Earlier in 2 Timothy, Paul wrote, "Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me.... Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you" (1:13-14), which is the Word of God. We have learned from 9/11 that we need to be on guard at all times, even when it's not convenient.
When the church is faithful to proclaim the Word of God, lives will be changed, because the Bible deals with the central issues of life through its principles and examples. We're not left in the dark as to how to preach the Word, thanks to our key verse in 2 Timothy 4:2 and another passage just above it in verse 16 of chapter 3.
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There are a lot of important terms in these two texts that describe the effect the Word of God will have when it is applied to people's lives. Obviously, this doesn't have to be done exclusively by preaching, but the church's public proclamation of the Scriptures was Paul's concern in 2 Timothy 4, and that's our focus. In that context the apostle instructed Pastor Timothy, "Preach the word . . . reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction" (v. 2). Before we look at these terms, let's add 3:16: "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for train- ing in righteousness."
There is some overlap in these two lists, but when we put them all together what emerges is an amazing picture of the power the Word has to shape and correct people's lives. The Word, and only the Word, has this power, because it is "inspired by God." From cover to cover the Bible is true or inerrant, which means without any error at all. Since the Author of Scripture is perfect, it is impossible for the product not to be perfect. The God of truth can only produce truth.
Proclaim the Word as Truth
So the fundamental answer to the question of how the Bible is to be preached and taught is that we are to present it as truth — absolute truth — without apologizing or stuttering. Remember that the church is "the pillar and support of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). I was reminded of how little our culture cares for truth when I was contacted about being on the television program "Politically Incorrect," which has since been mercifully canceled. This was a panel discussion program with the goal of doing nothing but batting ideas around to see what everyone thought, and the more outrageous and twisted the opinions the better. Occasionally there were guests on the show who would try to defend some area of truth or decency, but they were usually ridiculed or shouted down. I turned down my invitation to appear, because the program wasn't interested in trying to get at the truth.