Let us then see what Paul says of the usefulness of scripture. The Jews divided all time into this present age and the age to come. Now we see that when Paul was touching the confines of that difficult and most perilous moment when John was to be left alone, he brings out as his last note that very truth which John was to develop with special care and fulness. It begets disregard of God, thinking that it does not need him and that it knows better than he. On the whole we here see, [1.] And the word of God comes and it brings a balance, it brings a correction, it brings a correct perspective.It's profitable. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel." It instructs us in that which is true, reproves us for that which is amiss, directs us in that which is good. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. How is it that you could be deceived, Jesus? The persecutions today may not be the same Paul had to withstand, but persecutions of some type will confront us from time to time. And as we go down the list, it's like reading the afternoon newspaper. (4.) Sponde is the word for a truce or an agreement. They said, Wait a minute, this is the hand of God, we can't, we can't touch this. It is not simply now to follow these, as urged in the first epistle (1 Timothy 6:11); but he adds a most characteristic word in the second epistle. He did not pull down by his living what he built up by his preaching. "Evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. So I become the authority if I make such an affirmation to you. Not only did he become a Christian; he devoted the rest of his life to the distribution of the Scriptures in the forgotten villages of northern Chile. That's just fable. The age of children is the learning age; and those who would get true learning must get it out of the scriptures. "That thou hast had good teachers. They will refuse to recognize the debt they owe both to God and to men. Deliberately he lit it. I believe God intended that you should enjoy life.There is nothing wrong with having pleasure. The one was suited to upset the young, the other to beguile the old. Paul refers to his own experiences to illustrate the truth that the person who whole-heartedly follows God must expect persecution. Now here observe. It was a part of his lot. So from his earliest childhood Timothy had known the sacred writings. It is as if he said to them: "You have been well warned." And you will find as God's word becomes a very part of your life and you begin to be guided by the word of God, that God will begin to use you in very exciting ways. He read them and never rested until he obtained the rest of the Bible. Vincent, Marvin R., D.D. The more fully we know the doctrine of Christ and the apostles, the more closely we shall cleave to it; the reason why many sit loose to it is because they do not fully know it. That the man of God may be perfect,2 Timothy 3:17; 2 Timothy 3:17. 3. Marks of Perilous Times; Excellence of the Scriptures. The qualities he lists are not qualifications in the sense that anyone who fulfils these requirements is an elder (for such a person may not have the elder-shepherd qualities outlined above). Thus the apostle comes to the close of his ministry, and touches upon the line of St. John. In the second chapter he turns to another theme, he instructs and exhorts Timothy as to communicating (not authority, or status, or gift, but) truth to others. At first these magicians were able to match the wonders which Moses and Aaron did, but in the end they were defeated and discredited. Now are you going to, you know, take the word of Jesus? Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. The word is almost exactly the English swelled-headed. Look what they did to Jesus, and Jesus said, "If they persecuted me, they're going to persecute you" ( John 15:20 ). Would you find it easier if it, if the account said, And a submarine surfaced and the captain got out on deck and, you know, they hauled Jonah in and they submerged again and headed towards Joppa and let him off the port. He speaks of "all God-inspired scripture." The true leader gives training in living. If Timothy wishes to live godly in Christ, he must make up his mind to encounter. As individuals, we should sometimes ask ourselves: what is our aim in life? Oh I know it costs more but . It describes, not the spirit which accepts life, but the spirit which masters it. "The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but, when. Don't start messing with it. 3:10-13 But you have been my disciple in my teaching, my training, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance, my persecutions, my sufferings, in what happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, in the persecutions which I underwent; and the Lord rescued me from them all. It is Paul's conviction that the real follower of Christ cannot escape persecution. That desire for more. But we, so often, make the mistake of going out ill-equipped or running without a message. How many people who have stood before God and have pledged for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part; and yet again, the high divorce rate. godly, Godfearingly. So don't