2 Timothy Chapter 3, Verse 15
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15: και οτι απο βρεφους τα ιερα γραμματα οιδας τα δυναμενα σε σοφισαι εις σωτηριαν δια πιστεως της εν χριστω ιησου
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.
15: And because from thy infancy thou hast known the holy scriptures
which can instruct thee to salvation by the faith which is in Christ
Jesus.
And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures. That is, the Old Testament; for the New Testament was not then written. "Jn 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 Deut 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 he does not do that he seems to bury him." See numerous instances referred to in Wetstein, in loc. The expression used by Paul -- from a child, (apo brefouv) does not make it certain at precisely what age Timothy was first instructed in the Scriptures, though it would denote an early age. The word used brefov denotes,
(1.) a babe unborn, Lk 1:41, Lk 1:44;
(2.) an infant, babe, suckling. In the New Testament, it is rendered babe and babes, Lk 1:41, Lk 1:44, Lk 2:12, Lk 2:16 1 Pet 2:2; infants, Lk 18:15; and young children, Acts 7:19. It does not elsewhere occur, and its current use would make it probable that Timothy had been taught the Scriptures as soon as he was capable of learning anything. Dr. Doddridge correctly renders it here "from infancy."
Through faith which is in Christ Jesus. "Mk 16:16". "Rom 1:17".
Paul knew of no salvation, except through the Lord Jesus. He says, therefore, that the study of the Scriptures, valuable as they were, would not save the soul unless there was faith in the Redeemer; and it is implied, also, that the proper effect of a careful study of the Old Testament, would be to lead one to put his trust in the Messiah.
