The Wednesday after Populus Sion Sunday, the Second Sunday in Advent
Posted on December 10, 2025 by under
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:10-17 (NKJV)
3:10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Devotion
In the Epistle lesson for last Sunday, St. Paul wrote: “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). This is a description of the first use of Holy Scripture: to impart patience, comfort, and hope. Through the Gospel men are assured that they have a gracious God who forgives their sins and delivers from the devil and all evil.
In today’s lesson, St. Paul adds four other uses of Holy Scripture: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” These uses are equally important! The Holy Scriptures are useful for “doctrine”, that is, for teaching us the truth. The Scriptures are useful for “reproof”, that is, for keeping us away from error. The Scriptures are also useful for “correction”, that is, for directing us away from evil works. Finally, the Scriptures are useful for “instruction in righteousness”, that is, directing us toward doing good works.
The Scriptures are useful in all aspects of our faith. They are also useful in all stages of life. St. Paul urged Timothy, that same Word which he learned as a child is the Word which completes him as an adult and makes him prepared as a minister of Christ. May God so use His Word with us, that in all times of life we may be wise unto salvation and continue in those things which we have been taught.
Collect: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Thine Only-begotten Son, so that by His coming we may be enabled to serve Thee with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
