2 Timothy 3:16 - What does he mean by "Scriptures"?

[Lux Aeterna]

For reference:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness

Did Paul believe his own letters to be Scripture? The context of 2 Tim 3 makes it sound as if Paul is referring to the Gospel plus the Old Testament, since he said "from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures." (Implying that the Holy Scriptures had already been written by the time this letter was penned.)

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

All scripture meaning both Old and New Testaments.

1 Thessalonians 1:5
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

2 Peter 1:21
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

By the Holy Ghost means "God-breathed"

 

[Lux Aeterna]

At the time he wrote those letters, there was no such thing as the New Testament. Nobody had gathered together these documents and called them canonical. So I'm wondering to what extent the apostles would consider their letters to be Scripture.

It seems obvious that they would have intended the Gospels to reach as many people as possible, but did they anticipate that their letters would receive the same treatment?

 

[Iosias]

He is referring to the Old Testament.

 

[Knee V]

It is referring to the Old Testament. Also, the Old Testament that Timothy would have read, he being a Greek-speaking Gentile, was the Septuagint, which was the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Thus, it is also likely that the canon that Timothy used growing up was a broader canon, similar to what the Orthodox and Catholics use today.

 

[crimsonleaf]

Deleted.

 

[crimsonleaf]

At the time he wrote those letters, there was no such thing as the New Testament. Nobody had gathered together these documents and called them canonical. So I'm wondering to what extent the apostles would consider their letters to be Scripture.

It seems obvious that they would have intended the Gospels to reach as many people as possible, but did they anticipate that their letters would receive the same treatment?

Well, Peter thought that Paul's letters were scripture:

And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, (2Pe 3:15)

as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. (2Pe 3:16)

Surely Peter would have just said "scriptures" not "the other scriptures" if he was discounting Paul's writings...

And Jesus expected these writings to form scripture:

In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. (Mat 26:12) Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her." (Mat 26:13)

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

At the time he wrote those letters, there was no such thing as the New Testament.

When do you think the New Testament began?

Hebrews 9:15-18

King James Version (KJV)

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

The testator was Jesus.

Even though Paul was speaking of the Old Testament 2 Timothy 3:16, the New Testament did not have to be written in ink to be in effect.

As also the apostles were made able ministers of that New Testament by the testimony of Jesus Christ, and by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit from God.

 

[Noxot]

'since birth you have known the Holy Scriptures'.... this speaks about being born from above and having the laws written down inside your heart, having living waters gush out of your belly... as Wisdom prophesied would happen to her servants.

and again as isaiah says:

Isa 59:20-21 (YLT)
And come to Zion hath a redeemer, Even to captives of transgression in Jacob, An affirmation of Jehovah. And I--this is My covenant with them, said Jehovah, My Spirit that is on thee, And My words that I have put in thy mouth, Depart not from thy mouth, And from the mouth of thy seed, And from the mouth of thy seed's seed, said Jehovah, From henceforth unto the age!

the promise Jesus made to us that he would be with us even til the end of the age! Isaiah here is describing a huge outpouring of God on his people and it is an amazing thing in my eyes. the covenant is God Almighty Himself!

 

[ebedmelech]

As Paul wrote this the NT was being written, and therefore we don't know how much of the NT cannon had been written for sure....therefore "all scripture" certainly means the OT and whichever NT wrings were received at that time.

In reflection Christians include the NT writings as "all scripture", and we know that many of Paul's letters were already in the church as has been pointed out that Peter speaks of Paul's letters in 2 Peter 3:14-16:
14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,
15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,
16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Many of Paul's letters are already in the churches...

 

[shturt678]

All scripture meaning both Old and New Testaments.

1 Thessalonians 1:5
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

2 Peter 1:21
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

By the Holy Ghost means "God-breathed"

"Scripture = the whole O.T. canon is beyond question. That the N.T. writings are included rests on the fact that Jesus promised his Spirit of inspiration to the N.T. writers. Just my two-bits

 

[x141]

It would be arrogance to say it was scripture, just as it would be arrogance to prove that you are a son of God, but even Caiaphas' words, were the words of God, spoken by the holy ghost, even though his words that covered the truth coming out of his mouth, were in lieu of the nation of Israel being wiped out by the Romans over one man.

 

[REPHAIAHPEDAHEL]

All scripture, means all scripture! It's not rocket science. The Old testament is the new testament concealed and the new testament is the old testament revealed.