All Scripture Is Profitable

Why do you study the scriptures? What do you hope to get out of your study?

Paul encouraged Timothy to “continue” in the things that he had learned, reminding him that “from a child,” he had been taught from the scriptures. (See 2 Timothy 3:14-15.) Sounds like he was on the right track. But then Paul added some things that were more forward-looking:

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, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

It sounds to me like continuing in the things he had learned meant more than simply doing what he had already been taught. Timothy needed to continue to study, in order to better understand the doctrine of Christ, in order to recognize what he needed to do differently, and in order to be fully equipped to do the good works he had been called to do.

I’m particularly interested today in Paul’s statement that scripture is profitable for “reproof” and for “correction.” There’s a certain mindset we must adopt as we study, an openness to let the scriptures speak to us and help us understand how we can improve. I’m struck by how many times in the Book of Mormon, prophets chastise people for not understanding the scriptures or even “wresting” them—interpreting them in a way that supports their own current beliefs instead of adapting their thoughts and actions to more closely match the meaning of the scriptures. (See Jacob 7:10-11, Alma 13:20, Alma 41:1, 3 Nephi 1:24, Mormon 9:8.) The scriptures are profitable to us to the degree that we let them teach and influence us.

When Jesus visited the American continent, He quoted a number of scriptures, instructing his listeners to “search these things diligently” (3 Nephi 23:1). Then, He “expounded all the scriptures in one” (3 Nephi 23:14). He wanted them not only to find individual nuggets of truth in their scripture study, but to see the big picture, to connect the dots, to understand how the words of all the prophets work together to teach us how to grow closer to God. That adds new perspective to Paul’s statement that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God.” We look for themes and patterns shared in different ways by multiple prophets in order to more fully comprehend what God wants us to know.

So when Paul tells us that the scriptures are “profitable,” and when Nephi tells that the scriptures can be “for our profit and learning” (1 Nephi 19:23, 2 Nephi 4:15), I think they want us to get more out of our study than simply reinforcing what we already know or feeling good about our current course of action. I think they want us to approach scripture study with an inquiring mind, with an expectation to learn something new, and in particular to better understand what God wants us to do.

Today, I will study with the intent to grow. I will search the scriptures to better understand doctrine, to be corrected and reproved, and to be empowered to do good works.