Reproof/Reprove

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV 1900

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

When we think of the word reproof, I think the verse that often comes to mind first is 2 Tim. 3:16. It is a great verse and is probably one of the most well known verses concerning reproof.

We see within this passage that not only is all Scripture given by inspiration of God, but that it is profitable for many things. The first of which is for “doctrine” but what is doctrine?

Romans 6:17 “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”

When does something become doctrine? When you hear it? or… When you believe it and it changes you?

John 7:14–18 “Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.”

Isaiah 28:9 “Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, And drawn from the breasts.”

Ephesians 4:14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”

Romans 16:17 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

Mark 7:7 “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Titus 2:1 “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:”

1 Timothy 4:13 “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”

Why? because… all Scripture is given by inspiration and is profitable...

Definitions:

…for doctrine - Biblical truths that should be sought, taught, and believed upon with all our heart...

...for reproof - Biblical instruction that shows us where we are wrong...

Proverbs 1:23 “Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.”

Proverbs 1:25 “But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof:”

Proverbs 1:30 “They would none of my counsel: They despised all my reproof.”

…for correction - Biblical teaching which leads us back to God...

Proverbs 3:11 “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; Neither be weary of his correction:”

Jeremiah 5:3 “O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.”

Jeremiah 7:28 “But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.”

…For instruction in righteousness - That which shows us how to then walk with God...

Proverbs 23:12 “Apply thine heart unto instruction, And thine ears to the words of knowledge.”

Proverbs 19:20 “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.”

Psalm 50:21 “These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: But I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.”

John 3:20 “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

Ephesians 5:13 “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.”

Reproof/Reproofs - Noun, it is the knowledge which causes us to know/see and discern right from wrong.

Proverbs 5:12 “And say, How have I hated instruction, And my heart despised reproof;”

Proverbs 6:23 “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:”

Proverbs 10:17 “He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: But he that refuseth reproof erreth.”

Proverbs 12:1 “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: But he that hateth reproof is brutish.”

Proverbs 13:18 “Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: But he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.”

Proverbs 15:5 “A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: But he that regardeth reproof is prudent.”

Proverbs 15:10 “Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: And he that hateth reproof shall die.”

Proverbs 15:31–32 “The ear that heareth the reproof of life Abideth among the wise. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: But he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.”

Proverbs 17:10 “A reproof entereth more into a wise man Than an hundred stripes into a fool.”

Proverbs 29:15 “The rod and reproof give wisdom: But a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”

Reprove/Reproveth/Reproved - Verb, it is the action of causing someone to see/know and discern right from wrong. Or the action of seeing/knowing and discerning right from wrong.

Ezekiel 3:26 “And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house.”

Genesis 20:16 “And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.”

Genesis 21:25 “And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.”

Proverbs 25:12 “As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.”

John 3:19–20 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

John 16:8 “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”

How should we respond?

First, how we respond to a reproof, speaks very clearly about where we are at spiritually.

Psalm 141:5 “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: And let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, Which shall not break my head: For yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.”

Proverbs 9:7–8 “He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: And he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.”

Proverbs 15:12 “A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: Neither will he go unto the wise.”

Proverbs 19:25 “Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.”

Proverbs 29:1 “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

Habakkuk 2:1 “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, And will watch to see what he will say unto me, And what I shall answer when I am reproved.”

Ephesians 5:11 “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

Ephesians 5:13 “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.”

Proverbs 29:1 “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

How do we reprove? We must understand that a reproof is not a preference, and certainly not a tradition. A reproof is given through the Scripture and as the Spirit leads us. The Scriptures use the words reproof, reproofs, reprove, reproved, reprover, or reproveth, 52 times in total. Something that seems to always be present whenever we see the word used is opposition. Sin works in the human heart to do that which is against God.

2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

Ephesians 4:15 “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

2 Timothy 2:24–26 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”