Dr. Smith:

I came across your article after doing a google search on 2 Tim 3.14-17. (See http://jmm.org.au/articles/15292.htm )

I didn’t find a date on your article, but it is refreshing to learn someone is still questioning the interpretation of texts that most think are long settled.

I hope you don’t mind me sharing my thoughts on the text and asking for your response. Born into a conservative evangelical home, I was taught 2 Tim 3.16-17 from the womb, practically. Leaders in my church instructed us youngsters to interpret it as the entire Protestant canon. I was always troubled by the presumption that somehow St Paul knew that what he was writing was “inspired” and would some day be a part of Holy Writ. The acceptable alternative was that St Paul was simply referring to the Hebrew Bible.

Today (I’m 37 now) I understand it differently. I can see how, by taking 2 Tim 3.16-17 out of its literary context, one naturally would associate “scripture” of v 16 with the OT. I submit, however, that St Paul is not referring to the OT at all, but to written stories about Jesus that were circulating in the Christian community from around 30 ad to 50 ad. Consider the two preceding verses (3.14-15). Paul (50 yrs old?) is writing a letter to a young man of maybe 20 yrs at most. Timothy was probably born just before or just after Christ’s death. St Paul reminds young Timothy to remember the stories about Jesus he was taught, heard and read growing up. Those stories–about a divine man who promised eternal life to those who believed–made up the “sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (v15, Revised Standard Version). We know other documents were out there; the gospel writers consulted them in composing their books (eg. “Q,” etc.).

Again, St Paul’s “scripture” in v 16 is referencing the “sacred writings” of v 15, not the OT. The OT, and Saul/Paul knew it well, does not clearly “instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” Edifying stories, however, written by eyewitnesses and other believers do instruct for salvation through faith in Jesus.

This is not a commonly found belief, but one that seems more plausible than the conventional one prevalent in evangelical circles. Any thoughts?

Scott Penner Colorado Springs, CO USA

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‘You’re welcome to post my comments with my name and location, as well as the following email address, (because I’d enjoy reading the input of others): pennersd[at]yahoo.com.

Thank you.

Scott Penner’