2 Tim 3:14

[TheHem]

I posed the following questions to an AG pastor. I’ll post the response in another frame. I’d like to get some other feedback.

I’m curious in regards to your understanding of a couple of scriptures that I’ve read lately and I’m just pondering some thoughts and was wondering about your thoughts also.

First we have 2 Timothy 3:14-15. My understanding is that Paul is encouraging Timothy. What’s interesting to me is that it says …continue in the things you have learned… Obviously, Timothy had Jewish influence from his mother & grandmother, right? So in essence Paul was validating his Jewish practices in combination with his Christianity. Also, when you read further onto the following verses it speaks of the scriptures that Timothy was taught by. The New Testament was not around and some books wouldn’t even be decided upon for almost another 300 plus years. It was the Torah that the early Christians were going by, especially Paul. Any thoughts??

The other scripture is out of 2 Thessalonians 2:15, therefore brethern, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

What are the traditions that are being spoken of in the verse?

 

[TheHem]

2 Tim 3:14, “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” NASU

These things, refers to the Old Testament as you suggested; for in Timothy’s childhood the New Testament was not yet complete. But at the time of Paul writing this, the apostle’s writings were being circulated widely. They just were not compiled into the collection we know today as the NT. Timothy had been taught the OT Scriptures from the time he was a child. Timothy’s grandmother and mother had faithfully taught him the Old Testament Scriptures. These included the Torah and maybe some Psalms, Proverbs, and the Prophets.

When you read the Sermon on the Mount you can’t help but be amazed at the depth Jesus ascribed to the OT scriptures. On every charge, every jot and tittle, he raised the ante. Now it was not just actions, but the very thoughts in our head that condemn us. But he’s not recommending the rituals be exercised and continued. We meditate on the commands and principles that lead to holy living and Christ like behavior. Hold fast and continue in these things.

The sacred writings is a literal translation. Likely, young Timothy learned his Hebrew alphabet by spelling his way through the Old Testament Scriptures. Of course he was not saved by believing the Bible, but by trusting the Christ who is revealed in the Bible. Timothy was raised on the Holy Scriptures in a godly home. Yet it was not until Paul led him to Christ that he was saved.

**2 Thess 2:15, “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.

NASU**

When Paul used the word traditions, he was not referring to man-made religious ideas that are not based on the Word of God. Our Lord Jesus rejected man’s religious traditions (Mark 7:1-13). The word tradition simply means that which is handed down from one person to another. The truth of the Gospel began as an oral message proclaimed by Christ and the Apostles. Then they were written down and these were the circular letters he refers to here. Later, this truth written down by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit became Holy Scripture.

 

[NotWorthy]

I’m skipping over the first part, because I like what is said, and don’t see anything immediately wrong with it. Timothy , as a child, would have been only exposed to the Old Testament Scriptures.

When Paul used the word traditions, he was not referring to man-made religious ideas that are not based on the Word of God. Our Lord Jesus rejected man’s religious traditions (Mark 7:1-13).

Our Lord Jesus didn’t reject man’s religious traditions. He rejected these traditions that were in vain:

’This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me;*** 7 ****** In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.***’

God gave Moses authority and Jesus honored the Pharisees authority to teach from the “Seat of Moses”. But Jesus wanted all forms of worship to come from the heart - something the Pharisees completely failed to grasp time and time again.

The word tradition simply means that which is handed down from one person to another. The truth of the Gospel began as an oral message proclaimed by Christ and the Apostles. Then they were written down and these were the circular letters he refers to here. Later, this truth written down by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit became Holy Scripture.

Nowhere does it say that all Traditions made it into Scripture, so I have trouble with this statement. A lot of Scripture was written to address churches that were erring in their ways. So if all the Church’s followed a certain Sacred Tradition (i.e. infant baptism) than St. Paul would not feel the need to explicitly address infant baptism.

Furthermore, since some of the Apochryphal writings were thought of as Scripture, and some of them had non-traditional teachings, does that mean that the Church taught false teachings? No, the Church taught the same Sacred Tradition and eventually chose the books that agreed with Her Sacred Tradition in determining the canon.

 

[epostle]

2 Tim 3:14, “You, however, continue in the things you have learned (TRADITION) and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, (MAGISTERIUM) 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings (SCRIPTURE) which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

These verses are a sore spot for those who hold 2 Tim 3:16 as a pillar verse for sola scriptura.
I would challenge any pastor to prove the canon of the New Testament apart from Tradition.