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Read the Bible

International Standard Version

2 Timothy 3:17

so that the man of God may be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:21;">[xr]

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Holiness;   Minister, Christian;   Perfection;   Word of God;   Works;   Thompson Chain Reference - Leaders;   Man;   Men of God;   Ministers;   Perfection;   Perfection-Imperfection;   Religious;   The Topic Concordance - Doctrine;   Instruction;   Reproof;   Scripture;   Teaching;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Conduct, Christian;   Holiness;   Perfection;   Scriptures, the;   Titles and Names of Saints;   Works, Good;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Education;   Good works;   Guidance;   Perseverance;   Preaching;   Temptation;   Trinity;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Elder;   Law;   Timothy, First and Second, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Jesus Christ;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Igdaliah;   Solomon;   Timothy, the Second Epistle to;   Tradition;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Scripture;   2 Timothy;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Perfection;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Brotherly Love;   Conscience ;   Perfect Perfection;   Timothy and Titus Epistles to;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Inspiration;   Scripture;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Excommunication;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Perfect;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Lutherans;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Complete;   Furnish;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for August 31;   Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for November 6;   Every Day Light - Devotion for November 4;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
King James Version (1611)
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished vnto all good workes.
King James Version
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
English Standard Version
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
New American Standard Bible
so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.
New Century Version
Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Legacy Standard Bible
so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Berean Standard Bible
so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.
Contemporary English Version
The Scriptures train God's servants to do all kinds of good deeds.
Complete Jewish Bible
thus anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work.
Darby Translation
that the man of God may be complete, fully fitted to every good work.
Easy-to-Read Version
Using the Scriptures, those who serve God will be prepared and will have everything they need to do every good work.
Geneva Bible (1587)
That the man of God may be absolute, being made perfect vnto all good workes.
George Lamsa Translation
So that God''s people may become perfect, thoroughly perfected for every good work.
Good News Translation
so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.
Lexham English Bible
in order that the person of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Literal Translation
so that the man of God may be perfected, being fully furnished for every good work.
Amplified Bible
so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
American Standard Version
that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.
Bible in Basic English
So that the man of God may be complete, trained and made ready for every good work.
Hebrew Names Version
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Etheridge Translation
that the man of God may be perfect unto every good work, and completed.
Murdock Translation
that the man of God may become perfect, and complete for every good work.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
That the man of God may be perfect, instructed vnto all good workes.
English Revised Version
that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.
World English Bible
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Weymouth's New Testament
so that the man of God may himself be complete and may be perfectly equipped for every good work.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
that the man of God be parfit, lerud to al good werk.
Update Bible Version
That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely to every good work.
Webster's Bible Translation
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.
New English Translation
that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.
New King James Version
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
New Living Translation
God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
New Life Bible
It gives the man who belongs to God everything he needs to work well for Him.
New Revised Standard
so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
In order that, ready, may be the man, of God, unto every good work, being well-prepared.
Douay-Rheims Bible
That the man of God may be perfect, furnished to every good work.
Revised Standard Version
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
yt ye man of god maye be perfect and prepared vnto all good workes.
Young's Literal Translation
that the man of God may be fitted -- for every good work having been completed.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
that a man off God maye be perfecte, and prepared vnto all good workes.
Mace New Testament (1729)
that the minister of God may be perfectly accomplished for every office of religion.
Simplified Cowboy Version
It's God's voice in the darkness that prepares his cowboys for the gathering and doctoring of the herd.

Contextual Overview

10 But you have observed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance,Philippians 2:22; 1 Timothy 4:6;">[xr] 11 and my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.Psalm 34:19; Acts 13:45,50; 2 Corinthians 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:7;">[xr] 12 Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted.Joshua 17:14; Psalm 34:19; Matthew 16:24; Acts 14:22; 1 Corinthians 15:19; 1 Thessalonians 3:3;">[xr] 13 But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse as they deceive others and are themselves deceived.2 Thessalonians 2:11; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 2:16;">[xr] 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and found to be true, because you know from whom you learned it.2 Timothy 1:13; 2:2;">[xr] 15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to give you the wisdom you need for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.John 5:39;">[xr] 16 All Scripture is God-breathedinspired by God">[fn] and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:20-21;">[xr] 17 so that the man of God may be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:21;">[xr]

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

Matthew 22:12
He said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' But the manhe">[fn] was speechless.
Matthew 25:45
Then he will say to them, 'Truly I tell you, in that you did not do it for one of the least important of these, you did not do it for me.'Proverbs 14:31; 17:5; Zechariah 2:8; Acts 9:5;">[xr]
Luke 19:22
The kingHe">[fn] said to him, 'I will judge you by your own words, you evil servant! You knew, did you, that I was a hard man, and that I withdraw what I didn't deposit and harvest what I didn't plant?2 Samuel 1:16; Job 1:15:6; Matthew 12:37; 25:26;">[xr]
John 16:33
I have told you this so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but be courageous - I have overcome the world!"Isaiah 9:6; John 14:1,27; 15:19-21; Romans 5:1; 8:37; Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 1:20; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 John 4:4; 5:4;">[xr]
Romans 3:19
Now we know that whatever the law says applies to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.Job 1:5:16; Psalm 107:42; Ezekiel 16:63; John 10:34; 15:25; Romans 1:20;">[xr]

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.


 
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