CHAPTER FOUR
TEST OF INSPIRATION
Christian missionaries are very fond of repeating the following
verse from the writings of St. Paul. St. Paul happens to be the
most prolific of all authors of the Christian Bible. He has
authored more than 50% of the Books and Epistles of the New
Testament. To be exact 14 out of the 27! In his self-professed
inspiration he says:
A ll Scripture is given b inspiration
o f Cod, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness,
That the man o f God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good
work.
(HOLY BIBLE) 2 Timothy 3:16-17
This is Paul's second personal letter to his protege Timothy. Do
you remember Paul advising Timothy in his first epistle --
“ Drink NO longer W ATER, but use a little WINE for thy
stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.” (1 Timothy
5:23)? Now Paul is giving Timothy a more sanguine, spirited
advice, adaptable for a wider audience.
But who is this Timothy? He is a recruit to help Paul in his self-
appointed mission. He is the son of a Greek father and a Jewish
mother which makes him a Jew according to Jewish law. But he
was an uncircumcised Jew. To make him “ kosher” , Paul had to
have Timothy circumcised (Acts 16:3).
In the verses under consideration, Paul advises Timothy on the
subject of “ Scripture.” The Scripture Paul is referring to is not
the ones which later on became known as the "Gospel AC
CORDING TO St. Matthew" or the "Gospel ACCORDING TO St.
Mark” or the “Gospel ACCORDING TO St. Luke” or the “Gospel