This section consists of four verses.
2 Timothy 3:14-17
14 But continue thou in the things which
thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing
of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and
is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works.
Let us begin in the Barclay.
The Value of Scripture
2 Timothy 3:14–17 ...in
paraphrase
But as for you, remain loyal to the things which you
have learned, and in which your belief has been
confirmed, for you know from whom you learned them,
and you know that from childhood you have known the
sacred writings which are able to give you the
wisdom that will bring you salvation through the
faith which is in Christ Jesus. All God-inspired
Scripture is useful for teaching, for the conviction
of error, for correction, and for training in
righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,
fully equipped for every good work.
PAUL concludes this section with an appeal to
Timothy to remain loyal to all the teaching he had
received. On his mother’s side, Timothy was a Jew,
although his father had been a Greek (Acts 16:1);
and it is clear that it was his mother who had
brought him up. It was the glory of the Jews that
their children from their earliest days were trained
in the law. They claimed that their children learned
the law even from birth and drank it in with their
mother’s milk. They claimed that the law was so
imprinted on the hearts and minds of Jewish children
that they would sooner forget their own name than
they would forget it. So, from his earliest
childhood, Timothy had known the sacred writings. We
must remember that the Scripture of which Paul is
writing is the Old Testament; as yet, the New
Testament had not come into being. If what he claims
for Scripture is true of the Old Testament, how much
truer it is of the even more precious words of the
New.
We must note that Paul here makes a distinction. He
speaks of ‘all God-inspired Scripture’. The Gnostics
had their own fanciful books; the heretics all
produced their own literature to support their
claims. Paul regarded these as manufactured things;
but the great books for the human soul were the
God-inspired ones which tradition and experience had
sanctified.
Let us then see what Paul says of the usefulness of
Scripture.
(1) He says that the Scriptures give the wisdom
which will bring salvation. In The Bible in World
Evangelism, A. M. Chirgwin tells the story of a ward
sister in a children’s hospital in England. She had
been finding life, as she herself said, futile and
meaningless. She had waded through book after book
and labored with philosophy after philosophy in an
attempt to find satisfaction. She had never tried
the Bible, for a friend had convinced her by subtle
arguments that it could not be true. One day, a
visitor came to the ward and left a supply of
gospels. The sister was persuaded to read a copy of
John’s Gospel. ‘It shone and glowed with truth,’ she
said, ‘and my whole being responded to it. The words
that finally convinced me were those in John 18:37:
“For this I was born, and for this I came into the
world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs
to the truth hears my voice.” So I listened to that
voice, and heard the truth, and found my Savior.’
Again and again, Scripture has opened for men and
women the way to God. In simple fairness, no one
seeking for the truth has any right to neglect the
reading of the Bible. A book with a record such as
it has cannot be disregarded. Even unbelievers are
acting unfairly unless they attempt to read it. The
most amazing things may happen if they do, for there
is a saving wisdom here that is in no other book.
(2) The Scriptures are of use in teaching. Only in
the New Testament have we any picture of Jesus, any
account of his life and any record of his teaching.
For that very reason, it is undeniable that,
whatever might be argued about the rest of the
Bible, it is impossible for the Church ever to do
without the gospels. It is perfectly true – as we
have so often said – that Christianity is founded
not on a printed book but on a living person. The
fact remains that the only place in all the world
where we get a first-hand account of that person and
of his teaching is in the New Testament. That is why
the church which has no Bible class is a church in
whose work an essential element is missing.
(3) The Scriptures are valuable for reproof. It is
not meant that the Scriptures are valuable for
finding fault; what is meant is that they are
valuable for convincing people of the error of their
ways and for pointing them on the right path. A. M.
Chirgwin has story after story of how the Scriptures
came by chance into the hands of people whose lives
were changed by them.
In Brazil, Signor Antonio of Minas bought a New
Testament, which he took home to burn. He went home
and found that the fire was out. Deliberately, he
lit it. He flung the New Testament on it. It would
not burn. He opened out the pages to make it burn
more easily. It opened at the Sermon on the Mount.
