II Timothy 3:16

A common misinterpretation of this verse treats "all scripture" as referring exclusively to the modern 66-book Protestant Bible, whereas in its original context, Paul was likely speaking of the Old Testament scriptures familiar to Timothy, with the New Testament canon developing later; thus, it does not inherently endorse a closed canon or sola scriptura as the sole authority over tradition or reason. Another error views "given by inspiration of God" (or "God-breathed") as divine dictation word-for-word, ignoring the human authors' styles, cultures, and languages through which God providentially worked. Finally, the verse is often wielded to demand absolute inerrancy in every scientific or historical detail by today's standards, overlooking its primary emphasis on scripture's practical profitability for spiritual teaching, correction, and righteous living rather than exhaustive factual precision.

This verse affirms the divine origin of all Scripture, declaring it "given by inspiration of God," meaning it is God-breathed and carries His authoritative voice, making it uniquely reliable for spiritual guidance. In the context of Paul's encouragement to young Timothy amid rising false teachings, it highlights Scripture's practical value as a comprehensive tool: for doctrine to teach truth, reproof to expose error, correction to restore what is wrong, and instruction in righteousness to equip believers for godly living, ensuring they are thoroughly prepared for every good work.