2 Timoteo 3:14 Commento

INTRODUCTION TO 2 TIMOTHY 3 In this chapter the apostle delivers out a prophecy of the last days, showing how perilous the times will be, describing the persons that will live in them, and what will be their end; and in opposition to these men, proposes himself an example in doctrine and sufferings; and encourages Timothy to persevere, and highly commends the sacred writings. The prophecy begins Ti2 3:1 the description it gives of hypocrites, formal professors, and false teachers, that should rise up in the last days, and perilous times spoken of, is in Ti2 3:2. And these are compared to the magicians of Egypt for the corruption of their minds, the badness of their principles, and their opposition to truth, and for their exit, and the issue of things; they will be stopped in their progress, and their folly exposed, Ti2 3:8 and as the reverse of these men, the apostle gives an account of his own doctrine, conversation, and sufferings; which he proposes to Timothy for imitation, as being well known to him, and as also the common state of all godly persons in this life, being a suffering one, Ti2 3:10 nor can it be expected that it should be otherwise, since false teachers, who are wicked and deceitful men, grow worse and worse, Ti2 3:13. And then the apostle exhorts Timothy to abide by, and continue in the doctrines of the Gospel, from the assurance he had of the truth of them, from the consideration of his having learned them of the apostle, and especially from their agreement with the holy Scriptures, which he had knowledge of from a child, Ti2 3:14 which Scriptures are commended, partly from the useful effect of them, making men wise unto salvation; and chiefly from the author of them, being by the inspiration of God; and also from the profitableness of them, both for doctrine and manners, and especially to furnish a Gospel minister for the work he is called unto, Ti2 3:15.

And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures,.... And therefore must know that the doctrines he had learned were agreeable to them; and so is another reason why he should continue in them. The Jews very early learned their children the holy Scripture. Philo the Jew says (w), "from their very infancy"; a phrase pretty much the same with this here used. It is a maxim with the Jews (x), that when a child was five years of age, it was proper to teach him the Scriptures. Timothy's mother being a Jewess, trained him up early in the knowledge of these writings, with which he became very conversant, and under divine influence and assistance, arrived to a large understanding of them; and it is a practice that highly becomes Christian parents; it is one part of the nurture and admonition of the Lord they should bring up their children in: the wise man's advice in Pro 22:6 is very good. From hence the apostle takes occasion to enter into a commendation of the sacred writings; and here, from the nature and character of them, calls them the holy Scriptures; to distinguish them from profane writings; and that because the author of them is the Holy Spirit of God; and even the amanuenses of him, and the penmen of them, were holy men of God; the matter of them is holy, both law and Gospel; and the end of writing them is to promote holiness; the precepts, promises, and doctrines contained in them are calculated for that purpose; and even the account they give of the sins and failings of others, are for the admonition of men: and next these Scriptures are commended from the efficacy of them: which are able to make thee wise unto salvation. Men are not wise of themselves; they are naturally without an understanding of spiritual things; and the things of the Spirit of God cannot be known by natural men, because they are spiritually discerned; particularly they are not wise in the business of salvation, of which either they are insensible themselves, and negligent; or foolishly build their hopes of it upon their civility, morality, legal righteousness, or an outward profession of religion: but the Scriptures are able to make men wise and knowing in this respect; for the Gospel is one part of the Scriptures, which is the Gospel of salvation, and shows unto men the way of salvation. The Scriptures testify largely of Christ, the Saviour; and give an ample account both of him, who is the able, willing, suitable, complete, and only Saviour, and of the salvation which is wrought by him; and describe the persons who do, and shall enjoy it: not that the bare reading of the Scriptures, or the hearing of them expounded, are able to make men wise in this way; but these, when accompanied with the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, are; when he who endited the Scriptures removes the veil from their eyes, opens their understandings, and gives them light and knowledge in them: and then may persons be said to be wise unto salvation, when they not only have a scheme of it in their heads, but are in their hearts sensible of their need of it, and know that there is salvation in no other but in Christ; and when they look to him for it, to his righteousness for justification, to his blood for peace, pardon, and cleansing, to his sacrifice for atonement, and to his fulness of grace for a continual supply, and to him for eternal life and glory; when they rejoice in him and his salvation, and give him all the glory of it: the apostle adds, 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 centres in him, and is a looking to him for eternal life. (w) De Legat. ad Caium, p. 1022. (x) Pirke Abot, c. 5. sect. 21.

"But continue thou in the things that thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through the faith which in Christ Jesus." What is this? As the prophet David exhorted, saying, "Be not thou envious against the workers of iniquity" (Ps. xxxvii. 1), so Paul exhorts, "Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned," and not simply learned, but "hast been assured of," that is, hast believed. And what have I believed? That this is the Life. And if thou seest things happening contrary to thy belief, be not troubled. The same happened to Abraham, yet he was not affected at it. He had heard, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called" (Gen. xxi. 12); and he was commanded to sacrifice Isaac, yet he was not troubled nor dismayed. Let no one be offended because of the wicked. This the Scripture taught from the beginning. "Knowing that from a child thou hast known the sacred writings." The holy Scriptures he calls "sacred writings." In these thou wast nurtured, so that through them thy faith ought to be firm and unshaken. For the root was laid deep, and nourished by length of time, nor will anything subvert it. And speaking of the holy Scriptures, he has added, "Which are able to make thee wise," that is, they will not suffer thee to have any foolish feeling, such as most men have. For he who knows the Scriptures as he ought, is not offended at anything that happens; he endures all things manfully, referring them partly to faith, and to the incomprehensible nature of the divine dispensation, and partly knowing reasons for them, and finding examples in the Scriptures. Since it is a great sign of knowledge not to be curious about everything, nor to wish to know all things. "Which are able," he says, "to make thee wise unto salvation." For the Scriptures suggest to us what is to be done, and what is not to be done.

