Accordingly, there is a depth of feeling that one may safely say far exceeds the first epistle, although it had shown so much tenderness and care both for Timothy and the faithful of those days. It is the sign of a supremely decadent civilization when youth loses all respect for age and fails to recognize the unpayable debt and the basic duty it owes to those who gave it life. 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. Observe, (1.) Here we have him recurring to that which was entirely outside nature, and before its very platform existed. The man who is huperephanos ( G5244) , said Theophrastus, has a kind of contempt for everyone except himself. For "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" ( Matthew 12:34 ). Paul "the aged," as he says, was just about to leave this world. The page number in Thayer is given, and the column on the page follows the hyphens. But let not a man who will do this, suppose that he has any claim to be numbered among the martyrs, or even entitled to the Christian name. "Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. You're in an alien world. 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). You can you see what's happened even in the last twenty-five years. Observe, The scriptures will make us wise to salvation, if they be mixed with faith, and not otherwise, Hebrews 4:2. There is training. There was to be a final show-down with the forces of evil. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known God takes care of His people, and ensures them a blessed end. Now many people have a legitimate and proper desire to be used of God. The deterioration, rapid deterioration so that a mother has to worry when she sends her little child to school because she doesn't know what some kinky character might do, exposing themselves to that beautiful little child or even worse. At the same time He will have them undividedly for Himself; and He is also jealous of the way in which they seek even the ends of God. 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. There is no godliness (Greek, "piously") or piety out of Christ. Men will be implacable in their hatreds (aspondos, G786) . There were false teachers who were quick to take advantage of that. (i) He says that the Scriptures give the wisdom which will bring salvation. 2 Timothy 3 Commentary - John Gill's Exposition of the Bible These things may be expected in the best times, and under the most favorable circumstances; and it is known that a large part of the history of the world, in its relation to the church, is nothing more than a history of persecution. There would be two ways in which these heretics in the days of Timothy could exert an evil influence. Be assured, that if you do not bring the Spirit of God into these matters, perhaps your cloak, perhaps a book, will become a snare to you. The woman protests that she has never done so and cannot do so. They will not only deceive others, but their sins and other deceivers will deceive them increasingly too. 2 Timothy 3:12 "Many are the afflictions of the righteous," the psalmist writes (Psalm 34:19).Peter supplies a partial answer to this in I Peter 4:12: "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you, as does Paul's statement in II Timothy 3:12: "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer . What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? Observe, Timothy must continue in the things which he had learned and had been assured of. 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. And then Jesus will come and establish God's righteous kingdom, but by then, those that will remain will be saying, Oh, God help us. The defeat of error depends not on skill in controversy but in the demonstration in life of the more excellent way. Everything today is, you know, for the body beautiful. I refer to this just to remark that such links as these, which are connected with nature, all come before the apostle's mind, at the very moment when a spurious feeling would have judged it precisely the time to banish and forget them. If, in any manner, or in any way, he is subjected to disadvantage on account of his religious opinions, and deprived of any immunities and rights to which he would be otherwise entitled, this is persecution. Years later that same brigand turned up again. This chapter has a vivid description of the great apostasy (2 Timothy 3:1-9), signs of which were already present, an appeal to Paul's own inspiring and inspired example (2 Timothy 3:10-15), and one of the most impressive paragraphs in all the Bible with reference to the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16,17).For more extensive discussion of the apostasy, the man of . Men will be lovers of their own selves ( 2 Timothy 3:2 ). And so Paul said to Timothy, "You have fully known". 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. All who will show their religion in their conversation, who will not only be godly, but live godly, let them expect persecution, especially when they are resolute in it. Vincent, Marvin R., D.D. for it is evident that there have been many godly persons who have never suffered banishment, or imprisonment, or flight, or any kind of persecution. And for a person to take advantage of a child is unthinkable. 