The ‘epistles’ are letters that teach how to be right with God. It is similar to our natural training; we were taught how to live in this world. In the same manner, we must learn how to live to be right with God in our spiritual life.

Letters That Teach How To Be Right With God

STM Bible Lesson

Lesson focus: 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Bible lesson background, 2 Timothy 3:10-17:
Utley’s Commentary: Verse 10 is a contrast to the lives and priorities of the false teachers. Paul lists the things that Timothy shares with him in ministry.
12 The health, wealth, and prosperity movement characterizes our spoiled, pampered culture.
13 These false teachers were charlatans like the false magicians (cf. 2 Timothy 3:8).
14 This is a contrast to 2 Tim. 3:13 and continues the encouragement from 2 Timothy 3:10-12.
Cambridge Commentary: 15 It was a requirement of the Rabbis that a child should begin to learn the Law by heart when five years old.

The Purpose of God’s Word

2 Timothy 3:16-17 [read 2 Timothy 3:10-17 (16-17)]

God has breathed life into all Scripture [God gave the writers what to say]. It’s useful for:
A. teaching (doctrine, i.e., Spiritual guidance on how to act, talk, and think).
B. challenging (reproof, i.e., showing people what is wrong in their lives).
C. correcting (correction, i.e., for correcting our faults and mistakes).
D. and training people to do what’s right (for instruction in righteousness), (RAD)

KJV: 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, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Letters That Teach

Did you know each of the letters written to the churches contains guidelines to correct their ways? From Romans to Jude, each of them gives guidelines for Christians. I say this to help those who believe that all we have to do is “join and go to church” and be nice to people.

Philippians 3:9 [read Philippians 3:1-11 (9)]

I want to belong to him. In Christ, I am right with God, but my being right does not come from following the law. It comes from God through faith. God uses my faith in Christ to make me right with him. (ERV)

KJV: And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

OK, maybe that’s not what you believe, but so many seem to think God does not demand that we change our ways. Please do not take this the wrong way; I am not saying the letters ONLY give corrective guidance. Of course, they include words to encourage, inspire, praise, and more.

A Few Examples

1 Corinthians 5:9, 11 [read 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (9, 11)]

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. (NIV)

KJV: 9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

Advice for All Christians

Colossians 4:5-6 [read Colossians 4:2-6 (5-6)]

When you are with people who do not believe in Christ, be careful how you live. Use every chance to do good things. 6 When you speak to people, always speak kind words. Say things that will help them. Then, when someone asks you a question, you will know how to reply. (EASY)

KJV: Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Fulfill Your Ministry

2 Timothy 4:2-4 [read 2 Timothy 4:4 (2-4)]

Preach the Good News. Be ready at all times, and tell people what they need to do. Tell them when they are wrong. Encourage them with great patience and careful teaching, 3 because the time will come when people will not listen to the true teaching but will find many more teachers who please them by saying the things they want to hear.
4 They will stop listening to the truth and will begin to follow false stories. (NCV)

KJV: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Instructions For Spreading This Letters Message

Colossians 4:16 [read Colossians 4:16-18 (16)]

After this letter has been read to you, send it on. Be sure that it is also read to the church in Laodicea. And be sure that you read the letter from Laodicea. (NIRV)

KJV: And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

About The Scriptures

As mentioned, Paul gave us four keys that tell us what the word of God is for [2 Timothy 3:16]. Let’s review the four points:

1. Profitable for Doctrine

Profitable {useful} for doctrine {teaching what is true}. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true…” (NLT).

Didaskalia – doctrine

G1319 διδασκαλία didaskalia (diy-d̮a-ska-liy’-a) n.
instruction (the function or the information); for our learning.
[from G1320]
KJV: doctrine, learning, teaching.

KJV Dictionary

The doctrines of the gospel are the principles or truths taught by Christ and his apostles.

2. Reproof – Rebuking and Pointing Out Error

Reproof and training {conviction of sin; showing mistakes and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives}.

Elegchos – reproof

G1650 ἔλεγχος elegchos (e’-leng-chos) n.
proof, conviction.
[from G1651]
KJV: evidence, reproof.

McClintock and Strong Cyclopedia

Reproof (תֹּכִחִת גּעָרָה, ἔλεγχος), blame or reprehension spoken to a person’s face. It is distinguished from a reprimand thus:
he who reproves another, points out his fault, and blames him;
he who reprimands affects to punish, and mortifies the offender.

3. Correction

Correction {discipline in obedience; help you improve and change your ways}.

Epanorthosis – correction

G1882 ἐπανόρθωσις epanorthosis (ep-an-or’-thō-sis) n.
1. a straightening up again.
2. (figuratively) rectification (reformation).
3. restoration to an upright or a right state; correction, improvement.
[from a compound of G1909 and G461]
KJV: correction

Bible-dictionary.info

The aim of correction is to stop wrong behaviour and bring improvement in the future in any area of life, from the training and discipline of children, through life in general and including our spiritual walk.

4. Instruction

For instruction {training} in righteousness {holy living; right living}.

Paideia – instruction

G3809 παιδεία paideia (pai-d̮ei’-a) n.
1. tutorage, i.e. education or training.
2. (by implication) disciplinary correction.
[from G3811]
KJV: chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture

Holman Bible Dictionary

Teaching or exhortation on aspects of Christian life and thought directed to persons who have already made a faith commitment.

Please take time to digest this inspired Bible lesson. Have I made you aware of something that you had not considered?

How To Be Right With God

It does not matter what we think about the need to change or not change; it is clear that letters of correction were distributed among the churches.

Romans 10:4 [read Romans 10:1-13 (4)]

Christ ended the law, so that everyone who believes in him may be right with God. (ICB)

KJV: For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

By Faith Not Works

Romans 4:5 [read Romans 4:5-8 (5)]

But people cannot do any work that will make them right with God. So they must trust in him. Then he accepts their faith, and that makes them right with him. He is the one who makes even evil people right. (ERV)

KJV: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

A Call To Action for the Faithful

2 Peter 3:14-15 [read 2 Peter 3:14-18 (14-15)]

My friends, while you are waiting, you should make certain the Lord finds you pure, spotless, and living at peace. (CEV)

KJV: Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless

15 Don’t forget that the Lord is patient because he wants people to be saved. This is also what our dear friend Paul said when he wrote you with the wisdom God had given him. (CEV)

KJV: 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

The Epistles

The ‘epistles’ are letters that teach us how to be right with God. Not how to get rich or prosper monetarily. It’s about spiritual living that pleases God! Do not be like those whom Paul warned Timothy about in 2 Timothy 4:4—those who “turn their ears away from the truth and shall turn aside to myths.”

Paul’s Letters

2 Peter 3:16 [read 2 Peter 3:14-18 (16)]

This is what he {Paul} says in all his letters when he writes on the subject. There are some difficult things in his letters which ignorant and unstable people explain falsely, as they do with other passages of the Scriptures. So they bring on their own destruction. (GNT)

KJV: As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible lesson. Please take full advantage of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺

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Changed Life: Experience Your Best Using God’s Free Gift – an estimated 18-minute read.

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Joyful; Endure Your Life Tests; Be Full Of Joy – an estimated 18-minute read.