We know the Bible is true because this is the testimony God gives us concerning His Word. We need to keep coming back to Jesus' statement, "Your word is truth" (John 17:17). And because the Word is truth without any mixture of error, it can do what no other book can do. God's Word produces lasting results when it is faithfully and fully taught. Let's look at some of these results.
Preach the Word for Results
The apostle began with the word reprove, the same Greek word translated in a slightly different form in 2 Timothy 3:16 as "reproof." This means basically to tell someone what is wrong, not just to chastise but with a view to changing the wrong behavior. The Bible has an incredible ability to point up areas of sin and shortcoming in our lives. A preacher doesn't have to know what is happening with all the people in the congregation. All he has to do is preach the Word, and the Holy Spirit makes the application.
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Timothy was also told to rebuke when necessary. This is a different word that means to bring a person under the conviction of guilt. See, a lot of folk know what's wrong in their lives. They just don't care that they're doing wrong and have never been brought under conviction to get it right. Jesus said that one of the Holy Spirit's jobs is to "convict" the world of sin and righteousness (see John 16:7-11). I don't have to try to work up people's emotions and play on their guilt to make them behave. The Word preached in the power of the Spirit is more than adequate to rebuke and convict.
Paul used a term in 2 Timothy 3:16 that is translated "correction," the only place this word occurs in the New Testament. It means to restore something to its original condition. The goal of the church's proclamation is to lead people into relationship and fellowship with God that restores man's original purpose and reverses sin's condemnation and corrupting influence in people's hearts.
The next word in the list of 2 Timothy 4:2 is exhort. Although reproof and rebuke are negative, this is the term for encouragement, the arm around the shoulder in support, urging the person along the right path. Biblical encouragement is more than just saying, "Hang in there" to someone. It has content because it is based in the Word. The best way I can encourage people as a pastor it to preach and teach God's Word faithfully and consistently.
The content of our rebuke, reproof, and encouragement is found in the words instruction (2 Timothy 4:2) and teaching (3:16). These are two forms of the same word, with the emphasis on what is taught and not so much on the method of teaching. We've already seen that the Scriptures themselves are the church's textbook for living.