Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

2 Timothy 3:15

καὶ ὅτι : dependent on εἰδώς. For the change of construction, von Soden compares Romans 9:22-23; 1 Corinthians 14:5. Timothy's knowledge of things divine was derived not merely from persons, but from sacred writings; and, perhaps, as Theophylact notes, the two points are emphasised: (a) that the persons were of no ordinary merit, and (b) that his knowledge of Scripture was conterminous with the whole of his conscious existence. He could not recall a period when he had not known sacred writings. This is the force of the hyperbolic ἀπὸ βρέφους.

ἱερὰ γράμματα : sacras litteras, sacred writings (R.V.). For this use of γράμματα see John 7:15, and Moulton and Milligan, Expositor, vii., vi. 383. The force of this peculiar phrase is that Timothy's A B C lessons had been of a sacred nature. The usual N.T. equivalent for the Holy Scriptures (A.V.) is αἱ γραφαί or ἡ γραφή (once γραφαὶ ἅγιαι, Romans 1:2); but St. Paul here deliberately uses an ambiguous term in order to express vigorously the notion that Timothy's first lessons were in Holy Scripture. τὰ ἱερὰ γράμματα is found in Josephus, Antiq. Prooem 3 and x. 10, 4, and elsewhere. Cf. παραναγνοὺς τὴν ἱερὰν βίβλον (2Ma 8:23). There may be also an allusion to γράμματα of the false teachers which were not ἱερά. See on next verse.

σοφίσαι; instruere, cf. Psalms 18 (19):8, ἡ μαρτυρία Κυρίου πιστή, σοφίζουσα νήπια. Also Psalms 104 (105):22, 118 (119):98. The word is chosen for its O.T. reference, and also because of its strictly educational association.

εἰς σωτηρίαν : a constant Pauline phrase. See reff.

διὰ πίστεως : to be joined closely with σοφίσαι. Cf. de Imitatione Christi, iii. 2, “Let not Moses nor any prophet speak to me; but speak thou rather, O Lord God, who art the inspirer and enlightener of all the prophets; for thou alone without them canst perfectly instruct me, but they without thee will avail nothing. They may indeed sound forth words, but they do not add to them the Spirit.… They shew the way, but thou givest strength to walk in it,” etc.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

2 Timothy 3:15

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