Sermon

2 Timothy 3:14-17

October 17, 2026 Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

Open publisher episode ↗

Publisher transcript

Transcript

View source ↗

I want you to think of a time when a friend, family member, fellow church member, or even maybe your own child came to you with a complex problem in his life.
! Hold that memory.
He came to you for help and you want to help him.
His problem is messy.
It's confusing.
It's hard to understand.
It's complicated in every respect.
You listen.
You think.
You even pray while he is explaining the problem to you.
Then the most important moment happens.
He stops and it is your turn to speak.
You have to say with words something.
What will you say?
It is the most important moment for him.
Will you immediately choose his side of the situation in order to please him?
Or will you lean on a recent podcast you heard recently on kind of his question?
Or will you lean on your prior education and what a long ago professor said in a lecture you heard long ago?
The question is this.
What will be the foundation from which you will build upon in helping your friend, family member, fellow church member, or child?
This is where what you believe about the sufficiency of scripture comes into real life.
Maybe you can resonate with this feeling.
Life seemed more simple when you were young and in college.
But now three kids deep into the married life things don't seem so simple.
Maybe life has become more complex than what you ever thought and you find it more difficult to apply scripture to yourself and your family.
The sufficiency of scripture has real life consequences for both faith and practice.
One author describes getting this doctrine wrong as both devastating and unending.
The stakes are high for getting this doctrine right.
For the time we have this morning, let us dive into the doctrine of the sufficiency of scripture.
For the sake of our friend, seeking our counsel, for ourselves as we navigate through these complex times, and for the glory of God who gave us his word.
So it will not surprise you that our text today will be 2 Timothy chapter 3.

