Good morning! In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul reminds Timothy of the nature and purpose of the Scriptures:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

God breathes out these writings (Scripture) through His human pens via their personalities. The term is plenary verbal inspiration–literally every word is inspired! With this conviction, how unavoidable it is for a Christian to seek to grow but to do so apart from drinking in the Scriptures.

The Word, Paul reminds us, is profitable. Paul wrote in his first epistle to Timothy, “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:7-8). Yes, godliness is of value in every way–the same word that is translated profitable in 2 Timothy 3:16. Godliness is profitable and the way to understand godliness is by the value of the Word of God. 

The fourfold profitability of Scripture is as follows:

• Teaching: For the Word of be of value, Christians must know the contents of the Scriptures themselves.
  
• Reproof: To grow to maturity, Christians must see from His Word when their speech, actions, and thinking are apart from God’s design.
  
• Correction: The Scriptures show us how to come back via repentance and into realignment.
  
• Training in righteousness: The Scriptures show us how to move forward well with the knowledge and wisdom of all that was learned in the correction-reproof process.

God gives us His word to equip us for every good work! Are you in the Word to not only profit but to be equipped for God’s work? Read. Study. Apply!