We have been examining, somewhat closely, 2 Timothy 3:14 – 17, Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to build a firewall to protect the church against evil men and impostors. We saw in the last post that the center of the second brick was an emphasis on continuing in the Word of God.
In verse 15 Paul amplifies his argument. He reminds his apprentice that he has known the sacred writings since childhood. This has much to those of us who are parents or hope to be. It is a tacit reminder to us that we are to, early and often, expose our children to the Word of God.
Paul’s emphasis is strong on this point. The strength is obscured again by most of our English translations. Paul places the object of the verb before the verb, literally it would read, “from childhood the sacred writings you have known.” That is awkward in English so it is rendered differently in our translations. Reversing the word order, though is one way of emphasizing a point. Paul is emphasizing the sacred writings, the Word of God, to Timothy.
There is much error afloat in the Christian community, much like what Timothy was facing in Ephesus. At a significant level what we face is orders of magnitude more difficult. Timothy did not have to counter Radio, Television, the internet, nor was there anything yet in mass print. Communication and the transmission of false teaching was done in person, traveling impostors.
Now we face all of that and more. It makes it so much more important that first we abide in God’s Word and equip our children to as well. Abiding, by the way, is more than a consistent devotional life…
Paul though, is not done with his instruction to Timothy…
In verse 15 Paul amplifies his argument. He reminds his apprentice that he has known the sacred writings since childhood. This has much to those of us who are parents or hope to be. It is a tacit reminder to us that we are to, early and often, expose our children to the Word of God.
Paul’s emphasis is strong on this point. The strength is obscured again by most of our English translations. Paul places the object of the verb before the verb, literally it would read, “from childhood the sacred writings you have known.” That is awkward in English so it is rendered differently in our translations. Reversing the word order, though is one way of emphasizing a point. Paul is emphasizing the sacred writings, the Word of God, to Timothy.
There is much error afloat in the Christian community, much like what Timothy was facing in Ephesus. At a significant level what we face is orders of magnitude more difficult. Timothy did not have to counter Radio, Television, the internet, nor was there anything yet in mass print. Communication and the transmission of false teaching was done in person, traveling impostors.
Now we face all of that and more. It makes it so much more important that first we abide in God’s Word and equip our children to as well. Abiding, by the way, is more than a consistent devotional life…
Paul though, is not done with his instruction to Timothy…
Being a father is an awesome privilege - AND responsibility! And you have upheld both in this blog for as long as I have read it.
ReplyDeleteThe "secret" to Timothy's fitness for this ministry Paul is encouraging is rooted in his mother and grandmother, in their home. This is where it is rooted in God's plan from the first Biblical records we have. It has always been His plan and I believe we greatly err to minimize or violate it. The annals of the faith are rife with fathers (usually) who put ministry first an primary and suffered sons and daughters who at best did not serve God in their adult lives effectively. Or worse.
This takes much wisdom, prayer and fortitude, and a unified colaborship of husband and wife. Our heritage as parents is ultimately wrapped up in our children, their children, etc., etc.
Well said. Additionally, it seems to me that we are completely and utterly dependent on His grace in this matter. The verse that leaped to mind when reading your response was 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NASB95) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. It then, is through His grace that we prevail.
DeleteTo your point, it seems that many are not abiding or depending on that grace in the critical roles we have been assigned in our lives...