2 Timothy 3 chapter mention
So please turn with me in God's word to 2 Timothy chapter 3.

2 Timothy 3 chapter mention
And the verses we will be zoning in on here is 14 to 17.
But first, let us pray for our time together.
So pray with me.
Father, as we read your word together this morning, being reminded that your word,
that you have spoken is enough for us no matter our circumstances.
Help us through the work of your son and the power of the Holy Spirit to rightly divide and interpret your word
so that we might rightly live out your word for your glory and your glory alone.
Amen.
2 Timothy 3, 14 to 17.
This is Paul writing his last letter to Timothy.
The word of God reads,
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed,
knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings,
which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
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.
There are several doctrines of scripture we could teach from this text.
We could talk about the necessity of scripture, its inspiration, its authority, etc.
But today we will zoom in on the sufficiency of scripture.
This doctrine asks a simple question.
Is scripture enough?
Is scripture enough?
My goal today is to show you from this text that the answer is yes,
even though there are no literal scripture is sufficient verse in scripture.
In the complexities of this life, there is hope in looking to Jesus from God's word and the Holy Spirit for counsel in any area of our life.
At the risk of contradicting my claim, I will begin with some, I believe, helpful definitions outside of scripture for us.
Then we will deep dive into 2 Timothy 3.
I will give you one short definition and one long definition.
So, first, the shorter one.
When I was in college, probably the most influential theologian for me was John Frame.
Maybe because he leaned into the spicy side of theological debates.
But most probably because he took really complex topics in systematic theology and explained them in really short and memorable bites.
For a simple person like me, that was a lifesaver.
One definition has been with me for years, though.
John Frame defines theology like this.
Theology is the application of scripture to every area of life.
Theology is the application of scripture to every area of life.
In the same book, The Doctrine of the Word of God, John Frame goes further to say that
scripture contains all the divine words needed for any aspect of human life.
This is his short and memorable definition of the doctrine of the sufficiency of scripture.
For a longer one, I'll quote Wayne Grudem in his systematic theology.
Scripture's sufficiency means that scripture contains all the words of God he intended his people to have.
That's at each stage of redemptive history.
And that it now contains everything we need.
God to tell us for salvation.
For trusting him perfectly.
And for obeying him perfectly.
I'll read that one more time.
Scripture's sufficiency means that scripture contained all the words of God he intended his people to have.
At each stage of redemptive history.
And it now contains everything we need God to tell us for salvation.
For trusting him perfectly.
And for obeying him perfectly.
One author I read commented on Grudem goes on says one of the strongest points about this definition.
Is that it allows us to say though we must believe in the progress of revelation.
Being God didn't say everything he wanted to at once.
But did so incrementally.
At any point during scripture's composition.
It would have been correct to say that the books already written.
Had the characteristic of sufficiency.
The characteristic of sufficiency.
In short, Old Testament saints.
Like David or Moses.
Etc.
Could rightly say in their own day.
That scripture is enough.
But let us be like the Bereans from Acts 17.
And let us examine the scriptures ourselves.
To see if these things are so.
Like I said.
The stakes are high.
For getting this doctrine correct.
So our text.
Second Timothy 3.
14 to 17.
Gives us a simple two point outline.
Just a simple two point outline.
The first two verses is the first point.
The last two is the last point.
Evenly divided.
It is.
Scripture is enough.
For faith.
Scripture is enough.
For faith.
And that's verses 14 to 15.
And the last two verses.
16 to 17.
Is the second point here.
I'm dividing it up.
Scripture is enough.
For practice.
Scripture is enough.
For practice.
For faith.
And practice.
I want you to notice that it is not.
The opposite order.
Here.
It is not.
Practice.
Then faith.
But.
Paul puts it.
It is faith.
Then.
Practice.
As we'll see.
The first.
Is the foundation.
Of the second.
The first.
Is the foundation.
Of the second.
So.
First.
Scripture.
Is enough.
For faith.
Verses.
14 to 15.
Look with me.
Verse 14 reads.
But as for you.
Continue.
Continue.
Or remain.
In what you have learned.
And have firmly believed.
I'll say.
Faith.
Knowing from whom.
You learned it.
Notice.
The progression.
From having learned.
To having firmly believed.
From having learned.
To having firmly believed.
Not only that.
That.
But Timothy.
Heard the word.
From his family.
Here.
Is a clear.
Call.
To parents.
Although.
We cannot impart.
A saving knowledge.
Of God.
To our children.
Which is the role.
Of the Holy Spirit.
We are called.
To be faithful.
To teach them.
Scripture.
So they might.
Learn.
The truth.
Let us.
Not only.
Speak.
The truth.
And love.
To our children.
Daily.
But also.
Help us.
We also.
To pray.
For them.
Daily.
To have the gift.
Of a firm.
