Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, November 30th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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Read the Bible

Revised Standard Version

2 Timothy 3:17

that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

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

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.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
yt ye man of god maye be perfect and prepared vnto all good workes.
Hebrew Names Version
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly 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.
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.
English Standard Version
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for 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.
English Revised Version
that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto 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.
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.
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.
International Standard Version
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]
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.
King James Version (1611)
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished vnto all good workes.
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.
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.
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.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
That the man of God may be perfect, instructed vnto all good workes.
Good News Translation
so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.
Christian Standard Bible®
so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
King James Version
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
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.
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.
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.
Simplified Cowboy Version
It's God's voice in the darkness that prepares his cowboys for the gathering and doctoring of the herd.
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.

Contextual Overview

10 Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Ico'nium, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

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
And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden;
Genesis 3:3
but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'"
Genesis 3:5
For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Genesis 3:6
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate.
Genesis 3:7
Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.
Genesis 3:9
But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"
Genesis 3:11
He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"
Genesis 3:13
Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I ate."
Genesis 3:14
The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
Genesis 3:16
To the woman he said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."

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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