# 2 Timothy 3.17 **Book:** [2 Timothy](/codex/2-timothy/) · NASB95 ## Immediate context (±2 verses) **ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/)) > 15. and that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16. Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: > > **17. that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.** (2 Timothy 3:15-17, ASV) **WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/)) > 15. From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. 16. Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, > > **17. that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.** (2 Timothy 3:15-17, WEB) **KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/)) > 15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: > > **17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. throughly: or, perfected** (2 Timothy 3:15-17, KJV) **YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/)) > 15. and because from a babe the Holy Writings thou hast known, which are able to make thee wise, to salvation, through faith that [is] in Christ Jesus; 16. every Writing [is] God-breathed, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for setting aright, for instruction that [is] in righteousness, > > **17. that the man of God may be fitted, for every good work having been completed.** (2 Timothy 3:15-17, YLT) ## Setting - **Speaker:** [Paul](/codex/paul-the-apostle/), who names himself in the opening line (1:1) and writes as a prisoner (1:8; 2:9). Authorship of the three Pastoral Epistles (1 and 2 Timothy, Titus) is disputed. Many critical scholars hold that a later follower wrote them in Paul's name, pointing to differences of vocabulary and style from the undisputed letters and to a more settled church order. Others defend Paul's authorship, among them Luke Timothy Johnson (Anchor Bible, 2001), William Mounce (Word Biblical Commentary, 2000) and Philip Towner (NICNT, 2006), citing the letter's many personal details. - **Audience:** Timothy, "my beloved child" (1:2), whose "unfeigned faith" dwelt first in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice (1:5). He is probably still at Ephesus: Paul reminds him of Onesiphorus's service there, which Timothy "knowest very well" (1:18), and greets Prisca and Aquila (4:19). Paul urges him to come to Rome quickly (4:9, 21). - **Location:** Rome, where Paul is in chains; Onesiphorus "sought me diligently, and found me" there (1:16-17). - **Time period:** on Pauline authorship, Paul's final imprisonment, usually dated c. AD 64-67, shortly before his death; he writes, "the time of my departure is come" (4:6). Scholars who regard the letter as pseudonymous usually place it late in the first century or early in the second. The reading below does not depend on the choice. - **Literary context:** the purpose clause that closes the statement on scripture (3:16-17): "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable" for teaching, reproof, correction and instruction, "that the man of God may be complete". The solemn charge to "preach the word" follows at once (4:1-2). ## Theological reading "that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work." (2 Timothy 3:17, ASV) **The man of God.** "Man of God" is an Old Testament title for God's spokesmen: "Moses the man of God" (Deuteronomy 33:1), and later Elijah and Elisha. Paul gives the same title to Timothy in the first letter: "But thou, O man of God, flee these things" (1 Timothy 6:11). Here it most naturally means the minister of the word, though what scripture does for him it does for every believer who reads it. **Complete, completely equipped.** The verse plays on one root. "Complete" is *artios*, fit or capable, and "furnished completely" is *exērtismenos*, from the same root with a prefix, fully fitted out. The word was used in ordinary Greek of equipping something, such as a ship, for its task. Scripture is the equipment: nothing is lacking for the work God gives. **Unto every good work.** The purpose of inspiration is practical. Scripture is "profitable" (3:16) so that its reader is ready "unto every good work". The phrase answers the false teachers, who are "unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16). Doctrine, for Paul, is never an end in itself; it produces a life. See [2 Timothy 3.16](/codex/2-timothy-3-16/), [2 Timothy 3.16-17](/codex/2-timothy-3-16-17/) and [Sola Scriptura](/codex/sola-scriptura/). ## Key words _Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word._ - None of the words in this verse has its own lexicon entry yet. ## Quoted in **Arguments and defeaters:** - [Christians Not Under Mosaic Law](/codex/christians-not-under-mosaic-law/), via [2 Timothy 3.16-17](/codex/2-timothy-3-16-17/) - [Five Pillars Outside Quran Objection Defeater](/codex/five-pillars-outside-quran-objection-defeater/), via [2 Timothy 3.16-17](/codex/2-timothy-3-16-17/) - [Manuscript Variants Bible Corruption Objection Defeater](/codex/manuscript-variants-bible-corruption-objection-defeater/), via [2 Timothy 3.16-17](/codex/2-timothy-3-16-17/) **Concepts:** - [Christian Discernment](/codex/christian-discernment/), via [2 Timothy 3.16-17](/codex/2-timothy-3-16-17/) - [Sola Scriptura](/codex/sola-scriptura/), via [2 Timothy 3.16-17](/codex/2-timothy-3-16-17/) ## Notes _Your annotations._ ## Why these four translations ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance. The four: - **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition. - **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English. - **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base. - **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff. See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.