Read the divine Scriptures constantly. Never, indeed, let the sacred volume be out of your hand. Learn what you have to teach.… Do not let your deeds belie your words, lest when you speak in church someone may mentally reply, “Why do you not practice what you preach?” He is a fine and dainty master who, with his stomach full, reads us a homily on fasting. Let the robber accuse others of covetousness if he will. The mind and mouth of a priest of Christ should be at one.

It may happen that even with the assistance of holy men, or even if the holy angels themselves take part, no one rightly learns those things which pertain to life with God unless he is made by God docile to God.… Medicines for the body which are administered to men by men do not help unless health is conferred by God, who can cure them without medicines. Yet they are nevertheless applied even though they are useless without his aid. And if they are applied courteously, they are considered to be among works of mercy or kindness. In the same way, the benefits of teaching profit the mind when they are applied by men where assistance is granted by God, who could have given the gospel to man even though it came not from men nor through a man.

But you remain in the things you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. But you remain in the things you have learned. Likewise said David, Do not envy the wicked, nor desire to be with those who do evil. (Ps. 24:1) you have learned, Paul says, that is, you learned with certainty. knowing from whom you have learned them. Paul states two reasons why he must remain committed. And because you have not learned from just any common person, but from Paul; and because a deep root has been placed in you by the Scriptures, having been written a long time ago. However, he calls the Sacred Letters Scripture because they are inspired by God. which are able to make you wise for salvation. He will not allow you to suffer anything foolish, like most do. For the one who knows the Scriptures, as one ought to know them, would never be put to shame. for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. But it makes you wise, not according to the external wisdom that is in words and deceit, but to salvation through the faith in Christ. For the holy Scriptures, and the wisdom from them, lead to the faith of Christ.

Be, he says, unchanging and "do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity" (Ps. 37:1). You have not simply learned, but have also been assured, that is, you received the teaching with conviction. Therefore, even if you should see something contrary to that of which you have been assured, do not be troubled: for Abraham too, having heard that in Isaac his seed would be named (Gen. 21:12), was not troubled when he received the command to slay him. The Apostle Paul presents two motivations for Timothy to remain steadfast: the first is that you, he says, were taught not by chance from just anyone, but from Paul, and this is the same as from Christ; the second is that you were taught not yesterday, but from childhood, and have divine knowledge deeply rooted within you. And it will not allow you to fall into anything unreasonable, as happens with most people. For whoever knows Scripture as one ought will never be led astray. By sacred writings the apostle means all of Divine Scripture. This is directed against Simon and Manes, and all who spoke ill of the Old Testament.

Then when he says, but continue in those things which you have learned, he urges him to remain true to his training; and he exhorts him on three sides: first, on the side of his teacher; second, on the side of Timothy himself; third, on the side of what he learned. He says, therefore: you have fully known my doctrine (2 Tim 3:10); therefore, continue in these things: if the Spirit of him that has power, ascend upon you, leave not your place (Eccl 10:4); be steadfast and unmovable (1 Cor 15:58). He says, therefore, which you have learned and which has been committed to you, because every Christian learns the truths of faith, which is sound doctrine: everyone that has heard of the Father and has learned, comes to me (John 6:45). But the teachings of faith are entrusted in a special way to prelates, inasmuch as they must dispense them to others: when they had seen that to me was committed the Gospel of the uncircumcision (Gal 2:7). And why ought he continue in them? Because I have obtained them from the Master of knowledge who cannot err: Christ speaks in me (2 Cor 13:3). And so, continue in them firmly, knowing of whom you have learned them, for he learned them from Paul, who learned them not from man nor by men, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal 1:12).

Dangerous times in the latter days, from the apostasy and wickedness of men, of whom an affecting description is given, Ti2 3:1-7. It shall happen to them as to Jannes and Jambres, who withstood Moses, Ti2 3:8, Ti2 3:9. The apostle speaks of his persecutions and sufferings, and shows that all those who will live a godly life must suffer persecution, Ti2 3:10-12, because evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, Ti2 3:13. Timothy is exhorted to continue in the truths he had received, having known the Scriptures from a child, Ti2 3:14, Ti2 3:15. All Scripture is given by Divine inspiration, Ti2 3:16, Ti2 3:17.

But continue thou - No man, however well instructed in the things of God, or grounded in Divine grace, is out of the reach of temptation, apostasy, and final ruin; hence the necessity of watching unto prayer, depending upon God, continuing in the faith, and persevering unto the end.

COMING EVIL DAYS: SIGNS OF EVIL ALREADY: CONTRAST IN THE DOCTRINE AND LIFE OF PAUL, WHICH TIMOTHY SHOULD FOLLOW IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS EARLY TRAINING IN SCRIPTURE. (2Ti. 3:1-17) also--Greek, "but." last days--preceding Christ's second coming (Pe2 3:3; Jde 1:18). "The latter times," Ti1 4:1, refer to a period not so remote as "the last days," namely, the long days of papal and Greek anti-Christianity. perilous--literally, "difficult times," in which it is difficult to know what is to be done: "grievous times." shall come--Greek, "shall be imminent"; "shall come unexpectedly" [BENGEL].

But . . . thou--Whatever they may do. Resuming the thread begun at Ti2 3:10. learned--from me and thy mother and grandmother (Ti2 1:5; Ti2 2:2). assured of--from Scripture (Ti2 3:15). of whom--plural, not singular, in the oldest manuscripts, "from what teachers." Not only from me, but from Lois and Eunice.