2 Timothy 3:17

The man of God; especially the religious teacher.

Perfect, thoroughly furnished; prepared and furnished on all sides.

Unto all good works; pertaining to him as a teacher. These include his life as well as his labors. As the Lord said to dead matter, "Let there be light," and there was light, Genesis 1:3; Psalms 33:6, Hebrews 1:2; so he speaks in Scripture to dark, dead souls, and they become light in the Lord. He who breathed into man the breath of life, and made him a living soul, breathed into Scripture a life-giving power. Hence it is called quick or life-giving and powerful, Hebrews 4:12, converting the soul. "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63. Hence too the reason why the man of sin, whose domain is like the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel's vision, Ezekiel 37:1-10, is opposed to giving Scripture free course among his people. If he should, it would cause a shaking among those bones, clothe them with sinews and flesh, and the Spirit whose breath it is would breathe into them spiritual life, and they would stand up for God an exceeding great army. Thus would God consume popery with the spirit of his mouth, and destroy it with the brightness of his coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8.