He glanced at it as he consigned it to the flames.
His attention was caught; he took it back. ‘He read
on, forgetful of time, through the hours of the
night, and just as the dawn was breaking, he stood
up and declared, “I believe.”’
Vincente Quiroga of Chile found a few pages of a
book washed up on the seashore by a tidal wave
following an earthquake. He read them and never
rested until he obtained the rest of the Bible. Not
only did he become a Christian; he devoted the rest
of his life to the distribution of the Scriptures in
the forgotten villages of northern Chile.
One dark night in a forest in Sicily, a robber held
up at gunpoint a man who distributed Bibles. He was
ordered to light a bonfire and burn his books. He
lit the fire, and then he asked if he might read a
little from each book before he dropped it in the
flames. He read the twenty-third psalm from one; the
story of the good Samaritan from another; from
another the Sermon on the Mount; from another 1
Corinthians 13. At the end of each reading, the
robber said: ‘That’s a good book; we won’t burn that
one; give it to me.’ In the end, not a book was
burned; the robber left the bookseller and went off
into the darkness with the books. Years later, that
same robber turned up again. This time, he was a
Christian minister, and it was to the reading of the
books that he attributed his change.
It is beyond argument that the Scriptures can
convict people of their error and convince them of
the power of Christ.
(4) The Scriptures are of use for correction. The
real meaning of this is that all theories, all
theologies and all ethics are to be tested against
the Bible. If they contradict the teaching of the
Bible, they are to be refused. It is our duty to use
and stimulate our minds; but the test must always be
agreement with the teaching of Jesus Christ as the
Scriptures present it to us.
(5) Paul makes a final point. The study of the
Scriptures trains people in righteousness until they
are equipped for every good work. Here is the
essential conclusion. The study of the Scriptures
must never be selfish, never simply for the good of
an individual’s own soul. Any conversion which makes
someone think of nothing but the fact that he or she
has been saved is no true conversion. We must study
the Scriptures to make ourselves useful to God and
to other people.
~Barclay Commentary
Now to the other commentaries. We will begin with
the general and go to the specific.
Here is the Matthew Henry:
He directs him to keep close to a good education,
and particularly to what he had learned out of the
holy scriptures (2 Timothy 3:14-15): Continue thou in
the things which thou hast learned. Note, It is not
enough to learn that which is good, but we must
continue in it, and persevere in it unto the end.
Then are we Christ's disciples indeed, John 8:31. We
should not be any 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, Ephesians 4:14. Be not
carried about with divers and strange doctrines; for
it is a good thing that the heart be established
with grace, Hebrews 13:9. And for this reason we
should continue in the things we have learned from
the holy scriptures; not that we ought to continue
in any errors and mistakes which we may have been
led into, in the time of our childhood and youth (for
these, upon an impartial enquiry and full
conviction, we should forsake); but this makes
nothing against our continuing in those things which
the holy scriptures plainly assert, and which he
that runs may read. If Timothy would adhere to the
truth as he had been taught it, this would arm him
against the snares and insinuations of seducers.
Quoted verses:
John 8:31
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him,
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples
indeed;
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;
Hebrews 13:9
Be not carried about with divers and strange
doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be
established with grace; not with meats, which have
not profited them that have been occupied therein.
The commentary continues:
Observe, Timothy must continue in the things which
he had learned and had been assured of.
1. It is a great happiness to know the certainty of
the things wherein we have been instructed (Luke
1:4); not only to know what the truths are, but to
know that they are of undoubted certainty. What we
have learned we must labour to be more and more
assured of, that, being grounded in the truth, we
may be guarded against error, for certainty in
religion is of great importance and advantage:
Knowing,
(1.) “That thou hast had good teachers. Consider of
whom thou hast learned them; not of evil men and
seducers, but good men, who had themselves
experienced the power of the truths they taught
thee, and been ready to suffer for them, and thereby
would give the fullest evidence of their belief of
these truths.”
