Looking for Wisdom?

I LOVE the Second Letter to Timothy!  It isn’t very long—just four chapters—but it is so packed with sound advice!

If you have ever struggled with reading scripture (you are definitely not alone) you will want to take in Paul’s words of wisdom.

In Chapter 3, he gives his testimony about all that he has endured and how God delivered him.  The he offers this to Timothy (and us!):

“. . . from infancy you have known [the] sacred scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Bear with me while I unpack this a little bit.

I would guess that there are many people who do not feel like they fall into the “from infancy you have known [the] sacred scriptures” category, so let’s lay that part aside for now.

In Jesus we have salvation.  Salvation means we will enjoy freedom from sin—the Catechism of the Catholic Church says specifically, salvation is “The forgiveness of sins, and restoration of friendship with God, which can be done by God alone.”

God’s wisdom unfolds for us in scripture and salvation comes with our faith in Jesus.  Jesus is the means through which we gain salvation.

How does scripture do that for us?

Paul goes on to say that “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

Scripture, being the inspired Word of God, has within it the capacity for leading us to holiness, which leads us to Jesus and salvation.

We learn about salvation throughout the whole of scripture and through the wisdom of the early church Fathers.  Particularly, the Catechism of the Catholic Church notes that “all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body.” (¶ 846)

So with the Church being the Body of Christ, this then, naturally, leads us back to the sacraments of the Church for “God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism . . .” (¶1257)

And finally, just a quick mention about the final words of Chapter 3 where Paul finishes that statement about scripture, stressing that it prepares those who belong to God to be “competent, equipped for every good work.”

Scripture does all that.  In it God’s wisdom is revealed, his disciples are prepared and salvation-for-all is realized. Scripture is not the only means through which this is accomplished, but it certainly is a sacred path forward.

I highly encourage you to spend some time in scripture so that you can grow in holiness and grow in your relationship with Jesus through whom salvation comes.  In doing so, in belonging to God, you are well prepared to do the good work God has called you to do.

Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.blogspot.com
janetcassidy.blubrry.net