Paul continues to address a series of spiritual struggles at Corinth. After giving the Spirit’s solution to problems in their worship assemblies, Paul reminds the readers about his authority.
If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized (1 Corinthians 14:37-38).
Paul’s command, whether spoken or written, is “a command of the Lord.” Why? Because the Holy Spirit inspired both the speaking and the writing. The latter is equivalent to Scripture, having been given in the same way as the previous Scriptures. Peter, who calls Paul’s writings Scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16), shows the origin of Scripture, and Paul shows its completeness.
Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).
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 3:16-17).
“All Scripture is breathed out by God.”
Do we need accurate “teaching”? Learn from Scripture! Given our tendency to stray, do we need “reproof” and “correction”? Learn from Scripture! Listen to the voice of the one Shepherd as delivered by the one Spirit. If Scripture equips us for “every good work” it certainly prepares us for our part in maintaining the unity of the Spirit.