(2.) “Knowing especially the firm foundation upon
which thou hast built, namely, that of the scripture
(2 Timothy 3:15): That from a child thou hast known
the holy scriptures.”
Quoted verse:
Luke 1:4
That thou mightest know the certainty of those
things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
2. Those who would acquaint themselves with the
things of God, and be assured of them, must know the
holy scriptures, for these are the summary of divine
revelation.
3. It is a great happiness to know the holy
scriptures from our childhood; and children should
betimes [in good time]
get the knowledge of the scriptures. The age of
children is the learning age; and those who would
get true learning must get it out of the scriptures.
4. The scriptures we are to know are the holy
scriptures; they come from the holy God, were
delivered by holy men, contain holy precepts, treat
of holy things, and were designed to make us holy
and to lead us in the way of holiness to happiness;
being called the holy scriptures, they are by this
distinguished from profane writings of all sorts,
and from those that only treat morality, and common
justice and honesty, but do not meddle with
holiness. If we would know the holy scriptures, we
must read and search them daily, as the noble
Bereans did, Acts 17:11. They must not lie by us
neglected, and seldom or never looked into.
Quoted verse:
Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in
that they received the word with all readiness of
mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether
those things were so.
The commentary continues:
Now here observe,
(1.) What is the excellency of the scripture. It is
given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16), and
therefore is his word. It is a divine revelation,
which we may depend upon as infallibly true. The
same Spirit that breathed reason into us breathes
revelation among us: For the prophecy came not in
old time by the will of man, but holy men spoke as
they were moved or carried forth by the Holy [Spirit],
2 Peter 1:21. The prophets and apostles did not
speak from themselves, but what they received of the
Lord that they delivered unto us. That the scripture
was given by inspiration of God appears from the
majesty of its style, - from the truth, purity, and
sublimity
[suh-blim-i-tee]
[elevated or
lofty in thought], of the doctrines
contained in it, - from the harmony of its several
parts, - from its power and efficacy on the minds of
multitudes that converse with it, - from the
accomplishment of many prophecies relating to things
beyond all human foresight, - and from the
uncontrollable miracles that were wrought in proof
of its divine original: God also bearing them
witness, both with signs and wonders, and with
divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost [Spirit],
according to his own will, Hebrews 2:4.
Quoted verses:
2 Peter 1:21
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of
man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by
the Holy Ghost.
Hebrews 2:4
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and
wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the
Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
(2.) What use it will be of to us.
[1.] It is able to make us wise to salvation; that
is, it is a sure guide in our way to eternal life.
Note, Those are wise indeed who are wise to
salvation. The scriptures are able to make us truly
wise, wise for our souls and another world. “To make
thee wise to salvation through faith.” Observe, The
scriptures will make us wise to salvation, if they
be mixed with faith, and not otherwise, Hebrews 4:2.
For, if we do not believe their truth and goodness,
they will do us no good.
Quoted verse:
Hebrews 4:2
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto
them: but the word preached did not profit them, not
being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
[2.] It is profitable to us for all the purposes of
the Christian life, for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness. It
answers all the ends of divine revelation. It
instructs us in that which is true, reproves us for
that which is amiss, directs us in that which is
good. It is of use to all, for we all need to be
instructed, corrected, and reproved: it is of
special use to ministers, who are to give
instruction, correction, and reproof; and whence can
they fetch it better than from the scripture?
[3.] That the man of God may be perfect, 2 Timothy
3:17. The Christian, the minister, is the man of
God. That which finishes a man of God in this world
is the scripture. By it we are thoroughly furnished
for every good work. There is that in the scripture
which suits every case. Whatever duty we have to do,
whatever service is required from us, we may find
enough in the scriptures to furnish us for it.
(3.) On the whole we here see,
[1.] That the scripture has various uses, and
answers divers ends and purposes: It is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction of all
errors in judgment and practice, and for instruction
in righteousness.
