But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:14-15)

It is a non-Christian dictum that people should live authentically, or that they should be true to themselves. The trouble is that when terrible people live out their true nature, terrible times result. All kinds of evil flourish in society because evil people live authentically. They think and behave in line with the nature of their father, the devil. Many of them have even infiltrated the church. They exhibit a form of godliness but deny its power in their character and their doctrine. They oppose the truth and persecute the righteous.

But we are here to stand against them. Although they conspire against us, the Bible says that the Lord sits on his throne and laughs at them. Just as the Lord laughs at his enemies, Elijah mocked the false prophets. Those who are faithful to the gospel ought to follow their godly example and ridicule unbelievers. We honor God when we jeer at those who spurn his wisdom and power. We embolden the elect when we remind them that unbelief is foolish and futile, and that it is proper, even necessary, to say so. And we take a stand against the onslaughts of non-Christians when we demonstrate that they are the ones who are irrational and immoral. To paraphrase the confrontation between Ahab and Elijah, when they say, “Are you the ones who trouble this world?” we answer, “No! You are the ones!”

Paul says that he is different from the false teachers and religious impostors. Whereas they are ungrateful, unholy, without love, and so on, and whereas they oppose the truth, the apostle points to his sound teaching, his way of life, his purpose, faith, patience, and other godly qualities. He also mentions that he has endured persecution numerous times. His doctrines, virtues, and sufferings are public information.

Commentators hurry to explain why Paul’s statement does not constitute prideful boasting of his accomplishments. What is strange is that such a defense is needed. Perhaps they mention it for the benefit of the readers. Clearly, Paul does not consider himself prideful, nor is there anything in Scripture that would condemn this kind of straight talk. So unless we approach the Bible with a standard of humility that is foreign to the Bible – an unbiblical standard – we would regard it as a truthful statement about the work of God’s grace within him, and it would not even cross our minds that he might be making a prideful boast about his own spirituality. The way we approach Scripture exposes our attitudes and prejudices. In any case, the apostle provides a forthright statement to contrast himself against those who have a form of godliness but deny its power.

Then he tells Timothy to be different also. The way to do that is to “continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of.” Again, the basic difference is doctrinal. Paul says that Timothy is convinced of the doctrines that he has learned. This is a sharp contrast to those spiritually weak and confused individuals who are “always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.”

Some people are always curious about the latest religious theories and movements. They enjoy taking snippets of teaching here and there, comment on it, and argue about it. We used to complain that there are so many Bible studies without competent oversight, where ignorant believers, swayed by their own desires and prejudices, are allowed to contribute their opinions on Scripture. Now we have the Internet, so they do not even need to leave their homes to do this.

Then, some are more adventurous and even arrange public debates to defend Christianity. But for them the whole enterprise is a personal and academic quest. They revel in the discussions and controversies, but not in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not genuine zeal or love for God, but it is only another example of a form of godliness without its power. Their activities constitute a form of entertainment for themselves. Their work appears to be a ministry only because it happens that they side with the Christian faith, at least for now. Rather, we should learn the truth and become convinced of it, established in it, and stand firm on it.

Timothy has learned the right doctrines from reliable instructors since he was an infant. Parents and ministers should teach children biblical doctrines at least as soon as they are able to understand language. Even better, they should teach children language through biblical doctrines. It is commonly assumed that children find doctrines boring and difficult. So instead of teaching them the Old Testament prophets and Paul’s epistles, we tell them stories about Noah’s Ark, Samson, and David and Goliath. Of course, these are very fine stories, but we must not present them only as stories, but as historical events placed in the context of God’s revelation concerning his purposes and actions in time, leading to the appearing of Jesus Christ, and also explaining their place in the system of Christian doctrines. It is not up to us to assume on behalf of the children that doctrines are boring and difficult. Teach them. Let the little reprobates fall asleep, but give the elect children a chance to learn. There might be a Timothy among them.

A well-known theologian recently published a book of systematic theology for children. It is a wonderful idea. However, this otherwise decent work is marred by repeated reminders that some of the doctrines under consideration are hard to understand. But this is almost always preceded or followed by clear and simple explanations of the doctrines, and most of the time the explanations are sound or at least acceptable. It seems the writer is programmed by the religious tradition that some doctrines are supposed to be hard to understand, so this is what a person is supposed to say even if he is able to explain almost everything clearly and in simple terms.

However, it is a gross injustice to the children, even a poisoning of their minds, to tell them that certain doctrines are hard to understand unless the Bible itself specifically declares those doctrines to be difficult for human comprehension. Otherwise, we would be imposing our own incompetence and unbiblical tradition on the next generation. The apostle Peter admits that some of Paul’s writings are hard to understand. But he does not specify particular passages or doctrines. In addition, even something that is hard to understand can be understood – hard does not mean impossible. And something that used to be hard to understand, once understood, can be understood better and better until it becomes easy to think about and to explain. Unless the Bible is more specific, it is not up to some theologian to tell us what we can or cannot understand just because he finds it difficult, or just because he thinks we are stupid. He has no right to impose his own limitations and prejudices upon us. Let us stop installing mental blocks in our children’s minds, so that they may advance beyond us.

Paul remarks that the sacred writings are able to make Timothy “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” As he does in other places, the apostle makes the difference between Christians and non-Christians a matter of wisdom, that is, of the intellect and of intelligence. In his letter to the Romans, he refers to wicked men who have refused to acknowledge or worship God since the creation of the world. And he says, “Their thoughts are useless, and their stupid minds are in the dark. They claim to be wise, but they are fools” (Romans 1:21-22, CEV).

It is strange that even Christians insist that non-Christians are intelligent. Whose side are they on? Sometimes they posit a narrow meaning for wisdom that limits it to moral issues. So the unbelievers are “morally stupid.” This argument fails for at least three reasons. First, the Bible does not use this or equivalent words in this narrow sense. The context always lends itself to an intellectual interpretation, that the non-Christians are intellectually stupid. Second, the Bible distinguishes between being stupid and being wicked, and declares that unbelievers are both stupid and wicked, not just wicked. Third, the Bible says that the unbelievers “claim to be wise” but that this claim is wrong. But the unbelievers do not claim to be wise only in a moral sense. Unless these Christians are ready to accuse the Bible of equivocation, when it says that non-Christians are fools, it corresponds to the unbelievers’ claim that they are wise – that is, not only in the moral sense. Therefore, the teaching of the Bible is that non-Christians are unwise people – they are unintelligent, stupid fools. Of course, they are wicked as well. This quality is related to foolishness, but it is distinguishable from it.

Scripture gives wisdom that leads to salvation. This presupposes sin and hell. We are rescued from these by the wisdom that we receive from biblical doctrines. This wisdom teaches the way of faith, and this means that personal belief in something definite is necessary. Salvation is not automatically and universally applied, but only certain people receive it, and those people are marked by faith.

This faith is in “Christ Jesus.” This is associated with a definite idea of God, of incarnation, of atonement and resurrection. The faith of salvation is definite, and its focus is singular and exclusive. Salvation belongs to those who intelligently believes in what Scripture says about Jesus Christ. Any proposal that is not of faith, or that is not of faith in Christ, is not only unintelligent, but it is powerless to save anyone from everlasting damnation.