In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 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. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:12-17

I remember when I received my doctorate, it was described as a “terminal degree.” That is one of the few times when the word “terminal” sounds good, because it essentially means that you have gone as far as you can go in that field. For me, it meant I was academically finished—which was the way that I felt! I was tired of studying. When many of us hear the term “study,” we immediately think back to cramming for a test or spending long hours toiling away in the library while our friends were out having fun. Studying is something that we had to do at one point, but thankfully don’t have to do any longer. However, study as a spiritual discipline for the Christian is more akin to lifelong learning. It’s not about receiving a diploma, but about developing the mind of Christ.

The Apostle Paul is encouraging Timothy to do just that—to continue to grow and learn from the scriptures that he has “known” throughout his life. Paul is reminding Timothy that the scriptures are more than a collection of words. They are “God-breathed.” The study of the scriptures is not just an academic exercise, but helps us to “be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” If we are to follow Jesus, we need to do our best to soak in his word and allow it to change the way that we think and live.

The wonder of God’s word is in both its simplicity and its complexity. The stories of Jesus’ life are accessible to a small child and yet the depth of scripture can captivate the most learned scholars for a lifetime. Even if, like Timothy, we have known the scriptures from childhood, God still reveals more and more as we study his word. Sometimes we need to be taught, at other times rebuked or corrected, but we always need to be reminded of God’s grace and love for us. Unlike a terminal degree, learning about and comprehending what God is revealing about himself to us through the study of his word never ends.

For Reflection

• How do you view studying as it relates to God’s word?

• What is an area where you need to grow in your knowledge of scripture?

Prayer

Lord, we thank you for your word which has nourished your people through the centuries. We pray that in this week you illuminate your scripture to us in fresh ways. Give us a hunger for your word and the discipline to explore it more deeply. Help us to see clearly how we can take what we learn and live it out in our lives on this day. Amen.