2 Timothy 3:10-17
10But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. 11You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. 12Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. 14But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
2 Timothy 3:10-17 · NLT · read the whole chapter ↗
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Context
Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, a young leader he thought of like a son. Paul was in prison in Rome, and this is likely the last letter we have from him. right before this, he paints a hard picture of people who love themselves more than God. then he turns to Timothy with two words: but you.
Second Timothy is probably the last letter we have from Paul. he is in a Roman prison, he expects to die soon, and he is writing to Timothy, a younger leader he trained and loved like a son. Timothy was leading the church in Ephesus, where some teachers were pulling people away from the truth.
right before this passage, Paul describes people who love themselves and money more than God. then he turns to Timothy with a contrast. Timothy has watched how Paul lived and what he went through, and Paul tells him to stay with what he learned and to remember who taught it to him.
verses 15 to 17 explain why the Scriptures are worth staying with. they come from God, and they lead people to trust Jesus.
What it means
inspired by God means the words came from God himself, through real people. and verse 15 says where it all leads: to trusting Jesus.
did you know? the Greek word behind inspired by God is theopneustos, which means God-breathed. when Timothy was a kid, the Scriptures he learned were what we call the Old Testament, because the New Testament hadn't been written yet.
Think about it
who taught you the first things you knew about God, and what's one thing they got right?
Try this
this weekend, thank the person you thought of, with a text or in person.
pray: God, thank you for breathing out your word and putting it in my hands, and for the people who taught me about you. when the world around me gets loud and selfish, help me stay faithful to what's true. use the Bible to correct me and get me ready for whatever good work you have for me. I want to trust Jesus more. amen.
talk about it: who is someone older whose faith you would like to learn from?