This is the fifth in the series of exposition of 2 Timothy 3:14-17. You can check the first four parts below:
Navigating Adversity in Pastoral Leadership: From Christendom to Missional Ministry
Equipped by the Word: The Man of God’s Response to Adversity and Leadership Challenges
Reviewing our central question:
In what way the word of God can make you, a man or woman of God perfect, complete, and thoroughly equipped for every good work?
Our first response to the above question is that “God can make you perfect, complete, and thoroughly equipped if you will continue to study His word.”
Now for our second response:
God can make you perfect, complete, and thoroughly equipped if you are convinced that only the word of God can make you wise.
In contrast to Bertrand Russel’s criticism of certainty of knowledge, the language of the apostle Paul here affirms that certainty of biblical or theological knowledge exists. Observe the words or the verbs he used to signify certainty of knowledge:
“. . . continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know . . . and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (vs. 14-15).
The phrases “have become convinced of,” “you know,” and “you have known” imply certainty of knowledge. Language like this runs contrary to what’s popular these days. If you speak the language of doubt, uncertainty, and skepticism, that is considered “broadmindedness” and “scholarship” (Of course, they don't say it plainly or obviously. Modern man has his unique way of expressing his doubt and uncertainty in a "respectable" manner). But if you speak the language of certainty and conviction, that will be perceived as arrogance, dogmaticism, and narrowmindedness. However, for the man of God, there is no way he can address doctrinal and moral issues of the day if he is not certain about what the Word of God is saying about these issues. Pastoral leadership in our time is in crisis simply because pastors are not convinced that the Word of God is a reliable guide to resolve our modern predicament.
Wisdom Based on God’s Word
The wisdom of which the apostle Paul talks here has to do with salvation or redemption. This wisdom comes under particular favor or special grace since it is salvific. Moreover, the apostle believed that redemption and wisdom could only be attained by faith in Christ. This suggests that the salvation and faith that the Bible teaches are not at odds with, or in opposition to, knowledge or understanding.
Our salvation and faith are reasonable or based on knowledge. The popular idea that reason (knowledge) and faith as contradictory is mistaken. However, those who contend that knowledge, or reason, should be the yardstick for faith are as misguided. Furthermore, the reformed view of the relationship between faith and reason finds it unusual to believe in the superiority of faith to reason or knowledge. Herman Bavinck, a prominent Dutch Reformed theologian in the late 19th and early 20th centuries resolves the conflict between the two by arguing that faith is actually “a disposition or habit of reason itself” and “is the natural breath of the children of God.” He adds, “Faith is not a sacrifice of the intellect (knowledge) but mental health (sanitas mentis).” There is such a thing as believing reason (believing knowledge), a reason or knowledge restored and empowered by faith.