Timothy's mom, and grand-mom were Christians. 2 Timothy 1:5
They were Jewish, but was Timothy taught the Jewish teachings under the the old covenant?
Whether that is the case, or not, though it is highly unlikely, since Timothy was a young man, probably 17+, the teachings Paul refered to, are what we read here.
Acts 16:1-4
1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek.
2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
Paul took Timothy under his wing, and trained him. Timothy was spoken well of in the congregation... which means he was listening to the teachings of the apostles.
So what Timothy learned from infancy, were the teachings instilled by Christians who were being taught by the apostles, and as Timothy grew in his teenage years, he matured spiritually, and became an elder under Paul's training.
I'm not mentally insane... yet.
- Timothy had access to Christian Greek scriptures.
- The Gospel of Matthew was available as early as about 40 C.E., so he had Jesus teachings.
- The teachings of the apostles were being heard, as early as 33 C.E. Acts 2:42
- These were put in writing, by letters. 2 Thessalonians 2:15
- As early as 50 C.E., many of Paul's letters were in circulation. 1 Corinthians 11:2
- There were already warnings being given against listening to teachings contrary to these letters. Galatians 1:8, 9
So, Timothy, a relatively young man in the faith, had access to
- Matthew
- Mark
- Luke
- Acts
- Romans
- 1 Corinthians
- 2 Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians
- Philippians
- Colossians
- 1 Thessalonians
- 2 Thessalonians
- 1 Timothy
- 2 Timothy - now reading
- Titus
- Philemon
- Hebrews
- James
- 1 Peter
- 2 Peter
The only letters Timothy did not have access to, were John's.
It's possible he had access to Jude, at the time he receive Paul's second letter to him, since he could be reading this as late as 65 C.E.
When John wrote his letters, he said this:
1 John 4:6
1 John 2:26
In his revelation, John concluded his book this way:
Revelation 22:18, 19
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.
19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
It looks complete to me.
What do you think?
Here is a question for you.
Why don't you accept the book of Mormon as additional directions from the Lord, that Christians need?