"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."
2 Timothy 3:15
Truly the Bible is vital in the life of God’s child. But today, let’s take a step back and look at the role of God’s Word in the believer’s salvation. Paul’s writing to his young disciple, Timothy, shows him why the Word is necessary to save a sinner. He uses Timothy’s experience as a good example.
“And that from a child.”
Timothy had the blessing of growing up in a home with other believers. Not much is known about his father, but his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois were faithful to the Lord and taught him the way of salvation. “From a child,” literally, “from an infant,” they had trained him in the scriptures (JFB). [1] He would have grown up hearing his momma and nana sing the songs of the Psalms and hearing of the wonderful works of God to His people.
“In Jewish tradition, boys received instruction in Torah beginning at age five” [2] (FSB).
But growing up away from Israel (on Paul’s mission field), we don’t know if Timothy had that Jewish education. Still, he was nonetheless taught the Word at the feet of two godly women. What a wonderful encouragement for born-again single moms today. The first and most important place for our children to hear the Word of God is from loving parents!
So profound was it to the Jew to train their children in the Word that Rabbi Solomon in speaking on Deuteronomy 11:19, said this –
“When the boy begins to talk, his father ought to converse with him in the sacred language, and to teach him the law; if he does not do that, he seems to bury him” [3] (Barnes – BNB).
“Thou hast known the holy scriptures.”
Think of it, Eunice and Lois did not teach Timothy from the New Testament, for it was not written yet. [4] They faithfully taught him from the Old Testament. Yes, they too are the “holy scriptures!” Paul knew well of their faith –
“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also” (2 Timothy 1:5). (See also Acts 16:1-3).
“Which are able.”
The power to change the human heart and bring salvation comes from the Word of God.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
It is the Gospel found in the “holy scriptures” that is able to save.
“able—in themselves: though through men’s own fault they often do not, in fact, make men savingly alive” [5] (JFB).
How sad when lost men hear the truth but do not respond to it in faith! What can we do? Keep giving them the scriptures!
“So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
“To make thee wise unto salvation.”
Here is what the Scriptures can do, “make you wise to salvation!”
“An expression meaning “to instruct you.” In this context, salvation is the subject of instruction. Scripture makes a person wise…” [6] (FSB).
“An important aspect is the function of Scripture to make wise for salvation” [7] (NBC).
Seeing Jesus Christ in the words of the Old Testament opens the Word for salvation.
“To give thee understanding of that which lies behind the letter; to enable thee to detect in the O.T. books various hidden allusions to Christ; to draw from the O.T. the mystery of messianic salvation, and to interpret the O.T. with Christ as the key. This gives significance to the following words, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ was the key of Scripture, and through faith in Him Scripture became a power unto salvation” [8] (Vincent).
How can a sinner come to the truth?
“The phrase give you wisdom for salvation means that Scripture could lead Timothy to the “knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25; 1 Timothy 2:4). Scripture has the power to bring people to faith” [9] (CSB).
The plan of salvation.
“The scriptures show us the whole plan of God’s salvation. This is something we would never discover or guess by ourselves. God has always loved the world and been grieved by human sin. First, He called a people, Israel, to know him. Then He gave them His law to guide them, His kings to rule them, and His prophets to deliver His Word. Finally, He has sent His Son, Jesus, to be the Savior of all” [10] (TBG).
“Through faith.”
According to the Word of God, salvation can only come to a sinner through faith.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:30-31).
“Which is in Christ Jesus.”
As we saw above, Jesus Christ is the “key” of the Scriptures, which are the key to Salvation!
“The Scriptures bring salvation only when one places his faith in Christ Jesus” [11] (BKC).
Quotes: “We know that men are saved by repentance and faith, and whoever does call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. But salvation is a supernatural work of God that will always produce fruit. And the evidence, not the cause, but the evidence of salvation is a changed life, a changing life” [12] (Paul Washer).
[1] JFB, Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 427.
[2] FSB, John D. Barry, Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), 2 Ti 3:15.
[3] BNB – Albert Barnes. Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[4] FSB, ibid. “The Greek phrase used here, hiera grammata, refers to the [old testament].”
[5] JFB, ibid.
[6] FSB, ibid.
[7] NBC, Donald Guthrie, “2 Timothy,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson, et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1309.
[8] Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 4 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 315–317.
[9] CSB, Mary A. Kassian, “The Bible and Women,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1931.
[10] TBG, Andrew Knowles, The Bible Guide, 1st Augsburg books ed. (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 2001), 654.
[11] BKC, A. Duane Litfin, “2 Timothy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 757.
[12] Washer’s quote downloaded: March 2, 2022. From: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/salvation-quotes.