“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them” (2 Timothy 3:14).
Throughout his Biblical letters to Timothy, Paul the Apostle has repeatedly emphasized the primary importance of God’s Word. For instance…
“If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed” (1 Timothy 4:6).
“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16).
“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself” (1 Timothy 6:3-5).
“Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13).
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
In light of the numerous examples of spiritual deception that abound within our world today, we can help avoid such dangers as we prayerfully take heed to the Scriptures quoted above. However, 2 Timothy 3:14 should also prompt us to ask an important question: where did Timothy gain access to the things he had “…learned and been assured of”?
The following commentator gives us some potential answers that offer a pattern we can follow today…
“Paul didn’t specify exactly whom he had in mind when he mentioned those who taught Timothy. Was he referring to Timothy’s family, especially his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice, who nurtured Timothy in the faith (2 Tim. 1:5)? Was he referring to himself as Timothy’s mentor? Or was Paul directing Timothy’s attention to the ultimate source of the things he had learned, namely God? We cannot be sure.
But what is clear is what Timothy had learned—the Scriptures. He had been taught the Hebrew Scriptures, our Old Testament, from an early age, and it is clear that Paul wanted Timothy to continue to be a diligent student of the Word of God.” (1)
(1) Sproul, R. C. (2008). Five Things Every Christian Needs to Grow, © 2008 by R.C. Sproul Reformation Trust Publishing, a division of Ligonier Ministries