2 Timothy 3:16-17 English Standard Version (ESV) 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God[a] may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Footnotes:
That is, a messenger of God (the phrase echoes a common Old Testament expression)
Not all footnotes are as instructive as this one but we should read them all anyway. They often clarify the difficulties with translations of ancient writings where meaning are often understood from cultural use and experience. Cultures change and meanings might get muddled without some explanation.
This footnote goes one step further and ties this New Testament epistle to Old Testament culture. At the time of Paul’s letter the Old Testament was all the Jewish converts had in a way of bible writings. Those epistles were copied and circulated among the early Christian churches with the same accuracy as the habits of the Jewish scribes. Decades passed before the gospels were to be circulated in the same fashion.
If people were not able to read Greek or Aramaic they were without writing material. The gospel was during those first days enacted in two forms, verbal and actionable. If actions did not match the words, Christianity would have died in its infancy.
It was important that during those early days that men and women who carried the gospel message forward would be seen as messengers of God. The actions of those witnesses had to be godly or the message would have died.
We don’t often speak to the issues of godly behavior enough. Our messages are centered on the commonality of our sin nature and that none of are free from sin. We are however freed from the power of sin and in that we should remind ourselves that our actions must not belie the message.
We are messengers of God.