Thomas Aquinas, on 2Tim 3:15

“And because from thy infancy thou hast known the holy scriptures, which can instruct thee to salvation, by the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

“Second, on the part of Timothy himself. For it is a scandal for a man nourished in the good from infancy to depart from it in old age: he that passes over from justice to sin God has prepared such a one for the sword (Sir 26:27). But Timothy was nourished in that way: a young man according to his way, even when he is old he shall not depart from it (Prov 22:6). Hence he says, and because from your infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are the books of the Old Testament, which he learned from infancy, because he was the son of a Jewish woman (Acts 16:1). Consequently, his mother instructed him in the Scriptures: which is against the Manicheans, because the Apostle here calls the Old Testament the Holy Scriptures, which cannot be understood of the New Testament, because he was not taught the books of the New Testament from his infancy. Third, on the part of the things he learned. For if a person has some knowledge in which there is no profit, he abandons it and goes on to other knowledge; but if the knowledge is very useful, it is foolish for him to abandon it: first, he gives the reason; second, he explains it: all Scripture. He says, therefore: I say that you have learned the Sacred Scriptures, which are not to be scorned, for they are useful: I am the Lord, your God, that teach you profitable things (Isa 48:17). Hence he continues, which can instruct you: Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life (John 6:69); search the Scriptures, for you think in them to have life everlasting, and the same are they that give testimony of me (John 5:39). And these writings can instruct you unto salvation, but only through the faith which is in Christ Jesus: the end of the law is Christ unto justice to everyone that believes (Rom 10:4); without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6).”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.