​Now the 4 things it is profitable for:​2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

    One of my favorite scriptures is found in 2 timothy and speaks volumes to me every time I read it. When the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to Timothy there was no new testament, just a gathering of letters and accounts from Paul and some of the 12 men who walked with Christ. The Old Testament was the very scriptures that was being referred to, not to count out what we know now as the new Testament. Scripture is a light to our path and something that we need to hide in our hearts. We need to commit it to memory and apply it to our life. The Words in the Bible are not only a comfort to the people who hear, but a promise from God. It brings faith into our life. The Church of God believes the whole Bible to be completely and equally inspired and that it is the written Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16 is that and more. It is a 4 part process that can be applied to our life as a how to guide. ​​Now 3 things about it and the 4 things it is profitable for:

​A- Paul said ALL scripture, not just the old or the new, but all.
B- It was GIVEN by INSPIRATION. "God breathed" it as the Greek put it.
C- It is PROFITABLE. It brings gain into our life.

​2- REPROOF. From a Greek word meaning a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested. When we put our actions against the Word we are testing to see if what we are doing is wrong or right. If you are doing something that there is a conviction over, take some time to look it up in the scripture. When Jesus instructed people he used the Words that were found in scripture. 

3- CORRECTION. The scripture will show you how to correct what is wrong in your life. Over and over we see stories of the saints and how they succeeded or failed in life. If we have sin he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin. He sent Jesus to die for our sin so we could be saved. He gave us prayer so we can find forgiveness. He showed us what love is so we don’t have to show hate. ​

4- INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. How to keep it right. The Bible is filled with “If you” and “then I will” promises in both the old and new testaments. I will hide God’s Word in my heart, that I might not sin against him. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, and “HE WILL” guide you. If we apply the scripture to our life we would find that many of the things we are instructed to do in life are there for our own good. ​

 Hebrews 11:3 - Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Colossians 1:16 - For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Genesis 1:1-31 - In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Revelation 4:11 - Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Genesis 2:7 - And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

John 1:1-3 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

Exodus 20:11 - For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Genesis 1:24-25 - And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

Hebrews 1:10 - And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Romans 1:20 - For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Genesis 1:26 - And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

2 Peter 3:5 - For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

Hebrews 1:3 - Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Genesis 1:20 - And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl [that] may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

Isaiah 42:5 - Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

Psalms 90:2 - Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou [art] God.