Faith.
Look with me.
Next verse.
15.
It reads.
And how from childhood.
You have been.
Acquainted.
With.
Or known.
The.
Sacred.
Writings.
Which are able.
To make you.
Wise.
For salvation.
Through.
Faith.
In Christ.
Jesus.
There are two things.
We can say.
About this verse.
As it pertains.
To.
Scripture's.
Sufficiency.
First.
We can say.
That Timothy.
Learned.
And known.
The scriptures.
Even from an early age.
Like we just.
Pointed out.
The ESV.
Puts it.
As.
Have been.
Acquainted.
With.
The sacred writings.
I'll be short.
With this.
Application.
You cannot.
Do.
What.
You do not.
Know.
Know.
You cannot.
Do.
What.
You do not.
Know.
Another.
Way.
We can.
Put it.
Is.
You cannot.
Practice.
What.
You have not.
Heard.
Or.
Read.
Cannot.
Practice.
What.
You have not.
Heard.
Or.
Read.
Knowledge.
Of.
God.
Is.
Not.
Enough.
For.
True.
Faith.
As.
James.
Points.
Out.
With.
The demons.
Having.
A belief.
In.
God.
But.
Not.
A trust.
Christ.
As.
Paul.
In.
Romans.
10.
Writes.
So.
Faith.
Comes.
From.
Hearing.
And.
Hearing.
Through.
The word.
Of.
Christ.
Second.
On this.
On.
Verse.
15.
Neither.
Paul.
Nor.
Timothy.
Had.
The complete.
Canon.
Of.
Scripture.
That is.
To say.
Not.
All.
Sixty.
Six.
Books.
Were.
Available.
To.
Either.
Paul.
Or.
Timothy.
Primarily.
Paul.
Means.
The old.
Testament.
When.
He.
Uses.
The word.
Writings.
Sacred.
Writings.
In.
This.
Verse.
This.
Is.
Significant.
And.
I point.
This.
Out.
Because.
Of.
What.
He.
Writes.
Next.
Able.
To.
Make.
You.
Wise.
For.
Salvation.
Through.
Faith.
In.
Christ.
Jesus.
Here.
Is.
Something.
Important.
I.
Don't.
Want.
You.
To.
Miss.
Paul.
Is.
Saying.
That.
By.
Reading.
The old.
Covenant.
The old.
Testament.
The old.
Covenant.
You.
Can.
See.
The new.
Covenant.
That.
Is.
Salvation.
Through.
Faith.
In.
Christ.
Jesus.
We.
Can.
Say.
Further.
That.
This.
Gospel.
State.
Statement.
This.
Gospel.
Summary.
Salvation.
Through.
Christ.
Salvation.
Through.
Faith.
In.
Christ.
Jesus.
Can.
Be.
Found.
In.
Both.
The old.
Testament.
And.
The new.
Testament.
Testament.
Next.
Enough.
For.
Practice.
Enough.
Scripture.
Is.
Enough.
For.
Practice.
Read.
Verse.
Sixteen.
With.
Me.
All.
Scripture.
Is.
Breathed.
Out.
By.
God.
And.
Profitable.
For.
Teaching.
For.
Reproof.
For.
Correction.
And.
For.
Training.
In.
Righteousness.
There is a lot we could say.
About this verse.
But I'll only highlight points that are related to our topic of sufficiency.
All.
Scripture.
All.
Scripture.
Is.
A.
Continuation.
Of.
Our.
Last.
Point.
That.
Both.
Old.
Testament.
And.
New.
Testament.
Point.
To.
Salvation.
In.
Christ.
Both.
Covenants.
Point.
To.
The.
New.
Covenants.
Culminating.
In.
Christ.
Paul.
Goes.
On.
To.
Give.
Two.
Descriptions.
Of.
Scripture.
That.
Of.
God.
Breathed.
And.
Profitable.
Profitable.
There is a detail here with the word that the ESV renders as breathed out by God that
I don't want you to miss.
Paul smashes two words together to make one new word.
Nowhere else does this word exist besides outside this one text.
He makes a brand new word.
These two words are both God.
He smashes it up against spirit or breath.
He makes a new.
So God breathed or breathed out by God as the ESV expands out for us.
But for us today I want you to dwell on the fact that in this one.
I'm sorry.
Usually incorrectly this is used to point to the inspiration of scripture.
But for us today I want you to dwell on the fact that in this one word Paul is reminding
us that the spirit is required for a right understanding of the word.
The spirit is required.
The second description is that of profitable or useful, advantageous, beneficial, gain.
This is followed by four uses of scripture that is meant to be comprehensive in nature.
These include for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training or upbringing in righteousness.
Read the last verse with me.
Verse 17.
That the man of God may be complete.
Equipped for every good work.
To remind us of the old covenant promises leading into the new.
This man of God may be complete.
Or as my older ESV renders it, competent.
This word is similar to the equipped word in the last half of this verse.
They share a root.
So it goes.
This is where I'm going with this.
So it goes from complete to equipped.
I think Paul is wanting you to make that connection.
For what is he equipped for?
For every good work.
Since the words for all and every, all and every, are the same in the Greek language.
I want to point out the connection Paul is making when beginning with, beginning with all scripture.
And then ending on every good work.
Connecting scripture with good work.
He completes the circle of his point that scripture is enough for both faith as well as practice.
I want you to think back to our original question.
What will be the foundation from which you will build upon in helping your friend, family member, fellow church member, or child?
By looking closely at the doctrine of the sufficiency of scripture,
I hope you will be encouraged to challenge yourself to apply all of scripture to all of life.
That in the tense moments this week, you will take the initiative to step back and ask how scripture speaks into your current circumstance.
With time, practice, and the Holy Spirit, by seeking to obey God's word in every area of your life,
you will become even more competent to speak godly counsel to those in need.
From friends, family, church members, coworkers, whoever God places in your life.
And as Proverbs 3, 5 to 8 says,
Do not lean into your own understanding,
but into the wisdom of God alone found in his word.
