2 TIMOTHY‬ ‭3:14-15‬ ‭‬‬

In this passage, Paul gives a seemingly uncharacteristic appeal to authority. He encourages Timothy to remember those who taught him. We might expect that Paul is referring to himself or the other Apostles, but it seems that he is actually referring to Timothy’s mother and Grandmother. In Timothy’s youth, they instructed him enough from the scriptures that when he came across Jesus and his followers, Timothy was ready to accept their wisdom. This teaching is foundational. Paul reminds Timothy not to forget what he already knows. For many who deconstruct their faith, they often have to alter the narrative of what they already knew. This often bring resentment to faithful family and friends who influenced them in their early walk. Christianity is about building upon the image of god within us in a common sense way. The knowledge doesn’t have to be learned, though it can grow. What we must learn is how to stop suppressing it. The first step is to remember the roots of our journey. We must remember not only why we Jesus made sense, but that he made sense. He made sense in our most vulnerable and stripped down times. We must remember those involved and cherish that, even if it’s imperfect. We must continue to hold on to what we learned at the time when needed it. We must proclaim that faith again.