Scripture, a Gift from God

“All Scripture is given…of God.” 2 Timothy 3:16

Hearing, reading, and meditating on the scriptures is a means whereby god no only gives, but also confirms and increases, true wisdom. St. Paul wrote to Timothy: From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation though faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). The same truth (namely that this is the great means God has ordained for conveying His manifold grace to man) is delivered in the fullest manner in the words that immediately follow: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of god.” Consequently, all Scripture is infallibly true “and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” to the end “that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”.

This is spoken primarily and directly of the Old Testament Scriptures Which Timothy had known from a child; the New Testament was not yet written. So St. Paul was very far from making light of the Old Testament! Of these, St. Peter wrote also, “you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19)

Let all, then, who desire that day to dawn upon their hearts wait for it in searching the Scriptures.