The Kingdom:  Jesus Providing and Caring for His Church - Through the Scriptures:

"All Scripture₍₁₎ is inspired by God₍₂₎ and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NAS)

⁽¹⁾ The word "scripture" is from the Greek word "graphe" meaning "a document, i.e., holy Writ -- holy writings."

⁽²⁾ The phrase "inspired by God" is translated from the Greek word "theopneustos" meaning "divinely breathed in" or "God-breathed."

Is the Old Testament considered "scripture?"

Throughout the New Testament, Old Testament passages are referred to as scripture (see Mark 12:10, John 2:22, Acts 1:16, etc.).

Are the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament considered "scripture?"

Since Jesus is God in the flesh, His words contained in the Bible are also "holy writings."

Are the teachings of the other New Testament writers considered "scripture?"

What about the teachings that the New Testament writers received from God, Jesus or God's Holy Spirit?

"But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." 2 Peter 1:20-21 (NAS)

Jesus told his apostles during the last supper that the Spirit would teach them all things:

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." John 14:26 (NAS)

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:23 -- "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you..." (NAS)

John says in II John 1:4 -- "I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father." (NAS)

Peter says in 2 Peter 2:21-- "For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them. (NAS)

Acts 20:24 -- "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. (NAS)

In 2 Peter 3, Peter refers to Paul's writings (as scripture) and other writings (the rest of the scriptures):

"Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all {his} letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, 2 Peter 3:14-17 (NAS)

The New Testament reveals God's new covenant...and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies:

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. Hebrews 1:1-2

"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so." Acts 17:11 (NAS)

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. ⁸ For finding fault with them, He says, "BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; ⁹ NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD. ¹⁰ "FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. ¹¹ "AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,' FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM. ¹² "FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE." ¹³ When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.  Hebrews 8:7-13 (NAS)

The New Testament Warns of False Teachers and False Prophets to Come

After the New Testament books were written (the individual books and letters were written within 20 to 60 years after Jesus ascended to heaven), would the miraculous knowledge that Jesus gave the New Testament writers continue?

"Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away." 1 Corinthians 13:8 (NAS)

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 1 Timothy 4:1-3 (NAS)

"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in {their} greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." 2 Peter 2:1-3 (NAS)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. I John 4:1 (NAS)

"And then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ'; or, 'Behold, He is there'; do not believe him; for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order, if possible, to lead the elect astray. "But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance." Mark 13:21-23 (NAS)

"But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8 (NAS)

"For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, Hebrews 2:1-3 (NAS)

What are some of the things we can know, after reading the Bible?

"Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32 (NAS)

"After a little while the world will behold Me no more; but you will behold Me; because I live, you shall live also. "In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you." John 14:19-20 (NAS)

"...but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." 1 Timothy 3:15 (NAS)

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NAS)

Question:

According to these scriptures, can I be adequately equipped for all good works by reading and following the Bible...the inspired word of God?