"All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."~ 2 Tim 3:16-17
This is probably the most misinterpreted verse in the Bible. Most people will site this passage to support their "Bible Alone" doctrine. "Bible Alone" or "Scripture Only", or widely known as "Sola Scriptura" is an idea that only sounds good, because unfortunately, something that sounds good doesn't make it true. Sola scriptura, as Catholic apologists would put it, is self-refuting. It is so because of the fact that the Bible itself doesn't teach it - rather it cancels itself.
Nowhere in sacred scripture can we find anything that will support sola scriptura. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 sounds promising... not until you try reading it in proper context. One very important thing to consider here is that when New Testament writers say "scripture", "written", and/or "it is written", they are referring to ONLY one thing - The Old Testament, or more accurately, the Septuagint (The Greek Old Testament)... and nothing else.
Look at these:
"as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;" ~ Romans 3:10
None is righteous, not one? That can't be... if that's true then why does James keeps on talking about righteous people almost in the whole entirety of his book? - In proper context, St Paul, as he wrote to the Romans, was quoting Psalm 14 that goes: "The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none that does good... ...They have all gone astray, they are all alike corrupt; there is none that does good, no, not one." - And where can we find Psalms? - Yes, in the Old Testament.
"Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit." ~ I Corinthians 15:45
- Where can we find the story of Adam & Eve? Right - in the Old Testament.
Going back to 2 Timothy 3 , only this time starting at verse 14 continuing to verse 17.
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." ~ 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Your keywords in understanding this are "from childhood" & "sacred writings" - Not all New Testament books were written yet at the time of this writing. Only just a few of them were written and NONE of them are in circulation. The fact is, there were no New Testament books AT ALL from Timothy's childhood. In these verses, St Paul is telling Timothy, that even though there are already new teachings (Jesus Christ) the Old Testament is not to be set aside, or to be discarded or shunned, because it "is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." - COMPLETE. This, too, is what St Paul is telling us, no more, no less. We need the Old Testament as much as we need the New Testament - the study of the doctrine of typology makes these two - inseparable.
I do believe, with all my heart, that the Bible is the "Word of God". I kiss its pages every time I open it, I kiss it again before closing it. As a Catholic, we believe in an open-canon, while those who chooses to be enemies of the Church believes in a closed-canon, or sola scriptura. Well, closing the canon is like shutting God up. Believing in sola scriptura is like reducing God's almightiness into just words, letters and numbers. It is like caging God in a man-made object. God is more than the Bible, He is more than anything in this world and off it. He is alive, and can still do whatever He pleases. He is almighty, and nothing can contain Him, not even the Bible.
Now that we understand that when New Testament writers say "Scripture" they mean the Old Testament(Septuagint), and nothing else. So when we say "Scripture Only" it is like saying "Old Testament Only".
