Journal: Reformed Presbyterian Theological Journal
Volume: RPTJ 05:1 (Fall 2018)
Article: Faithful Preaching: Making Known the Whole Counsel of God
Author: J. Ligon Duncan III

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RPTJ 5:1 (Fall 2018) p. 18

Faithful Preaching:
Making Known the Whole Counsel of God

J. Ligon Duncan III

Chancellor and Professor of Systematic
and Historical Theology Reformed Theological Seminary

“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 make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out 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 (ESV)

The final charge of Apostle Paul to Timothy is to preach the word (2 Tim. 4:1–2). We have to ask ourselves, why is Paul so concerned to charge Timothy to preach the word? Why would that be so important to him? The pericope we are considering in this article gives us the answer to that question. Why is it so important for Timothy to preach the word as opposed to preaching something else? It is because of what Paul says that the word is and does in verses 14 to 17 of chapter 3. This is the framework of what we are going to consider in this article, as we look especially at verses 16 and 17 as supplying the answer to the question on why is Paul giving this charge to preach the word. According to Paul, the word is God-breathed and profitable. Therefore, when the people of God hear the word of God preached, it is God that they hear. We come to church to engage and encounter the living God by hearing him speak to us. How do we hear God? Only if the preacher preaches the word; if he preaches something else, we do not get God. To have God in our worship, we have to hear His word. For the only way to worship a spirit is to obey the spirit’s word. For without the spirit’s self-disclosure, there is no means to know who he is or how to worship him.

Calling attention to this crucial role of the word of God, J.I. Packer defines preaching by describing what a sermon is. He says, “A sermon is an applicatory declaration, spoken in God’s name and for his praise, in which some part of the written word of God delivers through the preacher some part of its message about God and godliness in relation to those whom the preacher addresses.”‑1 A sermon is an applicatory declaration, so it is not a le...

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