2 Timothy 3.15b-Paul Describes the Old Testament in Relation to Timothy Experiencing Salvation
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday August 5, 2015
Second Timothy: Second Timothy 3:15b-Paul Describes the Old Testament in Relation to Timothy Experiencing Salvation
Lesson # 80
2 Timothy 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. (NASB95)
“Which are able to give you the wisdom” is composed of the following: (1) articular accusative neuter plural present middle participle form of the verb dunamai (δύναμαι), “are able” (2) accusative second person singular form of the personal pronoun su (σύ), “you” (3) aorist active infinitive form of the verb sophizō (σοφίζω), “to give wisdom.”
The verb dunamai means, “to have the capacity, to be able to do something, to have the power to do something” and denotes that the Old Testament Scriptures are “able” or “have the ability” to give Timothy wisdom which leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The present tense of the verb dunamai is a “gnomic” present used to make a statement of a general, timeless fact indicating that the Old Testament Scriptures are “as an eternal spiritual truth” able to give Timothy wisdom for the purpose of experiencing salvation.
The verb sophizō means “to give wisdom” since it pertains to causing a person to have wisdom and understanding.
It denotes that the Old Testament Scriptures are able “to impart or give wisdom” to Timothy in the sense that they can cause him to develop understanding to a relatively sophisticated degree for the purpose of experiencing salvation.
“That leads to salvation” is composed of the following: (1) preposition eis (εἰς), “that leads to” (2) accusative feminine singular form of the noun soteria (σωτηρία), “the salvation.”
The noun sōtēria means “deliverance, salvation” and is used with reference of course to Timothy and contains the figure of metonymy meaning that salvation is put for experiencing salvation.
It is also the object of the preposition eis which is a marker of purpose which indicates that this prepositional phrase is presenting the purpose for which the Old Testament is able to give wisdom to Timothy.
“Through faith” is composed of the following: (1) preposition dia (διά), “through” (2) genitive feminine singular form of the noun pistis (πίστις), “faith.”
The noun pistis is used in an active sense referring to Timothy’s post-conversion faith in the Word of God and specifically the Old Testament and Paul’s apostolic teaching since Timothy was already declared justified through faith in Jesus Christ.
The noun pistis is the object of the preposition dia which is functioning as a marker of means which indicates that the Old Testament Scriptures are able to give wisdom to Timothy for the purpose of his experiencing his salvation “by means of” faith in his union and identification with Jesus Christ.
“Which is in Christ Jesus” is composed of the following: (1) genitive feminine singular form of the definite article ho (ὁ), “which” (2) preposition en (ἐν), “in” (3) dative masculine singular form of the noun Christos (Χριστός), “Christ” (4) dative masculine singular form of the proper noun Iesous (Ἰησοῦς), “Jesus.”
The proper name Christos is a technical word designating the humanity of our Lord as the promised Savior for all mankind who is unique as the incarnate Son of God and totally and completely guided and empowered by the Spirit as the Servant of the Father.
Christos contains the figure of metonymy meaning that the person of Christ is put for Timothy’s union and identification with Him in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session at the right hand of the Father.
This word is the object of the preposition en which is a marker of close personal association and means, “in union with.”
The proper name Iesous stands in apposition to the proper noun Christos, “Christ” and clarifies for the reader that Jesus is the Christ since there were many in the first century who claimed to be the Messiah, the Christ, Paul clarifies for us who He is, namely, Jesus of Nazareth.
Second Timothy 3:14 You however in contrast to them continue making it your habit of conforming to the standard of those things which you have learned through instruction and observation, indeed have become convinced of, because you certainly know from whom you have learned through instruction and observation. 15 Yes, because from childhood you certainly know the holy Scriptures which are able to give you wisdom for the purpose of experiencing salvation by means of faith in your union and identification with the Christ, who is Jesus. (Author’s translation)
Paul goes on to assert that the Old Testament Scriptures are able to give Timothy wisdom.
