How does 1 Timothy 6:3 relate to 2 Timothy 3:16 on Scripture's authority? The Call for Sound Doctrine (1 Timothy 6:3) “If anyone teaches another doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching,” • Paul ties “sound words” directly to the words of Jesus, marking them as the non-negotiable standard. • Any teaching that drifts from those words is, by definition, false. • The verse assumes that those “sound words” are already known, preserved, and accessible to believers. The Divine Source of All Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16) “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” • “God-breathed” grounds every biblical text in divine origin, not human opinion. • Because Scripture comes from God, it carries total authority in teaching, correcting, and training. • Its usefulness flows from its inspiration—what God inspires, God equips to accomplish His purposes. Connecting the Two Passages 1. Same Authority Base • 1 Timothy 6:3 demands agreement with the “sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ.” • 2 Timothy 3:16 reveals that all Scripture, including those very words, is “God-breathed.” • Thus, agreement with Christ’s words equals submission to divinely inspired Scripture. 2. Same Test for Doctrine • 1 Timothy 6:3: reject teachers who deviate from Christ’s words. • 2 Timothy 3:16: measure every teaching by Scripture’s God-breathed standard. • Both passages place Scripture as the plumb line; the first stresses rejection, the second equips for correction. 3. Same Goal—Godliness • 1 Timothy 6:3 links sound words to “godly teaching.” • 2 Timothy 3:16 shows Scripture’s purpose: to train believers “in righteousness.” • God-breathed words produce god-breathed living. Supporting Verses That Echo the Link • John 17:17: “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” • 2 Peter 1:20-21: prophecy came as men “spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” • Jude 3: “contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.” • Acts 17:11: Bereans examined “the Scriptures daily to see if these teachings were so.” Implications for Us Today • Sound doctrine isn’t flexible; it is anchored in the inspired, written Word. • Any teaching—no matter how popular—is weighed against the full canon God breathed out. • Agreement with Scripture equals agreement with Christ; disagreement reveals falsehood. • Staying under Scripture’s authority safeguards the church and nourishes personal godliness. |
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