Spiritual Perception (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Timothy 3:15)

1 Peter 2:2 says, "... as babies just born now, desire the pure; unadulterated milk, which is logical, that you may grow by it..."

The emphasis of this verse is not of "new" converts, but of the attitude and necessity, for all Believers, to have a passion and pursuit, of receiving from God, our Father, all that is required to feed our spiritual growth.

BABES

The Greek word translated as "babes", by the KJV, is (brephos), and was only translated in classical Greek literature, as either:

1) an unborn child, or

2) a suckling [i.e., one still feeding at the breast, but newly born].

It is only used 8 times in the NT (LK. 1:41,44; 2:12,16; 18:15; Acts 7:19; 2 Tim.3:15; 1 Pet.2:2), of which 2 Timothy 3:15 is the most illuminating. It is said that Timothy knew the scripture from a "child" (KJV), which traditionally has led to messages and exhortation on training children in the scriptures - however, that is not the meaning of the text.

VERY YOUNG BABY

Again, the word used, is (brephos), meaning "a very young baby", or "an unborn child". In fact the Latin translation of this Greek word, is (foetus), where we get our English word "fetus" from.

Also, the word translated "known" (KJV), in 2 Timothy 3:15, is not the Greek word (gnosis), meaning knowledge, perceived or obtained by the 5 physical senses; nor is it (epignosis), meaning knowledge spiritually perceived; a higher level of insight, or what we would term, "revelation Knowledge". The Greek word is (oida), which has more to do with "perception"; "awareness"; or, perhaps, in this case, "influence upon".

SPIRITUALLY AWARE

What is fascinating, is that the Timothy passage, literally speaks of 'the unborn', or 'newly born baby' Timothy, being spiritually aware and impacted by; and perceptive of, the spiritual force of the scriptures. This echoes the testimony of Paul, in Romans 7:9, where he states that he was spiritually alive without the law once. But more so, it emphasizes the spiritual force of the announcement of the scriptures, and the ability of all babies; born and unborn, to be aware and receptive to spiritual reality.

We are spiritual beings, encased in these temples of flesh, but built for a higher and much nobler purpose, and it is scriptures like 2 Timothy 3:15 that bring the magnitude of that spiritual reality to bear on our lives. Let us never forget who we are; whose we are; or God's intended destiny for our lives.

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours