24/01/2026
THE METHODIST CHURCH GHANA
EXPOSITION FOR TEACHING SERVICE
25 JANAURY 2026
TOPIC: THE AUTHORITY AND INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE
Bible Readings: 2 Timothy 3:10-17; 2 Peter 1:12-21
INTRODUCTION
The Bible is not an ordinary book; it is divinely inspired and authoritative. Reading the Bible without acknowledging its divine authority and the Holy Spirit’s inspiration reduces it to mere literature. This study asserts the Bible’s authority and inspiration as foundational to Christian faith and practice.
EXPOSITION
2 Timothy 3:10-17
From 2 Timothy 2:14 to the first part of chapter 3, Paul addresses the menace of false teaching whereby some people were going round spreading lies and the danger it poses. He also addresses the terrible lifestyles and behaviour that this false teaching will encourage in the last days. Paul encourages Timothy to avoid these perilous times by focusing on teaching and example he has received from him. This leads Paul to underscore the inspiration and authority of scripture, which is able to teach, rebuke, and correct us to live righteously and to equip us for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
There are three implications of what Paul means by the above:
1. God is the source of Scripture – Since “all Scripture is God-breathed …,” and that “breath” is synonymous with “spirit,” it means that the message of Scripture was inspired by the Spirit of God. Thus, although written by human beings, yet the message in the Bible comes from God.
2. Since the Bible message is from God, it carries God’s authority and requires our obedience.
3. Finally, this “Scripture,” which comes from God and has authority over the life of God’s people, “equips believers for good works.”
In other words, biblical inspiration and authority mean that because the text of the Bible comes from God through the power of the Holy Spirit, it is able to direct and shape our lives through its teaching, reproof, and corrections, such that it trains us for righteousness. It thus equips us for every good work.
2 Peter 1:12-21 Peter focuses on the unique dimension of this idea of inspiration and authority. In 2 Peter 1, the Apostle Peter laments over how the followers of Jesus were living lives that were not pure. They were lawless and did not follow what God had said. So, Peter was worried that they knew the Word of God, yet they did not follow it. It would have been better if they had not known the Word of God, which leads one to the way of righteousness (2 Pet. 2:21).
To Peter, knowledge of the Word of God should enable the believer to follow it and to live a good life. That is the authority of the Word. Earlier, Peter made these observations:
1. Peter and others were eyewitnesses of when God glorified Jesus Christ and when the voice from heaven came saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (2 Pet. 1:7 ref. Matt. 17:1-9; Lk. 9:28-36). This means that, what they were saying was actually of God.
2. The message Peter presents is “prophetic … [and] completely reliable.” The “prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit’ (2 Pet. 1:19-21). Here, Peter confirms that Scripture comes from God.
The hymn accompanying the Connexional theme for 2026 is “Come, Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire” (MHB 305). This is a “Hymn of Inspiration.” From stanzas 1 and 2, we come to the conclusion that the Holy Spirit, who is the breath of God and the life in Scripture, is the source of the fire that moved the prophets and indeed all the writers of Scripture. It is only the Holy Spirit who can unlock the power of Scripture to equip the Christian for every good work.
TEACHING LESSONS
The expositions of 2 Timothy 3:10-17 and 2 Peter 1:12-21 show that the Bible is from God, whose Spirit inspired the writers. In view of this, let us discuss the following lessons:
1. God is the Source of Scripture When Christians talk about the authority of the Bible (Scripture), it reminds us that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, with power and the right to guide our faith and life. This authority does not depend on human interpretation or tradition. Instead, it is inherent in the message of the Bible because it emanates from God, who is the divine author. Consequently, the Bible becomes the final rule for Christian doctrine, practice, and moral decision-making. This makes the Bible the foundation for the beliefs and actions of every Christian.
2. God Exercises His Authority Through Scripture Believers hold that God continues to communicate with humanity and creation through a lot of means. However, God’s Word recorded in the Bible is the most common means by which God communicates His will and instructions. God has authority over his creation, and that authority is communicated through the Word which He inspired to be written. It has been said that the Bible is God’s manual for life on earth. This means that through the text of the Bible, God instructs, guides, and directs our lives towards His will. Paul stresses this when he writes that the word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” ultimately equipping the believer thoroughly “for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Peter reiterates the same point when he writes that “…the prophetic message’ is ‘completely reliable’, and so, he instructs the believers to ‘…do well to pay attention to it…” (2 Pet. 1:19). The implication for all these is that whenever we need to know the will of God, the Bible is that which we have to fall on.
3. Scripture has Authority to:
1. Make believers ‘wise for salvation…’ (2 Tim. 3:15)
2. Teach, rebuke, and correct the believer (2 Tim. 3:16)
3. Train the believer in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16)
4. Equip the believer for every good work (2 Tim. 3:17).
5. Demand obedience from the believer (2 Pet. 1:12-21).
IMPLICATIONS FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING
In his address on the theme on the theme for 2026, the Presiding Bishop enumerated on three things that we need to do so as to benefit from God’s word: PROCLAIM God’s Word, PRAY God’s Word and PRACTICE God’s Word. We will add PONDER God’s Word to the list and begin with it. What do these mean?
1. Proclaim God’s Word As disciples of Christ called to disciple others, we need to preach and teach God’s Word. We do not need to be trained preachers, teachers or evangelists before we can share God’s Word with others. We must make the most of every opportunity, especially when God brings into our way people who may not know Christ, to share God’s Word in very simple terms with them.
2. Pray God’s Word It is beneficial to use the words of the Bible in prayer (Is. 55:10- 11; Jer. 1:12). Through prayer, we communicate with God. Standing on God’s Word to pray means that we pray according to God’s will and in God’s authority. Jesus said: ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you’ (John 15:7). Praying God’s word means that we connect to God through his authority.
3. Practice God’s Word
Practicing God’s Word means that we live according to what God has directed us to do through the pages of Scripture. Jesus enjoins his followers to not only hear his word but also put them into practice’ (Matt. 7:24). James invites us not to ‘merely listen to the word’ but to also ‘do what it says’ (Jas. 1:22). Paul encourages the Christians to put into practice God’s Word they have learnt, received, or heard from him (Phil. 4:9). If we believe that Scripture comes from God and has God’s authority over our lives, the most important response is to obey it and live it.
4. Ponder God’s Word To live by the authority of God’s Word, every Christian need to habitually read and meditate on Scripture (Ps. 1:1-3). We need to make time to search, study, and understand what God wants us to do with Scriptures. We must go beyond what is preached or taught in church and other Christian gatherings, to studying the Bible by ourselves and for ourselves. This will help us have a thorough grip on Scriptures as we prepare to teach, preach, and live it.
CONCLUSION
The Bible is God's word and it therefore speaks with God’s full authority. Through its pages, God exercises His authority in our lives. We can only be equipped for every good work if we consciously obey God’s Word. We are therefore called upon to study, proclaim, pray, and practice Scripture.
QUESTIONS FOR STUDY AND REFLECTION
1. What does it mean to say Scripture is inspired by God?
2. How do 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:20-21 explain the inspiration of Scripture?
3. What does the authority of God’s Word mean to you?
4. What would you do in your Christian journey to affirm the authority and inspiration of Scripture?
