2 Timothy 3:16-17 - Christianity - - Page 4 - City-Data Forum

DNick · 03-11-2009, 01:41 PM

Oh, I didn't take it in a rude way. Its your thread. And there not much more to discuss, I said what I wanted, now its just time for reflection about those books. And whether or not you accept them.

VelcroQueen · 03-11-2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oakback

What "scripture" was Paul referring to in this epistle?

Surely not the NT. It had not yet been compiled.

Exactly. He was writing of the Tanakh.

jennaflorrie · 03-11-2009, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VelcroQueen

Exactly. He was writing of the Tanakh.

Paul was speaking about the Old Testament and - bearing in mind that God breathed into the words that Paul spoke - he spoke prophetically about the new testament, a large part of which was written by people he may have been familiar with and by himself. There is nothing that SHOULD have been added that has been left out. God is totally capable of compiling the map for mankind - that is the Bible as it is - without error!

Dave_n_Tenn · 03-12-2009, 07:55 AM

Paul refers to the Bible as holy Scriptures(I{eraV gravmmata) in 3:15, but Scripture (grafhv) in 3:16.
Some have argued that there is a difference here where the former refers only to the OT writings while the latter refers to the OT writings plus written apostolic instruction which we now call the New Testament. These apostolic writings were recorded in the 1-st. century but had not become part of the cannon, but clearly were recorded. Paul in 2Tim 3:16-17 is repeating and exhorting Timothy to use all scripture to deal with argumentative, man based pragmatism that he was facing during his ministry.

Now... (IMO)here's the question, If this explination seems to included non cannocial writings at the time of Paul's statement, even though they eventually made it into the cannon, can we use non cannonical writings for “training in righteousness”? I am of the opinion we can, there are many great writings that are not "holy scripture" but are scriptural based... which we call doctrine. Doctrine is important to all Christian faiths, and gives us a starting point from what others have already learned and hold close.