Sabbath School
Growing in a Relationship with God
The Role of The Bible
Lesson 4 - Monday
The Authority and Purpose of God’s Word
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:15–17 (summary/paraphrase)
From childhood, Timothy had been taught the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make a person wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and is useful—profitable for teaching truth, exposing error, correcting what is wrong, and training people to live in righteousness—so that the believer may be fully equipped for every good work.
When Paul writes to Timothy, he does not treat Scripture as optional guidance or helpful tradition. He presents it as something living with authority because of its source: God Himself. The Bible is not merely a record of religious thoughts about God; it is God’s own breathed-out Word. That means its authority is not borrowed from human wisdom, but rooted in divine origin.
These verses show us at least four key functions of Scripture.
First, Scripture leads us to salvation. It makes us “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” The Bible is not just for information; it is for transformation. Its central aim is not to make people smarter, but to bring them to Christ.
Second, Scripture teaches truth. It forms the foundation for what we believe. In a world full of shifting opinions, the Word of God provides stable, reliable doctrine.
Third, Scripture corrects us. It does not only inform; it confronts. It exposes where we are wrong—our thinking, our attitudes, our choices—and calls us back into alignment with God’s will. This is where many people resist Scripture, because correction humbles us.
Fourth, Scripture trains us for righteousness. It doesn’t just stop at correction; it rebuilds. God’s Word shapes habits, character, and direction so that a person is equipped for every good work God calls them to do.
The danger comes when we approach the Bible with an arrogant or closed heart. It is possible to read Scripture while assuming we already know what it says, or believing we have outgrown its relevance. That posture slowly distances a person from God. When self-confidence replaces humility, Scripture becomes something we analyze instead of something that analyzes us.
But the right posture is different. The Bible is meant to be approached with humility, dependence, and expectancy. It is not a mirror to confirm our opinions—it is a light that reveals reality.
The question is not whether Scripture is still powerful. It is. The real question is whether we are still teachable.
Prayer
Lord God, thank You for giving us Your Word. Forgive us for the times we have treated it lightly or approached it with pride instead of humility. Open our hearts so that we would be teachable and willing to be corrected. Let Your Word lead us to Jesus, shape our beliefs, confront our sin, and train us in righteousness. Make us people who do not just read the Bible, but are changed by it. Equip us through Your truth for every good work You have prepared for us. Keep us close to You through Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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