2 Timothy 3 He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1977. A man has sunk far when he finds even the presence of good people something which he would only wish to avoid. In these last terrible days men will come to have no love for good things or good persons (aphilagathos, G865) . Activity of service was no longer before him. Timothy had a great advantage in being trained up under such a tutor, and being apprised of the doctrine he preached. If we would know the holy scriptures, we must read and search them daily, as the noble Bereans did, Acts 17:11. This is the right thing to do. Commentary on 2 Timothy 1:1-14 - Working Preacher Includes questions, verse by verse commentary, and applications on 2 Timothy 1 for life transformation. Instead of hiding either from Timothy, he points all out to him. The Greek word is that men will become anosios ( G462) . And this, I apprehend, is the reason. In the last days This often means the days of the Messiah, and is sometimes extended in its signification to the destruction of Jerusalem, as this was properly the last days of the Jewish state. Why then yield to the enemy? Let us look at them one by one. 3:6-7 For from among these there come those who enter into houses, and take captive foolish women, laden with sins and driven by varied desires, ready to listen to any teacher but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. The strange characteristic of ingratitude is that it is the most hurting of all sins because it is the blindest. And Jesus himself had said: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake" ( Matthew 5:10). [2.] "Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry." Edited by David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, this new commentary series, projected to be 48 volumes, takes a Christ-centered approach to expositing each book of the Bible. We must not be afraid of a manifest duty because it has been abused. It was only to be expected that certain women would not know how to use their new liberty. 2. Again he said, "Lo, I have come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God" ( Hebrews 10:7 ). That is the inevitable way to ruin, for no man can master anything unless he first masters himself. One dark night in a forest in Sicily a brigand held up a colporteur at the point of a revolver. Traitors . (2 Timothy 1:1.) The great thing is to do the will of God, let others say what they please; and so the apostle Paul exhorts Timothy. The Gnostics had their own fanciful books; the heretics all produced their own literature to support their claims. The same Spirit that breathed reason into us breathes revelation among us: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men spoke as they were moved or carried forth by the Holy Ghost,2 Peter 1:21. True, he is telling of something which happened later than this, but the wretched story would be the same (Irenaeus: Against Heresies, 1, 13, 3). "They that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." We must remember that the scripture of which Paul is writing is the Old Testament; as yet the New Testament had not come into being. [4.] Xenophon in the Memorabilia tells how Socrates utterly condemned such impostors. He was ordered to light a bonfire and burn his books. In between there was The Day of the Lord, a day when God would personally intervene and shatter the world in order to remake it. Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands: Many men and women, who would never dream of stealing, think nothing--even find pleasure--in passing on a story which ruins someone else's good name, without even trying to find out whether or not it is true. The apostle had a particular reference, doubtless, to his own times; but he has put his remark into the most general form, as applicable to all periods. It has been pointed out that the writer of Revelation may well have been thinking of Ephesus when he wrote that haunting passage which describes the merchandise of men: "The cargo of gold, silver, jewels and pearls, fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet, all kinds of scented wood, all articles of ivory, all articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls" ( Revelation 18:12-13). This statement does not contradict what Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:9. Things were so bad that Tacitus could say: "He who had no foe was betrayed by his friend." Therefore, isolation is never desirable, though it may be sometimes necessary. Vincente Quiroga of Chile found a few pages of a book washed up on the seashore by a tidal wave following an earthquake. "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise." 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. There is that in the scripture which suits every case. Study Guide for 2 Timothy 3 by David Guzik - Blue Letter Bible In these terrible days men will be slanderers. VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. The word is propetes ( G4312) , precipitate. Because the true child of God brings the worldly person under conviction. false accusers, incontinent ( 2 Timothy 3:3 ). I reply, it is not always in one way that Satan persecutes the servants of Christ. "He read on, forgetful of time, through the hours of the night, and just as the dawn was breaking, he stood up and declared, 'I believe'.". 1. What a blessing. Noah, the earth was really flooded? He nourishes an all-consuming, all-pervading pride; and in his heart there is a little altar where he bows down before himself. This sort of atmosphere will mark the last days . And indeed the world easily wears that mask of religion which depends on itself; but the piety which flourishes directly from, is very hateful, as it was to the old Jews, so to the modern Christians, who are without any token of good, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary It was not then an indifferent matter to God. How is a man to walk in such a state of things as this? Paul said to Timothy. ", Persecution = The essence of persecution consists in subjecting a person to injury or disadvantage on account of his [beliefs].. He forbad his going on in association with those that dishonour the Lord with vessels to dishonour; but he tells him to follow these things "with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." This