expect the world to speak well of you or to applaud you for your living a godly life and taking a righteous stand. For "all scripture is given by inspiration of God. He directs him to keep close to a good education, and particularly to what he had learned out of the holy scriptures (2 Timothy 3:14; 2 Timothy 3:15): Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned. The reason is manifest: they themselves savour of the things of men, and not of God. 1. In 2 Timothy 3:9, he says that that apostasy would not always continue; but would be at some time arrested, and so arrested as to show to all men the . Paul's life contrasted with the world. This is the right thing to do. Don't expect the world to admire your godly stance. "Knowing especially the firm foundation upon which thou hast built, namely, that of the scripture (2 Timothy 3:15; 2 Timothy 3:15): That from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures.". The apostle well knew that the God who had brought these glorious truths to man, the God that had manifested His grace, had given a witness of their reality in the man from whom he had learned them; and this was meant to have an enduring effect on the conscience and heart of Timothy. And how profitable is the word of God to us today! In these terrible days men will be slanderers. On account of his opinions, he may be held up to ridicule, or treated with neglect, or excluded from society to which his attainments and manners would otherwise introduce him, or shunned by those who might otherwise value his friendship. It describes the man who is swept on by passion and impulse to such an extent that he is totally unable to think sensibly. This may be either an injury done to his feelings, his family, his reputation, his property, his liberty, his influence; it may be by depriving him of an office which he held, or preventing him from obtaining one to which he is eligible; it may be by subjecting him to fine or imprisonment, to banishment, torture, or death. shall suffer persecutionand will not decline it (Ga 5:11). If they contradict the teaching of the Bible, they are to be refused. But the phrase may mean any future time, whether near or distant. Timothy needed to realize, as all Christians do, especially those to whom "prosperity theology" appeals, that when a person determines to live a godly life he or she will suffer persecution. Rather than a verse-by-verse approach, the authors have crafted chapters that explain and apply key passages in their assigned Bible books. She doesn't have the time to prepare the meal on Friday evening and we'll go out on Friday night. "To Timothy, my dearly-beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Because the true child of God brings the worldly person under conviction. Oh God, I want you to use my life. Thank You that Your grace is sufficient for any attack that the evil enemy of my soul can throw at me, and that nothing can ever separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. And he was probably in the company of those that were standing around, sort of crying, as they saw Paul's limp body on the ground. It would not be accordant with the mind of God. He brings out the infinite value of the Scriptures, that is of what was written, the one transcendent resource for perilous times when we have not the presence and personal help of apostles. The world easily puts up with the mask of a religion which depends on itself, but the piety which derives its vigor directly from Christ is as odious to modern Christians as it was to the ancient Jews [Bengel]. This present age was altogether evil; and the age to come would be the golden age of God. So God's word, scripture given for inspiration, by the inspiration of God and is profitable.Of course, this morning we pointed out that the inspiration of the Bible is proved by internal evidences, such as its total accuracy with known facts of science, when it happened to cover scientific subjects. It means to follow a person mentally, to attend diligently to his teaching and fully to understand the meaning of what he says. 1. Friday evenings, you know, everybody out looking for their weekend companion, incontinent, no sexual restraints. It is Paul's charge that such people are "willing to learn from anyone, and yet never able to come to a knowledge of the truth." In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN. But yet it is absolutely unavoidable that all of them shall have the world for their enemy in some form or other, that their faith may be tried and their steadfastness proved; for Satan, who is the continual enemy of Christ, will never suffer any one to be at peace during his whole life; and there will always be wicked men that are thorns in our sides. It may flourish for a time, but when it is exposed to the light of truth it is bound to shrivel and die. Lipscomb's Commentary on Selected NT Books, Verse 12. This world is in rebellion against God. Product Information. At Ephesus some of the greatest roads in the world met. Closely allied with the braggart, but--as we shall see--even worse, is the man who is arrogant. Even an unbeliever is acting unfairly unless he tries to read it. ", The Lord said it's "what comes out of the mouth of a man, that defiles a man" ( Matthew 15:11 ). Observe, (1.) "And God prepared a great fish and it swallowed Jonah" ( Jonah 1:17 ). In Brazil Signor Antonio of Minas bought a New Testament which he took home to burn. In the former epistle, Timothy was told how to behave in the house of God, as yet in order; but now we are told how to behave in such a state of things as the present disorder. No man is saved unless he is on fire to save his fellow-men. Commentary on 2 Timothy 3:14-17. The emphasis of so many people is just on being beautiful, lovers of themselves. Real teaching is always born of real experience. And that's what creates the problem all the way through. 