Those complexities of life will still be complex,
but the word remains the same.
It will be true,
wise,
life-giving,
and a sufficient...
So in closing,
I want to leave you with two warnings
and two exhortations.
Two warnings
and two exhortations
on the topic of the sufficiency of scripture.
The first warning is this.
Beware of what I will call
good book fatigue.
Good book fatigue.
Every fall season,
Christian book publishers
all come out with their annual catalogs
of books that are new and forthcoming.
If you are a huge nerd,
you look forward to this every year.
I do.
But as time has gone by,
I not only get less excited,
but I tend to ask the question more and more
about most of the titles I see.
Does someone really need this?
But don't get me wrong.
I have read some great books
that were very niche
that has had a big impact on me.
But for us,
who are in the broadly reformed corner
of evangelicalism,
there is a warning here.
Let us guard against
merely holding scripture up
in high regard
by saying it has both,
is both authoritative
and sufficient
while not reflect,
reflecting this
in our reading practices.
I want you
to compare
how much time
you are in scripture reading
and praying
to the times
you are consuming
even good
resources
on scripture.
Think books,
audiobooks,
podcasts,
etc.
Again,
reading good books
is good and beneficial,
but let us not
neglect time
reading,
meditating,
studying,
and memorizing
the very words
of God
that he has given
to us
in our own language.
do not feel
as if you have
to read
all the good books.
In light
of knowing
that scripture
is enough,
let us dig
deep into his word
so that we will
practice his word
out into the world
for the glory
of the creator
and sustainer
of the universe.
So,
second warning.
Beware of requiring
what scripture
has not
required.
Beware of requiring
what scripture
has not
required.
Jesus warns
of this
in Mark 7.
I'll read.
This is Mark 7,
5 to 8.
And the Pharisees
and the scribes
asked him,
Why do your disciples
not walk according
to the tradition
of the elders
but eat with
defiled hands?
And he,
Jesus,
said to them,
Well did Isaiah
prophesy of you hypocrites.
As it is written,
This people
honors me
with their lips,
but their heart
is far from me.
In vain
do they
worship me,
teaching as doctrines
the commandments
of men.
You leave
the commandment
of God
and hold
to the tradition
of men.
If scripture
is enough
for both
faith
and practice
as we've seen,
we need to be careful
to reflect this
in the things
we require
of one another.
Which leads
to a question.
Does what
you believe
about God
think
theological bent?
Does your
theology
reinforce
scripture
is sufficient?
Or will it
call into question
scripture's
sufficiency
to others
around you?
Beware,
brothers and
sisters,
of becoming
convinced
of a belief
that you first
saw in a book
or heard
in a podcast
and only
then saw
in scripture.
Beware.
Pray that
you would
see clearly
the difference
between the
tradition of
men
and the
commandment
of God.
Now,
to the
exhortations.
First,
I'll call this
exhortation,
new problems,
ancient answers.
New problems,
ancient answers.
Jeremiah 6,
16 says
this,
thus says
the Lord,
stand by the
roads and
look and
ask for the
ancient paths
where the
good way
is and
walk in it
and find
rest for
your souls.
But they
said,
we will not
walk in it.
that was
Jeremiah 6,
16.
In an
increasingly
complex world
where we
do not know
what might
come next,
rest assured
that the
path has
been made
and it
is not
new,
but ancient.
Built
into this
doctrine that
scripture is
enough is
the truth
that no
matter how
complex
the next
biomedical
technology
might
be around
the corner.
Scripture
is enough
for us
to think
through
and make
decisions
on
whatever
the world
might throw
at us.
Let us
not refuse
to walk
on that
ancient
path.
Next,
my last
exhortation
is actually
coming from
Psalm 1
and I
did not
tell Nathan
this,
but he
put Psalm
1 in
your
bulletin,
which is
great.
Providence,
right?
The
providence
of the
Lord.
So,
you can
turn with
me there.
This is
where we'll
end.
Psalm 1
gives us
a way
to read
scripture
well.
psalm 1.
It is
not only
a rubric
to
read
the entire
psalms
well,
because it
gives us
a paradigm
for the
rest of
that book,
but it
gives us
a way
to read
and to
think about
scripture
well.
So,
I'm going
to read
it.
Psalm 1.
The Way
of the
Righteous
and the
Wicked.
Blessed is
the man
who walks
not in
the counsel
of the
wicked,
nor stands
in the
way of
sinners,
nor sits
in the
seat of
scoffers,
but his
delight is
in the
law of
the Lord,
and on
his law
he meditates
day and
night.
He is
like a
tree,
planted
by streams
of water,
yet yields
its fruit
in its
season,
and its
leaf does
not wither.
In all
that he
does,
he prospers.
The wicked
are not
so,
but they
are like
chaff that
the wind
drives away.
Therefore,
the wicked
will not
stand in
the judgment,
nor sinners
in the
congregation
of the
righteous.
For the
Lord knows
the way
of the
righteous,
but the
way of
the wicked
will
perish.
But his
delight
is in
the law
of the
Lord,
and on
his law
he meditates
day and
night.
As one
author puts
it,
you cannot
delight
in what
you do
not
meditate
on.
You
cannot
delight
in what
you do
not
meditate
on.
As the
Baptist
pastor
John
brought
us,
who is
one of
the
founders
of the
Southern
Baptist
Theological
Seminary,
has said,
let us
be those
who are
known to
be,
quote,
mighty
in the
scriptures,
mighty
in the
scriptures.
Let us
be mighty
in the
scriptures,
mighty
in our
faith,
and
mighty
in
our
practice.
Pray
with
me.