They are able to impart or give wisdom to Timothy in the sense that they can cause him to develop understanding to a relatively sophisticated degree for the purpose of experiencing salvation.
The apostle then presents the purpose for which the Old Testament is able to give wisdom to Timothy.
The Scriptures are able to give wisdom to Timothy in order that he can have the capacity to experience salvation or his deliverance from sin and Satan and his cosmic system.
Understanding that Timothy is already a believer is critical to understand how Paul is using this word “salvation.”
Therefore, since Timothy is already a believer, “salvation” refers to him experiencing the deliverance from personal sins, the sin nature, Satan, his cosmic system, condemnation from the Law, spiritual and physical death and of course eternal condemnation.
This deliverance was accomplished through the crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session of the Lord Jesus Christ and which deliverance was appropriated by the Holy Spirit for Timothy at the moment of his conversion.
The baptism of the Spirit at his conversion identified Timothy with Jesus Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session.
Thus, he is positionally identified with Jesus Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session which provides him the guarantee of being perfected in a resurrection body and sets up the potential for Timothy to experience this deliverance in time prior to being perfected.
He can experience this deliverance by appropriating by faith his identification with Jesus Christ which is accomplished by Timothy considering himself dead to the sin nature and alive to God.
The Old Testament Scriptures would provide Timothy many examples of Old Testament saints who appropriated the power or omnipotence of God to experience deliverance from their enemies.
By appropriating by faith his union and identification with Jesus Christ, Timothy would appropriate the power of God in his life and thus be able to experience his deliverance or salvation in time prior to being perfected in a resurrection body.
A comparison of Second Timothy 1:5 and his statement in Second Timothy 3:15 indicate that Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice gave him instruction in the Old Testament and provided him an example of how to walk by faith in the Old Testament Scriptures.
Timothy’s mother and grandmother obeyed Paul’s apostolic command in Ephesians 6:4 to bring up children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Fathers and mothers are to train their children by means of the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Now, we must remember that Paul’s apostolic teaching or in other words, the gospel which he communicated was consistent with the teaching of the Old Testament because the gospel presents Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises (cf. Rom. 1:1-4).
The gospel’s presentation of the character and nature of God is consistent with that of the Old Testament.
The emphasis upon faith in God’s Word in the Old Testament is consistent with the gospel, i.e. the teaching of Jesus and His apostles.
The teaching in the Old Testament that the believer is to love God with their entire being and neighbor as oneself is consistent with that of the teaching of Jesus and the apostles since they affirmed this teaching.
Also, the Old Testament provides many examples where God has delivered His people from adversity and persecution as a result of their exercising faith in Him which would be very helpful for Timothy since he was facing persecution and undeserved suffering because of remaining faithful to Paul’s apostolic teaching.
Next, in Second Timothy 3:15, Paul presents the means by which Timothy could experience salvation or deliverance from sin and Satan.
It was by means of faith or appropriating by faith his union and identification with Jesus Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session.
Therefore, “faith” is used here in an active sense referring to Timothy’s post-conversion faith in the Word of God and specifically the Old Testament and Paul’s apostolic teaching since Timothy was already declared justified through faith in Jesus Christ.
The word speaks of Timothy’s post-conversion faith in the Word of God or in other words, his faith in the Spirit’s teaching that is revealed through the communication of the Word of God whether it be the teaching of the Old Testament or the gospel.
It does not refer to saving faith or justifying faith in Jesus Christ for eternal salvation but rather the Christian’s faith in the Word of God after their conversion since in context Paul is speaking of Timothy experiencing salvation after his conversion.
Paul is emphasizing with Timothy that in order for him to experience salvation or deliverance from sin, Satan and his cosmic system the object of his faith must be his union and identification with Jesus Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session.
He must appropriate this deliverance by appropriating by faith his union and identification with Jesus Christ.