3:1 You must realize this--that in the last days difficult times will set in. They had been long accustomed to the truth, and alas! This time he was a Christian minister, and it was to the reading of the books that he attributed his change. No matter what the reasons or excuses for joining with them, "turn away.". Why does the world hate Christians? But of one thing Paul was sure--the days of the deceivers were numbered. The task of the apostle is not only to tell men the truth; it is also to help them do it. Why then yield to the enemy? Second Timothy 3:12-13 "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being. And there came that place where, hey, Moses performed a miracle of God and they backed away. Men will be inflated with conceit (tetuphomenos, G5187) . It is often a very great safeguard for the saint of God; for, after all, it makes no small difference who says this or that. (1) To exhort Timothy in his ministry at Ephesus; (2) To warn Timothy of trouble both inside and outside the church; (3) To request Timothy to come to Rome to visit him in prison and bring certain personal effects to him (4:5-13; 21); and (4) To instruct all the churches in Timothy's territory. It is profitable to us for all the purposes of the Christian life, for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. When the Lord was entering on His ministry He says, "Woman, what have I to do with thee?" The history of the Christian Church teaches us that falsity cannot live. Let us look at them one by one. Robertson, Archibald Thomas. The final condemnation of these people is that they retain the outward form of religion but deny its power. And I will tell you what scriptures are inspired and which ones aren't. The nature of its doctrine was no way likely to command success: (1) it condemns all other religions, some established for ages; (2) it enjoins precepts ungrateful to flesh and blood, the mortifying of the flesh, the love of enemies, and the bearing of the cross; (3) it enforces these seemingly unreasonable precepts by promises seemingly incredible; not good things such as afford complacency to our senses, but such as cannot be obtained till after this life, and presuppose what then seemed impossible, the resurrection; (4) it predicts to its followers what would seem sure to keep most of the world from embracing it, persecutions. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." The strange characteristic of ingratitude is that it is the most hurting of all sins because it is the blindest. "Men of corrupt minds. God takes care of His people, and ensures them a blessed end. Everything today is, you know, for the body beautiful. Look at the rapid deterioration of our society. But God prepares the instruments through which He works and the most important preparation is through the Word of God. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. The woman, thrilled to the heart, does so and is deluded into thinking that she can prophesy. The world is full of these braggarts to this day; the clever know-all's who deceive people into thinking that they are wise, the politicians who claim that their parties have a program which will bring in the Utopia and that they alone are born to be leaders of men, the people who crowd the advertisement columns with claims to give beauty, knowledge or health by their system, the people in the Church who have a kind of ostentatious goodness. Had the Lord Jesus not sent him? They did not keep the covenant that they made. VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. Help me totake this verse seriously, that I will suffer persecution if I live godly in Jesus Christ. The kind of guys that went around selling snake oil or cure-alls, deceiving, defrauding people. There is a type of person who is eager to discuss every new theory, who is always to be found deeply involved in the latest fashionable religious movement, but who is quite unwilling to accept the day-to-day discipline--even drudgery--of living the Christian life. 2 Timothy 3:12 - Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch They should remember that, in this respect, they are treated as the Master was, and are in the goodly company of the prophets, apostles, and martyrs; for they were all persecuted. ( 2 Timothy 3:1) Perilous times in the last days . he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me." He tells him further to "hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. . You can you see what's happened even in the