτιος, italics original). The Bible enables all believers to be capable of meeting whatever demands God places on them by making them “equipped for every good work.” Scripture states that God saves people so that they might perform “good works” (cf. Matt. 5:16; Eph. 2:10). This text makes clear that Scripture equips and enables readers for every single one of those good works. There is nothing that God calls anyone to do that he does not equip them to do through Scripture.