2 Timothy 3:15

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. FROM A CHILD, [ apo (G575) brefous (G1025)] - 'from an infant.' It is in the tenderest age that the most lasting impressions of faith may be made. Two grounds of continuance in the truth: that it was from no ordinary persons Timothy received it; and not lately, but from infancy. HOLY SCRIPTURES - the Old Testament, taught by his Jewess mother: an undesigned coincidence, 2 Timothy 1:5; Acts 14:1. ABLE - in themselves: thoug...

15_And that from (thy) childhood _This was also no ordinary addition, that he had been accustomed, from his infancy, to the reading of the Scripture; for this long habit may make a man much more strongly fortified against every kind of deception. It was therefore a judicious caution observed in ancient times, that those who were intended for the ministry of the word should be instructed, from their infancy, in the solid doctrine of godliness, that, when they came to the performance of their office, they might not be untried apprentices. And it ought to be reckoned a remarkable instance of the kindness of God, if any person, from his earliest years, has thus acquired a knowledge of the Scriptures. _Which are able to make thee wise unto salvation _It is a very high commendation of the Holy Scriptures, that we must not seek anywhere else the wisdom which is sufficient for salvation; as the...

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 err...

Verse 15. _FROM A CHILD THOU HAST KNOWN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES_] The early religious education of Timothy has been already sufficiently noticed; see 2 Timothy 1:5, and the _preface_ to the first epistle. St. Paul introduces this circumstance again here for the confirmation of Timothy's faith. He had learned the doctrines of Christianity from a genuine apostle; and, as Christianity is founded on the law and the prophets, Timothy was able to compare its doctrines with all that had been _typified_ and _predicted_, and consequently was _assured_ that the Christian religion was true. _ABLE TO MAKE THEE WISE UNTO SALVATION_] The apostle is here evidently speaking of the Jewish Scriptures; and he tells us that _they are able to make us wise unto salvation_ provided we have _faith in Jesus Christ_. This is the simple use of the Old

AND THAT FROM A CHILD THOU HAST KNOWN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES - That is, the Old Testament; for the New Testament was not then written; see the notes at John 5:39. The mother of Timothy was a pious Hebrewess, and regarded it as one of the duties of her religion to train her son in the careful knowledge of the word of God. This was regarded by the Hebrews as an important duty of religion, and there is reason to believe that it was commonly faithfully performed. The Jewish writings abound with lessons on this subject. Rabbi Judah says, “The boy of five years of age ought to apply to the study of the sacred Scriptures.” Rabbi Solomon, on Deuteronomy 11:19, says, “When the boy begins to talk, his father ought to converse with him in the sacred language, and to teach him the law; if h

EXPOSITION 2 TIMOTHY 3:1 _But know this _for _this know also_,_ _A.V.; _grievous _for _perilous_,_ _A.V. GRIEVOUS TIMES (καιροὶ χαλεποί)._ _"Grievous" is not a very good rendering. "Perilous," though in some contexts it is a right rendering, is a little too restricted here. "Difficult," "trying," "uneasy," or the like, is nearer the sense. They are times when a Christian hardly knows which way to turn or what to do. He has to live under a constant sense of hindrance and difficulty of one sort or another. 2 TIMOTHY 3:2 _Self _for _their own selves_,_ _A.V.;_ lovers of money _for _covetous_,_ _A.V.;_ boastful _for boasters

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, εκ πρωτης ηλικιας "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 P

2 Timothy 3:1. _This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sin, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth._ This is the photograph of the present age, and I do not doubt that Paul spoke of it when thus the spirit of prophecy was upon him. This is the very motto of the present age, «Ever learning, and never able to come to the

SALVATION (_ See Scofield) - (Romans 1:16). _...

III. THE LAST DAYS AND THEIR PERILS CHAPTER 3 __ 1. The characteristics of the last days (2 Timothy 3:1) 2. What the last days mean for the true believer (2 Timothy 3:8) 3. The need of the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:14) 2 Timothy 3:1 Little comment is needed on these words. They are a prophecy. The apostle by the Spirit of God reveals what shall come in the last days. It is a description of the moral qualities in the vast number of professing Christians of the last days, “who have the form of godliness,” that is, go “to church,” profess a creed of some sect, and are outwardly relig