2 Timothy 3:17

Contextual Overview

¹⁰You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹⁰ Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, ¹⁰But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, ¹⁰Timothy, you've seen how I ride and how I live. You've seen my purpose and know I've held fast. You've seen my faith, my patience, and my never-give-in attitude. ¹⁰ But you took as your example my teaching, behaviour, purpose, and faith; my long waiting, my love, my quiet undergoing of trouble; ¹⁰ But *thou* hast been thoroughly acquainted with my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, endurance, ¹⁰ But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, ¹⁰ But you did follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, ¹⁰ But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, intention, faith, long-suffering, love, patience,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the man: Psalms 119:98-100, 1 Timothy 6:11

thoroughly furnished: or, perfected, 2 Timothy 2:21, Nehemiah 2:18, Acts 9:36, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Ephesians 2:10, Titus 2:14, Titus 3:1, Hebrews 10:24

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 4:8 - General Deuteronomy 33:1 - the man Joshua 14:6 - the man 2 Chronicles 25:7 - a man of God Nehemiah 12:24 - the man Job 36:4 - perfect Psalms 102:18 - This Jeremiah 35:4 - a man Matthew 13:52 - scribe Mark 14:6 - a good Acts 20:20 - profitable Romans 4:23 - General Romans 12:2 - good Romans 15:4 - whatsoever 2 Corinthians 13:9 - even Philippians 3:15 - as 1 Timothy 5:10 - good 2 Timothy 3:10 - my James 1:4 - perfect and

Cross-References

Genesis 3:2
The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,

Genesis 3:2
The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,

Genesis 3:2
And the woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;

Genesis 3:2
The woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;

Genesis 3:2
And the woman sayde vnto the serpent: We eate of ye fruite of the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:2
The woman answered the snake, "No, we can eat fruit from the trees in the garden.

Genesis 3:2
And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden;

Genesis 3:2
To whom the womman answerde, We eten of the fruyt of trees that ben in paradis;

Genesis 3:2
And the woman said vnto the serpent, Wee may eate of the fruite of the trees of the garden:

Genesis 3:2
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That the man of God may be perfect,.... By the man of God may be meant everyone that in a special relation belongs to God; who is chosen by God the Father, redeemed by the Son, and called by the Spirit; but more especially a minister of the Gospel; for as it was usual to call a prophet under the Old Testament by this name, it seems to be transferred from thence to a minister of the New Testament, see 1 Timothy 6:11 and the design of the Scriptures and the end of writing them are, that both preachers of the word, and hearers of it, might have a perfect knowledge of the will of God; that the former might be a complete minister of the Gospel, and that nothing might be wanting for the information of the latter:

thoroughly furnished unto all good works, or "every good work"; particularly to the work of the ministry, which is a good one; and to every part and branch of it, a thorough furniture for which lies in the holy Scriptures; from whence, as scribes well instructed in the kingdom of heaven, do Gospel ministers bring forth things new and old, both for delight and profit: though this may be also applied to all good works in common, which the Scriptures point unto, give directions about, as well as show where strength is to be had to perform them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That the man of God may be perfect - The object is not merely to convince and to convert him; it is to furnish all the instruction needful for his entire perfection. The idea here is, not that any one is absolutely perfect, but that the Scriptures have laid down the way which leads to perfection, and that, if any one were perfect, he would find in the Scriptures all the instruction which he needed in those circumstances. There is no deficiency in the Bible for man, in any of the situations in which he may be placed in life; and the whole tendency of the book is to make him who will put himself fairly under its instructions, absolutely perfect.

Thoroughly furnished unto all good works - Margin, “perfected.” The Greek means, to bring to an end; to make complete. The idea is, that whatever good work the man of God desires to perform, or however perfect he aims to be, he will find no deficiency in the Scriptures, but will find there the most ample instructions that he needs. He can never advance so far, as to become forsaken of his guide. He can never make such progress, as to have gone in advance of the volume of revealed truth, and to be thrown upon his own resources in a region which was not thought of by the Author of the Bible. No new phase of human affairs can appear in which it will not direct him; no new plan of benevolence can be started, for which he will not find principles there to guide him; and he can make no progress in knowledge or holiness, where he will not feel that his holy counsellor is in advance of him still, and that it is capable of conducting him even yet into higher and purer regions. Let us, then, study and prize the Bible. It is a holy and a safe guide. It has conducted millions along the dark and dangerous way of life, and has never led one astray. The human mind, in its investigations of truth, has never gone beyond its teachings; nor has man ever advanced into a region so bright that its light has become dim, or where it has not thrown its beams of glory on still far distant objects. We are often in circumstances in which we feel that we have reached the outer limit of what man can teach us; but we never get into such circumstance in regard to the Word of God.

How precious is the book divine,

By, inspiration given!

Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine.

To guide our souls to heaven.

It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts.

In this dark vale of tears:

Life, light, and joy, it still imparts,

And quells our rising fears.

This lamp, through all the tedious night.

Of life, shall guide our way;

Till we behold the clearer light.

Of an eternal day.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Timothy 3:17. That the man of God — The preacher of righteousness, the minister of the Gospel, the person who derives his commission from God, and always appears as his herald and servant.

May be perfect — αρτιος. From αρω, to fit or adapt. It properly signifies an integer or whole number in arithmetic, to which nothing needs to be added to make it complete.

Throughly furnished — εξηρτισμενος. From εξ, intensive, and αρτιος, complete; see above. Not only complete in himself as to his integrity, religious knowledge, faith in Jesus, and love to God and man, but that he should have all those qualifications which are necessary to complete the character, and insure the success of a preacher, of the Gospel. Timothy was to teach, reprove, correct, and instruct others; and was to be to them a pattern of good works.

From what the apostle says here concerning the qualifications of a Christian minister, we may well exclaim: Who is capable of these things? Is it such a person as has not intellect sufficient for a common trade or calling? No. A preacher of the Gospel should be a man of the soundest sense, the most cultivated mind, the most extensive experience, one who is deeply taught of God, and who has deeply studied man; one who has prayed much, read much, and studied much; one who takes up his work as from God, does it as before God, and refers all to the glory of God; one who abides under the inspiration of the Almighty, and who has hidden the word of God in his heart, that he might not sin against him. No minister formed by man can ever be such as is required here. The school of Christ, and that alone, can ever form such a preacher.