Note 19 at 2 Tim. 3:16: The scriptures don't just contain God's Words, the scriptures are God's Words (see note 17 at v. 15, p. 1339).

Note 20 at 2 Tim. 3:16: The phrase "by inspiration of God" was translated from the Greek word "THEOPNEUSTOS" which is a compound Greek word. The word "THEOS" means, "deity, especially the supreme deity"(i.e. God), and the word "PNEO" means "to breathe hard" (Strong). Therefore, the word "THEOPNEUSTOS" literally means, "God breathed." This is the way the New International Version renders it.

Josephus, who was a non-Christian historian of the first century, said, "The rabbinical teaching was that the Spirit of God rested on and in the prophets and spoke through them in that their words did not come from themselves; but from the mouth of God and they spoke and wrote in the Holy Spirit. The early church was in entire agreement with this view" (Reinecker's).

Despite the human instruments God used, the scriptures are just as if God had spoken them directly.

Note 21 at 2 Tim. 3:16: According to the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible, the Greek word "DIDASKALIA" from which the English word "doctrine" was translated means, "instruction (the function or the information). The word doctrine implies systematic or organized information or beliefs. God's Word has to be the foundation of all our belief systems and therefore the basis of all our refuting of error.

Note 22 at 2 Tim. 3:16: "Reproof" was translated from the Greek word "ELEGCHOS" which means, "conviction." The root meaning of this word means, "to confute, admonish" (Strong). The New International Version translates this as "rebuking." God's Word is profitable for rebuking sin and error.

Note 23 at 2 Tim. 3:16: "Correction" was translated from the Greek word "EPANORTHOSIS" and means "restoration to an upright or right state; improvement of life or character" (Thayer). Correction might involve reproof but is a step farther. It not only exposes the wrong which is rebuke, but it brings the individual receiving the correction to a better state which a rebuke will not always do.

Note 24 at 2 Tim. 3:16: As mentioned in note 2 at Romans 10:3, p. 813, there are two types of righteousness. The Word of God is profitable for instructing us in both these types of righteousness. It will teach us about our right position in Christ which is a product of our faith in Him. And it will teach us how to relate to our fellow man with right actions.