But continue thou… 2Tim 3:14-17
This remarkable exhortation is given by the aged, and soon-to-be-martyred Apostle to his young successor in the gospel, Timothy. The generational change in view here is something that should sober the cause of God. Preparing for this changeover exercised Paul’s mind at this point. A crisis point in the history of the work of God has come.
Yet there is a more constant change in view here too. The back drop to these words is one of increasing apostasy. The Apostle references increasing wickedness and developing delusion. A vortex of lawlessness and rebellion against God develops in the last days. Cp v1-8, 1Tim 4:1-6, 2Thess 2:3, 7-8.
The people of God are ever to be a contrast to this,…but. The individual Christian is to chart a course of personal opposition to this trend in faithful adherence to the word of God. Apostasy has a specific effect upon men’s regard for Scripture. Cp Gen 3:1. This to be resisted with dogged determination to continue…
The word of God is the unchanging rule of life in a day of apostasy and God’s servants are to steadfastly abide faithful to it. Cp Ps 119:115
I THE TRUE CHARACTER OF THE SCRIPTURES.
An understanding of this underlies the whole concept of spiritual continuity and steadfastness that Paul is developing here.
- The holy scriptures. The reference is to ‘the sacred letters’. There is a focus on the smallest individual components of the written word of God. Cp Matt 5:17-18. These letters are ‘sacred’ and holy. They are not common or profane but are devoted to a Divine purpose and Divine use.
- The ‘God-breathed’ word, v16. The production of the Scriptures was the work of the Holy Ghost. The words originated in God Himself! Cp 2Peter 1:19-2:1. This is an absolutely reliable witness to the revelation of God.
- It is a word with Divine power. It is a word that is able… It has ability and power. It is enabled with the very power of God. Cp 1Cor 1:18, 2Cor 10:4, 1Pet 1:23. This ability of the word is developed in the concept of its being profitable in various directions, v16. These are the constituent ingredients of the wisdom that it produces.
doctrine. This is the ability to teach man what he needs to know and is by nature ignorant of.
Reproof. The word exposes and condemns error. It brings in evidence and secures a conviction.
Correction. The word has the ability to correct (‘straighten out again’) that which has been identified as wrong.
Instruction in righteousness. This is the practical wisdom or application of the word to right/straight behaviour. This is the evidence of the power of the word at work in the life.
II UNFLINCHING FAITH AND CONVICTION IN GOD’S WORD IS VITAL TO SPIRITUAL CONTINUITY.
- Assured. Already Timothy is a believer in the word of God. He has long been convinced of what Paul states here. Yet he needs to hear again and is urged to develop that aspect of his faith. Constant instruction on this matter of adherence to the word of God maintains faith and its convictions. The attitude of ‘we know that already’ is a very dangerous one in God’s work. Cp 2Pet 1:12.
- Faith in Christ Jesus. It is very important to notice the relationship between saving faith in Christ and faith in the Scriptures. A man who believes in Christ believes the Bible! The Scriptures work in the life through the faith that rests in Christ. Cp Jn 15:10.
III ARGUMENTS FOR CONTINUITY.
- The command of God, v14. God’s command to His servants is to remain fixed upon the truth of His word. Cp 1:13-14.
- Human influence. Paul refers to the influences that Timothy had come under. He is speaking of himself initially. Cp v10. He also refers to Timothy’s parents and others who had influenced him from his infancy, v15.
- The glorious fruit of continuing in the word. The Apostle references two things here:
- Being wise unto salvation. This is the wisdom that first brings a man to Christ; then that guides him into safety and the experience of deliverance in his entire Christian experience; and will bring him to the consummation of salvation in glory. Cp 1 Tim 4:16
- The only means of perfection in the service of God. The man of God matures and develops only as he abides in the word. His service becomes comprehensive and compasses all good works.