[2.] The scripture is a perfect rule of faith and
practice, and was designed for the man of God, the
minister as well as the Christian who is devoted to
God, for it is profitable for doctrine, etc.
[3.] If we consult the scripture, which was given by
inspiration of God, and follow its directions, we
shall be made men of God, perfect, and thoroughly
furnished to every good work.
[4.] There is no occasion for the writings of the
philosopher, nor for rabbinical fables, nor popish
legends, nor unwritten traditions, to make us
perfect men of God, since the scripture answers all
these ends and purposes. O that we may love our
Bibles more, and keep closer to them than ever! and
then shall we find the benefit and advantage
designed thereby, and shall at last attain the
happiness therein promised and assured to us.
~Matthew Henry
Now to the Matthew Henry Concise. The commentary
covers verses 14-17
Those who would learn the things of God, and be
assured of them, must know the Holy Scriptures, for
they are the Divine revelation. The age of children
is the age to learn; and those who would get true
learning, must get it out of the Scriptures. They
must not lie by us neglected, seldom or never looked
into. The Bible is a sure guide to eternal life. The
prophets and apostles did not speak from themselves,
but delivered what they received of God, 2 Peter
1:21. It is profitable for all purposes of the
Christian life. It is of use to all, for all need to
be taught, corrected, and reproved. There is
something in the Scriptures suitable for every case.
Oh that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer
to them! then shall we find benefit, and at last
gain the happiness therein promised by faith in our
Lord Jesus Christ, who is the main subject of both
Testaments. We best oppose error by promoting a
solid knowledge of the word of truth; and the
greatest kindness we can do to children, is to make
them early to know the Bible.
~Matthew Henry Concise
Quoted verse:
2 Peter 1:21 ...mentioned above
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of
man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by
the Holy Ghost [Spirit].
Notice what Paul is saying to Timothy in this verse
and what the commentaries here are showing us. Verse
15 is saying that the scriptures; the Holy Word of
God is able to make us wise unto
something...salvation. However, just reading them or
embracing them is not enough. It takes the Holy
Spirit in a called individual in the Salvation
Process to understand. Without the Holy Spirit, we
do not become wise by the scriptures. In addition,
this can only take place in the Salvation Process
which has all the elements and tools in which the
Holy Spirit is manifested. God is, through this
letter to Timothy showing us just how spiritual
things work. It is a holistic approach. Every
element must be present. We learned this
specifically from Hebrews 4:2 which I read earlier.
Hebrews 4:2
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto
them: but the word preached did not profit them, not
being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
..."it was not mixed with
faith." That is, not all the elements were
present. Remember the words we read in the Matthew
Henry:
The scriptures we are to know are the holy
scriptures; they come from the holy God, were
delivered by holy men, contain holy precepts, treat
of holy things, and were designed to make us holy
and to lead us in the way of holiness to happiness;
being called the holy scriptures, they are by this
distinguished from profane writings of all sorts,
and from those that only treat morality, and common
justice and honesty, but do not meddle with
holiness.
We must labor each and every day to have, hold,
manifest and invoke every element and aspect of the
Salvation Process.
Notice one item from the specific commentary on the
last phrase of Verse 15: "through faith which is in
Christ Jesus."
Through faith which is in
Christ Jesus - wisdom to salvation lies not
in the knowledge of the law the Jew boasted of; nor
in the works of it, at least not in a trust and
confidence in them for salvation; for by them there
is no justification before God, nor acceptance with
him, nor salvation: but true wisdom to salvation
lies in faith, which is a spiritual knowledge of
Christ, and a holy confidence in him; and that
salvation which the Scriptures make men wise unto,
is received and enjoyed through that faith, which
has Christ for its author and object; which comes
from him, and centers in him, and is a looking to
him for eternal life. ~John
Gill
So again I say to all of us, "We must labor each and
every day to have, hold, manifest and invoke every
element and aspect of the Salvation Process.
This is the lesson of Verse 15. |