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Acquainted with the Sacred Writings - 2 Tim. 3
Acquainted with the Sacred Writings - 2 Tim. 3
It is with dismay and sadness that I watch whenever they go ‘on the street’ and ask people some basic bible questions. It is apparent that most people have only a very superficial acquaintance withe the Sacred Writings. These writings are able to make us wise unto salvation as they lead us to faith / trust in Jesus as the Christ. They are inspired of God and are profitable to make us complete before God and equipped for every good work. They are the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). Yet such writings only ‘work’ when we know them.
Timothy was a man of God, a fellow-worker with Paul. He was set on such a course by the work of his mother and grandmother. Through their efforts they had provided a basis from which Timothy developed a genuine, un-hypocritical trust in God, Jesus, and the word of God.
They started with the correct foundation of knowledge - the sacred writings. They made him thoroughly acquainted with them, i.e., they taught him the word. All of this was of course the Old Testament as none of the New Testament had yet been written. However, knowledge of the OT would lead one to Christ (Gal. 3:24-26). When Lois and Eunice then heard the gospel, they were prepared to be disciples. So it was with Timothy. They had passed on their faith to Timothy. (2Tim. 1:5).
It is interesting to me that Luke mentions that Timothy’s father was a Greek (Acts 16:1-3). While it is not provable, it sounds to me that Timothy’s father was not of the faith and was, as far a religion goes, not a participant in the training of Timothy. Yet, through the teaching and living examples of these two godly women, a foundation was laid. Moms and grandmas can be a huge factor in the religious character of their children. You take the bible as your foundation and live it in your daily associations. You talk about it. You teach them the stories and then explain the principles as they get older. You put into their minds the information and facts that will allow them to make godly decisions as they get older.
In the case of Timothy - grandma done good!
Hugh DeLong
