“It is written,” is a common used phrase in the Old Testament. So when we come to the New Testament it would be expected for Jesus to constantly state “it is written,” along with "Have you not read” as well as numerous other statement that referred to looking to the Scripture. He did not mention anything else to look to. Even after His resurrection when he met his disciples He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” (Luke 24:44-45). The Scriptures alone were pointed to verify who he was what he said and what he would fulfill.

So it should not surprise us that what Paul taught is what Jesus taught, that he upheld the same reverence for what God inspired for man to know him.

2 Tim. 3:16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Paul does not mention or refer to church tradition, It was made up centuries later after the Bible was completed by the apostles. Since there are no more apostles appointed by Jesus after Paul (they all died), John becomes the last to pen down scripture and it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ dealing with prophecy and the last days.

Notice that Paul says it is Scripture that is inspired of God – nothing else. All Scripture; that is written, found from Genesis 1 to Revelation which was still yet to be penned by John.

And this he says is for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work, what he is saying here is that this is sustenance (as Jesus spoke of keeping HIS words).

Since the Scripture is seen as infallible and absolute it becomes our anchor for truth, nothing else. Just as it says by David Psalm 119:160 “The entirety of Your word is truth”

So one must ask if Scripture is not the only thing that does what 2 Tim. 3:16-17 describes and tradition also does this, why does it not say it here, why does it not say that elsewhere? It becomes circular reasoning to add tradition as the means that will do the same as scripture. Because it challenges what God has said and is an argument from silence in the Scripture postulated by a certain church.

For if divine inspiration proceeds from God as grafee - Scripture to bring us to maturity and to do what God has appointed every believer (to do good works Eph.2:10) then one must say their oral tradition that is not grafee is also inspired, therefore, Scripture cannot be said to be these things described nor make “the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” This would make God a liar; something to think about. We are commanded in 2 tim.2:15 "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Just as Jesus said “thy word is truth” Nothing else is called this. Paul goes on in v.16 “But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.” idle babblings kenophonia has the meaning of empty sounding, i.e. fruitless, vain.

Paul was consistent in what he taught because his words that are written for us were inspired of God.  

1 Cor. 4:6: “that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other” (the words think is not in the original). Paul is saying learn from the apostles through Scripture DO NOT go beyond what is WRITTEN. The reason is because he has already told us that all we need is from what is written 2 Tim.3:16-17. He was concerned with innovation, which he had already practiced as a Pharisee. Which would also lead to division. Something Paul later addresses of men trying to be as the apostles. This command by an apostle includes what was presently penned by the apostles and would later be penned until the completion of the canon. Paul knew Scripture was still in the state of being delivered.

When we reverence what is written we will not be inclined to seek what is not revealed or written (Deuteronomy 29:29). We will be content with What God has said.

2 Cor. 4:13 “And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak” 

Paul spoke according to what is written by others through the Spirit, He believed that which is written and he wrote teaching what Christ said, nothing more. He then goes on to speak on our having the same resurrection.

 Throughout the Old Testament we have the Lord speaking and what the prophets said written down. This is God’s word was passed on Deut. 6:5-9.

Deut. 8:3 “that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.”

Life from the word is also explained in Jesus discussion found in John 6:32-33 “Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. "For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 48 Jesus states plainly "I am the bread of life.

V. 63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” Jesus says his words are life and they are of the Spirit, the same spirit who wrote through the apostles the words we have as our Bible. This is why Paul could say all Scripture is inspired by God.

1 Pet 1:18-19 “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” Peter says the traditions of the fathers made them have aimless conduct and tells them what they really renewed by 1 Peter 1:23 “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.”

Lk.8:11 tells us the word of God is the seed that begins our spiritual growth, James 1:18:  “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth,” (which is the word of God).

Consider that God gives us a new spiritual birth by our believing the gospel, by hearing the word, and throughout the New Testament teachings from the apostle we are told gives us life, instruction, guidance, light, rebuke, correction. The writer of Hebrews (4:12) states the “Word is living and powerful, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” Nothing else can do this.

The Bible does teach Scripture is all a believer needs but one would have to read the Scripture to find this out. And we need to believe the Scripture to have it work James 1:21: “Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” Because faith comes from hearing the word of God, nothing else.

Our whole spiritual growth is dependent upon understanding the word (Eph.5:26; Php.2:16; Col.3:16; 1 thess 2:13;

“Now these were of nobler character than those of Thessalonica and they received the word with great eagerness, studying the Scriptures every day to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). We should check with the Bible to see if what someone is telling us the truth. In Paul’s case they checked the word and found him correct. Paul commends them for looking in the right place.

Eph. 3:3-5: “how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ); which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.”

Paul who wrote the majority of the New Testament refers to what he wrote to know the mystery of Christ (which happens to be about God coming in the flesh to save and bring together both Jews and Gentiles).

Paul said to listen to only those appointed by Christ to write the scriptures (the apostles and prophets), not to anyone who would come later. God wants his saints safe and he made this a principle to keep our spiritual life simple. People began to complicate it, adding to the Scripture, saying God spoke more when He did NOT!

The Church is built on the foundation of the Apostles and prophets and the apostles built the church on the chief cornerstone, Christ. They conveyed what they were taught wholly and accurately. They did not expect anyone to come after the last apostle and add to their words. The Holy Spirit who is God, teaches no new doctrine, it was all written down by the apostles and ended. No Book of Mormon, No Koran, No Urantia book, No Divine Principle, and no Traditions by Roman Catholic church.
Proverbs 30:6 tells us, "Do not add to his words lest you be rebuked and found a liar." For no liars will enter heaven