Podcast Summary

Podcast: Things Unseen with Sinclair B. Ferguson
Episode: Training in Righteousness
Date: February 13, 2026
Host: Sinclair B. Ferguson (Ligonier Ministries)

Episode Overview

This episode closes out a week-long series reflecting on the Bible as God's living and active Word. Sinclair Ferguson leads listeners through the profound implications of 2 Timothy 3:16-17, emphasizing the role of Scripture in shaping believers into the image of Christ. Through personal stories and practical wisdom, Ferguson explores how Scripture provides not just information, but training—especially in righteousness—reaching believers from all walks of life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Bible as God's Living Word

• Ferguson recaps the week's theme, describing the Bible as:
  • God-breathed
  • Active and Working
  • Living Word
• "...the Scriptures ultimately have in view training us in righteousness. He actually uses a word that really means child training." [00:38]

Training in Righteousness: A Family Metaphor

• Paul’s words to Timothy liken Scripture’s instruction to the nurturing guidance of a loving parent:
  • "His instruction is instruction of a father to his children, bringing us up in the family likeness, bringing us up to be more like our elder brother, the Lord Jesus Christ." [00:44]
• Ferguson draws on the imagery of the Christian life as being shaped into the family resemblance of God’s own children.

Accessibility of Scripture to All

• Scripture is not reserved for the scholarly elite but is accessible and transformative for everyone:
  • "The wonderful thing is that the Scriptures instruct us no matter whether we are rocket scientists or very simple people..." [01:33]
• The wisdom gleaned from God’s Word can surpass that of secular or worldly teachers.

Story: The Irish Minister and the Boys' Club

• Ferguson shares a memorable anecdote about T.C. Hammond, an Irish minister who worked with disadvantaged boys in Dublin.
  • Hammond taught them 100 Bible verses (the “100 texts”).
  • A skeptical bishop tests the boys, doubting their knowledge.
  • When the bishop asks what “Timothy says about the Bible,” the boys are silent until one chimes in:
    • “Sir, Timothy didn't say anything about scripture. But in 2 Timothy, chapter 3, verses 16 and 17, the apostle Paul said, ‘All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished for every good work.’" [03:12]
  • The story highlights humility, the power of memorized Scripture, and true wisdom.

Scriptural Meditation and Wisdom

• Ferguson underscores a key lesson from Psalm 119:99:
  • "I have more understanding than my teachers for your testimonies are my meditation." [05:00]
• Returning regularly to the Bible shapes discernment and enables believers to "see through the falsehoods of the world."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On childlike instruction:

  • "His instruction is instruction of a father to his children, bringing us up in the family likeness, bringing us up to be more like our elder brother, the Lord Jesus Christ." [00:44]

• On Biblical wisdom surpassing worldly wisdom:

  • "The Scriptures teach us, that they make us wiser than even those who may teach us in the secular world... because we listen to them and we let them do their work in us." [01:40]

• On Scripture's accessibility:

  • "The wonderful thing is that the Scriptures instruct us no matter whether we are rocket scientists or very simple people..." [01:33]

• The street boy’s correction to the bishop:

  • “Sir, Timothy didn't say anything about scripture. But in 2 Timothy, chapter 3, verses 16 and 17, the apostle Paul said, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God...” [03:12]

• On the ultimate effect of God’s Word:

  • "It's going to give us wisdom that will enable us to negotiate the world in which we live and see through the falsehoods of the world." [05:17]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening Summary on the Week’s Theme – [00:08-00:33]
• Paul’s “Training in Righteousness”: The Family Analogy – [00:33-01:00]
• How the Bible Equips Us, Regardless of Education – [01:20-01:50]
• The T.C. Hammond Story and Its Lessons – [02:04-04:38]
• Psalm 119 and the Value of Biblical Meditation – [05:00-05:17]
• Final Call to Regular Engagement with Scripture – [05:17-End]

Conclusion

Sinclair Ferguson reminds listeners that God's Word is not only for instruction but for transformation, making us more like Christ, regardless of our background or station in life. Anchoring the teaching with a poignant tale, Ferguson encourages regular, humble meditation on Scripture, assuring us that the Bible provides the wisdom we need to navigate a complex and often deceptive world.