last twenty-five years. It has become their God and thus, they are guilty as those in the Old Testament who were worshipping Mammon, who, or rather Molech who was the god of pleasure. If we would know the holy scriptures, we must read and search them daily, as the noble Bereans did, Acts 17:11. Parakolouthein ( G3877) is indeed the word for the disciple, for it includes the unwavering loyalty of the true comrade, the full understanding of the true scholar and the complete obedience of the dedicated servant. Includes questions, verse by verse commentary, and applications on 2 Timothy 1 for life transformation. We have already seen that that teaching issued in one of two things. shall suffer persecution; it is the will of God, and the appointment of heaven; Christ has foretold it, that so it shall be; and he the head has suffered it himself, and it is necessary that his members should, that they may be conformed unto him; it is the way Christ himself went to glory, and through many tribulations his people must enter the kingdom; and this is the common lot and certain case of all the saints, in one shape or another; for though all do not suffer confiscation of goods, beating, scourging, imprisonment, or a violent death; yet all are more or less afflicted and distressed by wicked men, and are subject to their reproaches and revilings, which are a branch of persecution; and that for professing Christ, and living a godly life in him and under his influence: and since such suffer as Christians, and not as evildoers; and this is the common condition of the people of God, in this world, it should not be thought strange, but be cheerfully endured; to encourage to which is the apostle's view in this passage. His mind was caught; he took it back. His connection with the church, but "of the seed of David," the fulfiller of the promises, and object of the prophecies. Ephesus was called "The Treasure-house of the ancient world," "The Vanity Fair of Asia Minor." Thus he comforts Timothy at the same time that he admonishes him. It's going to get worse before it gets better. When trouble fell on the Thessalonians, Paul wrote to them: "When we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction; just as it has come to pass, and as you know" ( 1 Thessalonians 3:4). (1) it teaches the only way to the Father is through Jesus; (2) it teaches a morality (a way of life) unpopular with the world; (3) it teaches a miraculous creation, a miraculous end; and a miraculous Savior who was resurrected; (4), Why does the world hate Christians? Thus it was that God had made him: there was no use denying it. And so Paul, you know, how I've lived; my faith, my longsuffering, my love, my patience, and the persecutions and afflictions that came to me. [4.] It begets a contempt of men which can issue in hurting actions and in wounding words. "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace." In other words, they simply remain in spiritual infancy and keep repeating the first stage of their Christian faith, over and again, without pressing on to spiritual maturity.Many are falsely taught that becoming a Christian will secure a quiet life and provide a ticket to prosperity, with numerous earthly blessings and a free pass from God, to prevent or remove any difficulties or dangers that may arise. It is well to be exclusive of sin, but of nothing else. Love of self is the basic sin, from which all others flow. The moment a man makes his own will the centre of life, divine and human relationships are destroyed, obedience to God and charity to men both become impossible. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:2, "But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every mans conscience in the sight of God." Anosios does not so much mean that men will break the written laws; it means that they will offend against the unwritten laws which are part and parcel of the essence of life. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us." At the end of each reading, the brigand said: "That's a good book; we won't burn that one; give it to me." Perverse Men 2 Timothy 3:2-4 . All rights reserved. She had never tried the Bible, for a friend had convinced her by subtle arguments that it could not be true. In the Testament of Issachar, one of the books written between the Old and the New Testaments, we get a picture like this: "Know ye, therefore, my children, that in the last times. Why cannot a man be as simple now as in apostolic times? He was driven from Antioch in Pisidia ( Acts 13:50); he had to flee from Iconium to avoid lynching ( Acts 14:5-6); in Lystra he was stoned and left for dead ( Acts 14:19). 