time he was a Christian minister, and it was to the reading of the books that he attributed his change. One day a visitor came to the ward and left a supply of gospels. And I filed many scriptures in that file. It is used in Plutarch to describe what we would call an ugly wound. What Paul is thinking of here is more than faithlessness in friendship--although that in all truth is wounding enough--he is thinking of those who to pay back an old score would inform against the Christians to the Roman government. The coming of the Lord will in no way manifest the faithfulness of the servant; His appearing will. After considering his own life, Paul speaks of others desiring to live godly lives as he has done, a life of piety toward God that will always be opposed by the world. Jambres. That the scripture was given by inspiration of God appears from the majesty of its style,--from the truth, purity, and sublimity, of the doctrines contained in it,--from the harmony of its several parts,--from its power and efficacy on the minds of multitudes that converse with it,--from the accomplishment of many prophecies relating to things beyond all human foresight,--and from the uncontrollable miracles that were wrought in proof of its divine original: God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will,Hebrews 2:4. We have sown the wind, now we're going to reap the whirlwind. The one was suited to upset the young, the other to beguile the old. 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. It is of use to all, for we all need to be instructed, corrected, and reproved: it is of special use to ministers, who are to give instruction, correction, and reproof; and whence can they fetch it better than from the scripture? And a servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle toward all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting those that oppose, if perhaps God may give them repentance for acknowledgment of the truth, and they may for his will wake up out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him." But God prepares the instruments through which He works and the most important preparation is through the Word of God. God said it.They are profitable. But we have also been supplied with many precious promises which reassure us that His grace is sufficient, His strength is perfected in our weakness, that suffering for Christ's sake is a privilege for the child of God, and that no amount of trials, tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or the sword, is able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.May we grasp this truth in His strength, and remember that in this world we will have tribulation but that if we fellowship in the suffering of Christ, we will also be glorified with Him Who loved us so much that He died for us, that we might live for Him forever. Now this is in particular a difficulty for saints, when they have revived before the soul the blessedness of maintaining the unity of the Spirit. He had not said a word about them before. 2 Timothy 3:12 MEANING - kingjamesbibleonline.org God is right. And passion shall seize him that is peaceful. It describes, not the spirit which accepts life, but the spirit which masters it. . Oh I know it costs more but . She had been finding life, as she herself said, futile and meaningless. Now, it is doubtless as true as it ever was, that a man who will live as the Saviour did, will, like him, be subjected to some such injury or disadvantage. Paul kept back nothing from his hearers, but declared to them the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), so that if it were not their own fault they might fully know it. The word of God is the foundation for doctrine. Bible Introductions - 2 Timothy by John MacArthur - Blue Letter Bible No man can teach what he does not know, and therefore before a man can teach Christ to others he must know him himself. "Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.". I think we've gone just about as far as we can. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers," what singular language this from Paul! Now are you going to, you know, take the word of Jesus? Of course it was infinitely higher, it is needless to say, in the Master; but the servant was as closely as possible following in His steps. There was the road from the south which centred the trade of the Maeander valley in Ephesus. It is the sign of a man of honour that he pays his debts; and for every man there is a debt to God and there are debts to his fellow-men, which he must remember and repay. that will, &c.Greek, "all whose will is to live," &c. So far should persecution be from being a stumbling-block to Timothy, he should consider it a mark of the pious. Why not baptize at once every soul around? We must remember that they were Gnostics and that the basic principle of Gnosticism was that spirit was altogether good and matter altogether evil. 4. It is not enough to be satisfied when a church is humming like a dynamo and every night in the week has its own crowded organization. Timothy fully knew what was the great thing that Paul had in view, both in his preaching and in his conversation: "Thou hast known my purpose, what I drive at, how far it is from any worldly, carnal, secular design, and how sincerely I aim at the glory of God and the good of the souls of men." All that will live godly So opposite to the spirit and practice of the world is the whole of Christianity, that he who gives himself entirely up to God, making the Holy Scriptures the rule of his words and actions, will be less or more reviled and persecuted. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. And then again "the husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits." 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.