2 Timothy 3:16
Beginner2 Timothy 3:16 · World English Bible (WEB)
“Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,”
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Overview
The divine origin and practical sufficiency of Scripture.
Paul teaches that Scripture comes from God Himself and is therefore profitable for forming God’s people. The Word does not merely inform; it teaches truth, exposes error, restores what is crooked, and trains believers to live righteously.
What Makes This Verse Confusing?
The phrase can be understood as “all Scripture” or “every Scripture,” but the force is the same: the writings Paul calls Scripture are not partly useful or partly divine. Each portion belongs to the God-given body of sacred writings and carries divine authority.
The Greek phrase lacks an explicit article before “Scripture,” and English translations must decide whether to render it collectively as “all Scripture” or distributively as “every Scripture.”
This guards against treating only certain favored passages as spiritually useful. God’s breath rests upon Scripture as Scripture, including parts that instruct, confront, correct, and train in different ways.
Theological Insights
Scripture is the God-given standard by which truth is taught, error is exposed, brokenness is corrected, and righteousness is cultivated.
Believers should come under the Word humbly, not selecting only what comforts, but receiving also what confronts and trains.
Original Language
God-breathed — θεόπνευστος , -ον (θεός, πνέω), inspired by God : 2Ti.3:16. † (AS)
This word makes the doctrine of Scripture deeply personal and holy: the Bible is not merely a record about God but speech that proceeds from God. Its authority rests not in human brilliance but in divine breath.
discipline — παιδεία (-ία , Τ), -ας, ἡ (παιδεύω), [in LXX chiefly for מוּסָר ;] __1. the rearing of a child (Æsch.). __2. training, learning, instruction (Plat., al.): Eph.6:4 , 2Ti.3:16 . __3. As in LXX ( Pro.3:11 15:5 , al.), chastening, discipline : Heb.12:5 (LXX), Heb.12:7-8, 11 .† (AS)
The word translated “instruction” carries the sense of training or discipline, not simply receiving information. Scripture forms maturity through repeated teaching, correction, and godly shaping.
Lexicon & word tagging: STEP Bible (Tyndale House, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0)
Related Passages
Romans 15:4
BackgroundHebrews 4:12
parallelHebrews describes the Word of God as living, active, and able to pierce and discern the heart.
2 Peter 1:19-21
parallelPeter says prophecy did not come from man’s will, but holy men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Mark 12:24
BackgroundPsalms 19:7-11
parallelPsalm 19 celebrates the law of the LORD as perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, true, and more desirable than gold.
Proverbs 6:23
BackgroundPsalms 119:9
Background2 Timothy 4:2
parallelImmediately after declaring Scripture God-breathed and profitable, Paul commands Timothy to preach the word with reproof, rebuke, exhortation, patience, and teaching.
Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · openbible.info (CC-BY)
How This Applies Today
This verse calls Christians to treat the whole Bible as God’s living and authoritative Word, not as optional encouragement or private opinion.
- →When reading Scripture, ask not only “What does this teach me?” but also “What does this expose, correct, or train in me?”
- →Do not avoid passages that reprove; receive them as part of God’s faithful work to form righteousness.
- Am I allowing Scripture to correct me, or only looking for verses that affirm what I already think?
Analysis generated on July 20, 2026 · version 2.0
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