2 Timothy 3:15 Meaning and Explanation
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Scriptures Timothy learned as a small child were quietly leading him all along to salvation in Christ.
The Context of 2 Timothy 3:15
Paul reminds Timothy where his faith began. Timothy was taught the Scriptures from infancy by his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois (2 Timothy 1:5), Jewish believers who raised him on the holy writings.
What Does 2 Timothy 3:15 Mean?
Paul reaches back to Timothy's earliest years. 'From a child,' literally from infancy, Timothy had known the holy Scriptures, taught at his mother's and grandmother's knees long before he ever met Paul. These were the writings we now call the Old Testament, the only Scriptures yet gathered. Paul says they are 'able to make thee wise unto salvation,' not as a storehouse of facts but as words that open the eyes and ready the heart.
Yet Paul adds the hinge on which it all turns: 'through faith which is in Christ Jesus.' The Scriptures of Timothy's childhood were pointing forward the whole time, and their wisdom finds its goal in Christ. Jesus said the same, that the Scriptures 'are they which testify of me' (John 5:39). The seeds planted in a little boy by faithful women grew into a man who served the gospel, and the One those pages were always about.
2 Timothy 3:15 in the Original Language
brephos (βρέφος), 'a child' -- an infant, a babe; the same word for the newborn in the manger (Luke 2:12).
How to Apply 2 Timothy 3:15 Today
The truths planted in us early, even before we understood them, can ripen into living faith. And whatever Scripture we hold, its deepest aim is to make us wise unto salvation through Christ, pointing past itself to Him.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Timothy 3:15
What does 2 Timothy 3:15 mean?
The Scriptures Timothy learned as a small child were quietly leading him all along to salvation in Christ.
What is the context of 2 Timothy 3:15?
Paul reminds Timothy where his faith began. Timothy was taught the Scriptures from infancy by his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois (2 Timothy 1:5), Jewish believers who raised him on the holy writings.
How can I apply 2 Timothy 3:15 today?
The truths planted in us early, even before we understood them, can ripen into living faith. And whatever Scripture we hold, its deepest aim is to make us wise unto salvation through Christ, pointing past itself to Him.