O TIMOTHY!

From a message by a Curious Questioner, re: 2Tim.3:16--

>>QU> What exactly is Paul referring to in this verse when he uses the term "all scripture"?

TO ALL SCRIPTURE given by inspiration: "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. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." --2Tim.3:15-17 AV1611 (Author's Version; the pure word of God! :)

>>QU> Therefore 2 Timothy 3:16 is referring to the "original manuscripts" and not subsequent translations.

(Timothy was part greek and part hebrew, so if Timothy had greek "translations" of the old testament available to him "from a child", then obviously such "holy scriptures" were given by inspiration. :)

>CQ> I'm going to go out on a limb here... :)

(Insert "creeking" sound. :)

>CQ> Considering that the only Scripture that existed when 2 Tim was written was what we call the OT,

(CRACK! Falling... GOTCHA! Computer "nets" catch a lot of people! :)

The SCRIPTURES of 1st Timothy already existed when 2nd Timothy was written. In 1st Timothy, Paul cited Deuteronomy 25:4, & part of the "scripture" of the gospel of LUKE 10:7; in 1Tim.5:18-- "For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, the labourer is worthy of his reward." Mark's gospel had already been written by the time of 2nd Timothy, so Timothy surely was familiar with that scripture, after all, according to 2Tim.4:11, "Mark" was with Timothy and was to go with him to see Paul.

Peter classed Paul's "epistles" with the "other scriptures" in 2nd Peter 3:15,16. (That was Peter's last epistle before his "decease.") Peter's epistles were sent to "Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia (where Timothy was the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians), and Bythynia; so Timothy could have had a copy of Peter's epistles. Paul first met Timothy when he came to Derbe and Lystra, and "Gaius" was from Derbe. 3rd John was written to Timothy's neighbour Gaius!

(OK, let's go "way" out on this GRAFTED branch of the oLIVE tree:) Timothy (who was part HEBREW! and part GREEK! :) not only had the hebrew old testament, but also the greek new testament except maybe John's epistles & Revelation, when he received Paul's final epistle of the canon, the second epistle of Paul the apostle to Timothy! Timothy had "the books" (Grk.BIBLIA) and "parchments" according to 2Tim.4:13. And bless THE LORD, O my soul, the "youth" called Timothy was the 1st bishop of the church at Ephesus, one of the 7 churches to which REVELATION, the final book of THE HOLY BIBLE was sent.

Remember that Jesus is the Lord! Grace be with you. Amen. --Richard