2Tim 3:16

“But since Enoch in the same Scripture has preached likewise concerning the Lord, nothing at all must be rejected by us which pertains to us; and we read that "every Scripture suitable for edification is divinely inspired. By the Jews it may now seem to have been rejected for that (very) reason, just like all the other (portions) nearly which tell of Christ.”

“For if the days of a man should be as many as all the days of the world from Adam to the end of the ages and he should sit and meditate upon the holy Scriptures, he would not comprehend all the force of the depth of the words. And man cannot rise up to the wisdom of God.”

“The Scripture is "given by inspiration of God," as the apostle says. The Scripture is of the Holy Spirit, and its intention is the profit of men. For "every Scripture," he says, "is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. "The profit is varied and multiform, as the apostle says—"for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." Such a gift as this, however, is not within any man's reach to lay hold of. Rather, the divine intention lies hidden under the body of the Scripture, as it were under a veil, some legislative enactment or some historical narrative being cast over the truths that are contemplated by the mind.”

“"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." All what Scripture? all that sacred writing, he means, of which I was speaking. This is said of what he was discoursing of; about which he said, "From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures." All such, then, "is given by inspiration of God"; therefore, he means, do not doubt; and it is "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." "For doctrine." For thence we shall know, whether we ought to learn or to be ignorant of anything. And thence we may disprove what is false, thence we may be corrected and brought to a right mind, may be comforted and consoled, and if anything is deficient, we may have it added to us. "That the man of God may be perfect." For this is the exhortation of the Scripture given, that the man of God may be rendered perfect by it; without this therefore he cannot be perfect. Thou hast the Scriptures, he says, in place of me. If thou wouldest learn anything, thou mayest learn it from them. And if he thus wrote to Timothy, who was filled with the Spirit, how much more to us! "Thoroughly furnished unto all good works"; not merely taking part in them, he means, but "thoroughly furnished."”

“The usefulness of Scripture lies in its detailing of what one ought to do, either to convict sinners or to clarify what correction is necessary for penitents or to teach what can bring persons to righteousness.”

“The Scriptures are holy, they are truthful, they are blameless.… So we have no grounds at all for blaming Scripture if we happen to deviate in any way, because we haven't understood it. When we do understand it, we are right. But when we are wrong because we haven't understood it, we leave it in the right. When we have gone wrong, we don't make out Scripture to be wrong, but it continues to stand up straight and right, so that we may return to it for correction.”

“To search the sacred Scripture is very good and most profitable for the soul. For, "like a tree which is planted near the running waters," so does the soul watered by sacred Scripture also grow hearty and bear fruit in due season. This is the orthodox faith. It is adorned with its evergreen leaves, with actions pleasing to God.”

“Having pointed out many ways of comforting Timothy, the apostle now offers the greatest one as well – in the reading of Holy Scripture. For he intends to communicate to him something sorrowful, namely, that he is finishing his earthly course. So, lest he lose heart as one being deprived of communion with Paul, he says: in place of me you have the Scriptures, which can be profitable to you. Some raise the question: how did the apostle say, "all Scripture is God-breathed"? Are even the Greek writings God-breathed? And being perplexed by its resolution, they translate not "God-breathed," but rather "that which is God-breathed," so that the meaning would be: every writing which is God-breathed is also profitable. But they ought to have taken into account that, having said above, "you know the sacred writings," the apostle now says, "all Scripture." Which? That of which he spoke above and of which he said that it is sacred. Therefore, it is indeed "Scripture God-breathed and profitable" for all that he enumerates further. It is useful, he says, in that it teaches us what we ought to know. And there is nothing that cannot be resolved by means of Sacred Scripture. If it is necessary to expose a lie, this too can be drawn from here. If it is necessary, he says, to be corrected and to receive instruction, that is, to be brought to one's senses toward righteousness, that is, to act righteously, then the Sacred Scripture provides this to you as well.”

“Then he discloses the reason, saying, all Scripture, inspired of God, is profitable. And he does three things. He commends Scripture by reason of its principle, by reason of its useful effect, and by reason of its final fruit and success. For if you consider its principle, it has a special place above all writings, because others are given through human reason, while Sacred Scripture is divine. Therefore he says Scripture is inspired of God. For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time; but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet 1:21); the inspiration of the Almighty gives understanding (Job 32:8). But you will say: how is it that not all writings are divinely inspired, since Ambrose says that every truth, no matter who utters it, proceeds from the Holy Spirit? I answer that God works in two ways: either immediately, as his own work, when he works miracles; or mediately, by using secondary causes, as in the works of nature: your hands have made me (Job 10:8), although they were formed by the activity of nature. And so in man he instructs the intellect both immediately by the Sacred Writings, and mediately by other writings. The effect of these Scriptures is twofold, namely, they produce knowledge of the truth, and they persuade unto justice: but the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things that are to be known and done (John 14:26). Therefore, they are useful for knowing the truth and for directing us in our actions. For there is a speculative reason and a practical reason; and in each, two things are necessary: namely, recognition of the truth and rejection of error. For this is the mark of a wise man, namely, he does not lie and he refutes one who does lie. In regard to the first he says, is profitable to teach, namely, the truth: teach me goodness and discipline and knowledge (Ps 118:66). In regard to the second he adds, to reprove: that you may be able to exhort in sound doctrine and to convince the gainsayer (Titus 1:9). Furthermore, in regard to the practical reason two things are necessary, namely, that it withdraw from evil and persuade one toward the good: decline from evil and do good (Ps 33:15). In regard to the first he says, to correct, which is to snatch one from evil: if your brother shall offend against you, go, and rebuke him between you and him alone (Matt 18:15); blessed is the man who is corrected by the Lord (Job 5:17). In regard to the second he says, to instruct in justice. And all these things the Sacred Scripture does: with a strong arm he has taught me (Isa 8:11). Consequently, there are four effects of Sacred Scripture, namely, to teach the truth, to reject falsity, as far as the speculative intellect is concerned; to snatch evil and induce to good, as far as the practical intellect is concerned.”

“The hermits used to say, 'God demands this of Christians: to obey the inspired Scriptures, which contain the pattern of what they must say and do, and agree with the teaching of the orthodox bishops and teachers.'”

“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for criticism, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. All Scripture is God-breathed [θεόπνευστος] and profitable. Having spoken many ways of comfort, Paul now speaks of the greatest, that which comes from the reading of the Scriptures. For he is about to say something sad, namely about his own death. But if Timothy must read, how much more must we? for teaching. Since good things teach both lessons and actions. for criticism. Concerning the refutation of falsehoods. for correction. To correct the brothers. for training in righteousness. For the training and leading into righteousness. For from these things, Paul says, something perfect [ἄρτιον] comes to be. A perfect person is one who is always equal, neither leaning downwards with a saddened spirit nor rising and swelling in prosperity, but always remains the same in unequal circumstances. equipped for every good work. Not merely participating but being equipped and complete.”