3:14-17 But as for you, remain loyal to the things which you have learned, and in which your belief has been confirmed, for you know from whom you learned them, and you know that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that will bring you salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus. THE EXPERIENCES OF AN APOSTLE ( 2 Timothy 3:10-13 continued). As far as appointment went, Titus had a commission to establish elders in each city of Crete; but not so Timothy, as far as the inspired records speak. We have the practice and treatment of true Christians: they live godly in Jesus Christ--this is their practice; and they shall suffer persecution--this is the usage they must expect in this world. It is used by ancient writers on astrology to describe what we would call a threatening conjunction of the heavenly bodies. "It shone and glowed with truth," she said, "and my whole being responded to it. "If religion gives no quarter to vice, the vicious will give no quarter to religion and its professors.". Blasphemia is the word which is transliterated into English as blasphemy. YEA, AND - an additional consideration. This was to reverse the lesson of a risen Christ, and to open the way for all laxity. In other words, the word of God is that which thoroughly prepares me for any work that God might have for me to do. The whole concept of redemption is wrapped up in the Old Testament. So the Greek word that is used here to describe these that are going around, leading captive the silly women, is the same Greek word that was used to describe quackery, and that's probably they're quacks, Paul is saying. Then are we Christ's disciples indeed, John 8:31. It should be considered as one of the proper qualifications for membership in the church, to be willing to bear persecution, and to resolve not to shrink from any duty in order to avoid it. Consider of whom thou hast learned them; not of evil men and seducers, but good men, who had themselves experienced the power of the truths they taught thee, and been ready to suffer for them, and thereby would give the fullest evidence of their belief of these truths." Each of the chapters are done individually. Now you'd think that the world would treat a person like that very cordially. I'm just saying, Hey, I am stupid and I lack an understanding. Love of self is the basic sin, from with all others flow. Paul said to Timothy. This shows in a clearer light the difference between the true teacher and the false. It is said that, after hearing an evangelical sermon, Lord Melbourne once remarked: "Things have come to a pretty pass when religion is allowed to invade the sphere of private life." "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Once Agesilaus, the Sparta king, was asked, "What shall we teach our boys?" Here we come back to where we started; such men place their own wishes in the centre of life. Why? I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers," what singular language this from Paul! The cause of the perilous times are found in the things that people will be doing, and at the top of the list. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. One only meets Satan when traveling in an opposite direction! Here is one of the most terrible pictures in the New Testament of what a godless world would be like, with the terrible qualities of godlessness set out in a ghastly series. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." It is used in Plutarch to describe what we would call an ugly wound. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. In 2 Timothy 3:9 he meant that the teaching of evil does not necessarily become more extensive and capture a wider audience as evil becomes worse. Theophylact called this kind of pride akropolis (compare G206 and G4172) kakon ( G2556) , the citadel of evils. He is the man whom God resists, for it is repeatedly said in scripture, that God receives the humble but resists the man who is proud, huperephanos ( G5244) ( James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5; Proverbs 3:24). The disorder might be so great that we might make mistakes in our anxiety; but "The Lord knoweth them that are his." There is no godliness (Greek, "piously") or piety out of Christ. for instruction in righteousness ( 2 Timothy 3:16 ): And righteousness is just actually the act of being right or doing right or living right. "He kicked the world about," said one, "as if it had been a football." God wants you to be complete. If anyone proposes to introduce into his life a loyalty which surpasses all earthly loyalties, there are bound to be clashes. But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: a. There is just a certain natural love that would keep people from doing a lot of the things they are doing today. The fact remains that the only place in all the world where we get a first-hand account of that person and of his teaching is in the New Testament. His answer was: "That which will be most useful to them when they are men." John 15:19; Matthew 10:22; Matthew 10:38-39, Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus,. All that live according to the will of God revealed in his word; and to the glory of God, as the end of all their actions; and which the grace of God in the Gospel, and in their own hearts, teaches them; and who have the principles of a godly life from Christ, and derive the fresh supplies of grace and life from him, to maintain it; in whom their life is hid, and who live by faith upon him; all such that live, and that will live so, are desirous of living after this manner; in whom God has wrought in them both to will and to do, and are concerned when it is otherwise with them: these. He said that one isn't inspired; obviously inspired.