Scripture, Salvation, and Shaping

2 Timothy 3:1–17

There are some things that change from generation to generation. Methods change. Technology changes. Culture changes. The way we communicate changes, and even the way we teach changes. But there are some things that must never change. The Word of God has not changed. The message of salvation has not changed. And our responsibility to teach the next generation the truth of God’s Word has not changed.

When Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, he was writing to a young preacher whom he loved dearly. Paul knew that his own ministry was coming to an end. In the very next chapter he would write, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.” These are the words of an older preacher who knows he will not be around much longer, speaking to a younger preacher who will have to carry on after he is gone.

That gives the words of this chapter some weight. Paul is passing something on. He is reminding Timothy of what matters when the world around him is changing. And in 2 Timothy 3, Paul brings together three things that are especially important for us: Scripture, salvation, and the responsibility of teaching the next generation.

The Last Days — 2 Timothy 3:1–13

Paul begins the chapter with a warning: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” The word “perilous” speaks of difficult, dangerous, troublesome times. But what is interesting is how Paul describes those perilous times. He does not begin by talking about wars, governments, economies, or natural disasters. He describes the condition of people.

He says, “For men shall be lovers of their own selves.” Then he gives this long description of what people will become. They will be covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, and unholy. They will be without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, or without self-control. They will be fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, and highminded. Then Paul brings the whole description to this terrible conclusion: “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”

You could almost summarize the entire list by saying that their loves are out of order. They love themselves. They love possessions. They love pleasure. But they do not love God. And when people cease to love God as they ought, everything else begins to fall out of its proper place.

But perhaps the most troubling part of Paul’s description comes in verse 5. He says they will be “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” In other words, these are not necessarily people who look irreligious. They can appear religious. They know religious language. They understand religious customs. They may know when to stand, when to sit, what to say, and how to look the part. But there is no spiritual power behind the appearance.

That is an important warning for the church because it is possible to know how to look Christian without actually knowing Christ. It is possible to learn the language. It is possible to know the songs. It is possible to know Bible stories. It is even possible to grow up in Sunday School and still need to be saved.

Paul then describes false teachers who creep into houses and lead people away from the truth. In verse 8, he mentions Jannes and Jambres. According to Jewish tradition, these were the men who opposed Moses in Egypt. They attempted to imitate what God was doing through Moses, but in reality they were resisting the truth. Paul uses them as an example because there have always been people who resist truth. There have always been counterfeit teachers. There have always been people who twist Scripture or substitute something else for what God has said.

But I love what Paul says in verse 9: “But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men.” Error may spread for a while. False teaching may gain an audience. Something contrary to Scripture may even become popular. But the church does not need to panic. God preserves His truth, and God preserves His church. 

The Shaping of Timothy’s Life — 2 Timothy 3:14–17

After describing the condition of the world, Paul tells Timothy what is going to challenge it. What is going to convict it. What is going to change it? Discipleship in the Word of God. Matthew 28:19-20, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

God’s master plan is for mature Christians to disciple less mature Christian’s and help them grow according to Jesus’ will. Paul points out the importance of how God has shaped Timothy’s life. 

Paul points Timothy toward his own example. He says, “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience.” Paul is essentially saying, “Timothy, you have watched me.” Timothy did not only hear Paul’s sermons. He saw Paul’s life. He watched how Paul responded to suffering. He saw how Paul treated people. He saw whether Paul’s life matched Paul’s preaching.

The most likely age ranges are that Timothy was 16-24 when he joined Paul’s team and 31-39 when he received 1 Timothy, and just a few year older when he received this letter of 2 Timothy.

That is another important lesson for anyone who teaches. Our children and students are learning from more than what we say. They are watching how we live. They are watching how we treat people. They are watching how we respond when things go wrong. They are watching whether the Bible we teach on Sunday actually influences the life we live Monday through Saturday. Paul could tell Timothy, “You know my doctrine, but you also know my manner of life.” May God help us to be able to say the same.

Verse 14 says, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of.” I love that word continue. Paul does not tell Timothy to invent something new. He does not tell him to adjust the message to make it more acceptable to the culture around him. He tells him to continue. Stay with what you have been taught. Stay with the truth. Stay with the Scriptures.

The world may change, but the Word does not. Cultures change. Opinions change. Popular ideas change. Generations change. But God’s Word remains. We have been given God’s blessed, holy Word, and our responsibility is to remain loyal to it.

Then Paul says something remarkable in verse 15: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures.” Timothy’s education in Scripture did not begin when he became a preacher. It did not begin when he became Paul’s traveling companion. It began when he was a child.

Paul received Timothy on his team in 49-50 AD. This event occurred in Acts 16:1-3 when Paul picked up Timothy from Lystra. Then Paul wrote 1 Timothy in 64-65 AD. All that to say, if we take the youngest dates, of Timothy being around 49 A.D. and Timothy being 16, well you get it, he would have been close to a new born. Here’s a thought. Paul says he was one that was born out of due time. He’s talking about how he was saved as an adult. Some time after Christ has already resurrected and ascended into heaven, and after the birth of the church and the early work of the apostles, Paul converted. Even the apostles were grown men, John being the youngest, when Jesus came. Timothy was possibly one of the first generations that could be born into home with Christian influence.

Earlier in this letter, Paul reminded Timothy of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. In 2 Timothy 1:5 he said, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice.” Before there was Paul, there was Lois. Before there was Paul, there was Eunice. Before Timothy ever traveled with an apostle, somebody at home was teaching that little boy the Scriptures.

Paul said that “from a child” Timothy had known the Scriptures. We cannot begin too early. Sometimes we look at children and think, “They’re too young to understand.” But children often understand and absorb far more than we realize. They remember things we have forgotten saying. They absorb attitudes. They remember songs, teachers, stories, verses, and experiences.

Childhood presents an opportunity that may never come again. There is a softness and openness in those early years, and what is planted in a child’s heart early may remain there throughout an entire lifetime. A child may forget the craft you did. They may forget the snack you gave them. They may forget what the classroom looked like. They may even forget the name of the person who taught them. But somewhere down the road, when life becomes difficult, the Holy Spirit may bring back a verse that somebody planted in their heart years earlier.

They may remember, “For God so loved the world.” They may remember, “The LORD is my shepherd.” They may remember, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” We should never underestimate the seed that is being planted when we put Scripture into the heart of a child.

The Scriptures and Salvation — 2 Timothy 3:15

Paul continues by saying that the holy Scriptures “are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Notice carefully what Paul says. The Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation, but knowing Scripture is not the same thing as being saved.

A person can know the books of the Bible and still be lost. A person can quote verses and still be lost. A person can know Bible stories and still be lost. A person can understand Christian doctrine and still be lost. A person can attend Sunday School from childhood and still need Jesus Christ.

That means the goal of Sunday School cannot simply be to create people who possess Bible knowledge. We are not simply trying to fill heads with information. We are using the Scriptures to point hearts toward Jesus Christ.

Paul says that the Scriptures make us wise unto salvation “through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Salvation is not through Sunday School attendance. Salvation is not through church membership. Salvation is not through memorizing enough Bible verses. Salvation is not through being a good person. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ.

But how does a person learn about Christ? Through the Word. How do they learn that they are sinners? Through the Word. How do they learn that Christ died for their sins? Through the Word. How do they learn that He rose again? Through the Word. How do they learn that salvation is available through faith? Through the Word.

Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

That is why Scripture must remain central to everything we do. Our classrooms can be exciting. Our teachers can be creative. Our programs can be engaging. There is nothing wrong with making learning enjoyable. But when everything is finished, they need to have heard the Word of God.

Our personalities cannot save them. Our activities cannot save them. Our programs cannot save them. Our churches cannot save them. But the Word of God can point them to the One who can.

The Sufficiency of Scripture — 2 Timothy 3:16–17

Paul then gives us one of the greatest statements in all the Bible concerning Scripture: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable.” The Bible is not merely man’s thoughts about God. It is God’s Word to man. It is inspired by God, and because it comes from God, it is profitable for our lives.

Paul says Scripture is profitable first “for doctrine.” Doctrine is teaching. The Bible tells us what is right. It tells us what we should believe. It tells us who God is. It tells us who we are. It tells us about sin, salvation, eternity, heaven, judgment, and how we ought to live. We do not determine truth by what is popular. We determine truth by what God has said.

Then Paul says Scripture is profitable “for reproof.” Reproof shows us where we are wrong. Sometimes the Bible comforts us, but sometimes the Bible confronts us. We need both. If I am wrong, I need the Word of God to show me that I am wrong.

Then Scripture is profitable “for correction.” I love the progression. Doctrine tells me what is right. Reproof tells me where I am wrong. Correction tells me how to get right. God does not merely point out our failures and leave us there. His Word shows us the way back.

Finally, Scripture is profitable “for instruction in righteousness.” That is training in right living. The Bible does not only tell us how to become Christians; the Bible teaches us how Christians ought to live. It trains us. It shapes us. It develops us. It teaches us how to walk with God.

Then verse 17 gives us the result: “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” The idea is that the believer is made complete and equipped. God’s Word gives us what we need. That is why we must never lose confidence in Scripture. We do not need to apologize for it. We do not need to improve it. We do not need to replace it. We need to teach it.

When I read this passage, I cannot help but think about Timothy. Somewhere years earlier, when Timothy was just a little boy, Lois and Eunice began putting Scripture into his heart. They could not see everything God was going to do with him. They did not know that Timothy would travel with Paul. They did not know that Timothy would become a preacher. They did not know that two books of our New Testament would bear his name. They were simply faithful with the child God had placed before them.

That ought to encourage every parent, grandparent, Sunday School teacher, children’s worker, and Christian who has an opportunity to influence a young person. You do not know what God may do with the child sitting in front of you. You do not know what that child will face twenty years from now. You do not know where life will take them. You do not know what God may call them to do.

But you can give them something that will still be true twenty, forty, or sixty years from now. You can give them the Word of God.

We live in perilous times, and that is exactly why we need Scripture. People need salvation, and that is exactly why we must point them to Christ. Children are growing up in a world filled with competing voices, and that is exactly why Sunday School, Christian homes, and faithful Bible teaching still matter.

So let us teach the Bible. Let us teach it faithfully. Let us teach it clearly. Let us teach it while they are young. Let us teach it believing that God’s Word will accomplish what we never could.

Because long after they have forgotten the classroom, long after they have forgotten the lesson title, and perhaps long after they have forgotten us, the Word planted in their hearts can remain.

And our prayer should be that those sacred Scriptures will make them “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”