All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.— 2 Timothy 3:16
Nature reveals God. As a worn inscription on an ancient tombstone hints at a craftsman’s work, so nature reveals a creator. But it doesn’t tell us his name or how we can become his friends. Because of sin, we now struggle to value nature’s “manifold witness to [God’s] great faithfulness, mercy, and love.”
But God has another witness. Here’s how John Calvin put it:
Just as ... those with weak vision, if you thrust before them a most beautiful volume, even if they recognize it to be some sort of writing, yet can scarcely construe two words, but with the use of spectacles will begin to read distinctly; so Scripture, gathering up the otherwise confused knowledge of God in our minds, having dispelled our dullness, clearly shows us the true God.
In God’s general revelation (creation), his breath formed the universe. In his special revelation (Scripture), God’s breath wrote a story.
The Bible is God’s way of making “himself known to us more openly ... as much as we need in this life, for his glory and for the salvation of his own.” Scripture bears the marks of its human authors. But it’s God’s book, through and through: “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21). As God’s word, the Bible speaks with authority on all matters “that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3).
Being “living and active” (Heb. 4:12), Scripture works in a variety of ways. As a teacher, it tells us what “to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires” of us. Because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23), it also reproves, or shows our fault (Rom. 3:20). But God doesn’t leave us in the misery of our failures. Scripture corrects us; it shows us the way to get back on the path of righteousness after we’ve lost our way. If we humble ourselves, God will exalt us (James 4:10). Finally, Scripture trains us in righteousness. As food nourishes our bodies, Scripture feeds our souls with the wisdom and fortitude necessary to live as we should. Under Scripture’s training, we can become “complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:17). God gives this promise: The one who hears his word and does what it says “will be blessed in his doing” (James 1:25).
Most importantly, the Scriptures reveal God’s plan to save sinners; they “are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 3:15). The Bible is mainly about Jesus (Luke 24:27, 44–47), “the Word” who “became flesh” (John 1:14). The Scriptures show us the way of eternal life. And that way is Jesus (John 5:39; 14:6).
Footnotes
Thomas O. Chisholm, in “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”
Calvin, Institutes, 1.6.1.
Belgic Confession, art. 2.
Westminster Shorter Catechism Q/A 3; Micah 6:8.