Here's my latest attempt to paraphrase Scripture. Today's verses are two of the most important in the Bible. They're not that hard to commit to memory (in either English or Greek). Why not give it a try?
Anyway, back to my paraphrase:
"All Scripture -- Old and New Testament alike -- owes its origin and contents down to the smallest detail to the divine breath, the Spirit of God. As a result, what is written is not only inspired and without error but supremely practical. The Scripture imparts knowledge about God, refutes errors in doctrine and conduct, restores us to obedience when we stray from the truth, and disciplines us so that we may prosper in the sphere of righteousness. Thus instructed and guided by the Bible, we may be complete and proficient, fully and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
At stake here is no minor doctrine of Christianity. Christianity is founded on truth -- truth that is verbally stated. The Bible is the written word of God in human words. It's not enough to say that the words "point" to the word. What the Bible says, God says. The Bible is not the compilation of errant human words that lead us to Christ. The Holy Spirit guided the entire process of research, recall, and writing so that each writer of Scripture conveyed truith. The Holy Spirit directed not only in the personalities of the writers but the specific linguistic choices they made in terms of tense, voice, mood, etc. Each had a distinct vocabulary and writing style. Providentially prepared by God, each maintained their unique personality. Their words, however, originated not in themselves but in the mind of God. Hence, what God breathed out had no mere human origination.
Thanks be to God!!