That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Read Chapter 3
Athanasius the Apostolic
AD 373
Here is why meditation on the law is necessary, my beloved, along with an uninterrupted conversion with virtue: “that the saint may lack nothing but be perfect to every good work.” For by these things comes the promise of eternal life, as Paul wrote to Timothy, calling constant meditation exercise, and saying, “Exercise yourself unto godliness.”
That the man of God may be perfect. For this is the exhortation of the Scripture given, that the man of God may be rendered perfect by it; without this therefore he cannot be perfect. You have the Scriptures, he says, in place of me. If you would learn anything, you may learn it from them. And if he thus wrote to Timothy, who was filled with the Spirit, how much more to us!
Thoroughly furnished unto all good works; not merely taking part in them, he means, but thoroughly furnished.
This is why the exhortation of the Scripture is given: that the man of God may be rendered complete by it. Without this he cannot grow to maturity. You have the Scriptures, he says, in place of me. If you would learn anything, you may learn it from them.
