To many a man and woman has a little bit of dress done no small injury, just because they think it is too little for the Spirit of God to direct them in. 1 Paul, a an apostle of Christ Jesus b by the will of God according to c the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,. "He devotes himself specially to women, and those such as are well-bred, and elegantly attired, and of great wealth." From , before, and , to deliver up.Those who deliver up to an enemy the person who has put his life in their hands; such as the Scots of 1648, who delivered up into the hands of his enemies their unfortunate countryman and king, Charles the First; a stain which no lapse of ages can wipe out. 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 This is a very striking word. But we, so often, make the mistake of going out ill-equipped or running without a message. They're profitable for doctrine. It is as if he said to them: "You have been well warned." Regardless of the persecution, it is our duty to live in such a way that the world will know that we are Christians. If we consult the scripture, which was given by inspiration of God, and follow its directions, we shall be made men of God, perfect, and thoroughly furnished to every good work. The best way to overcome and to banish the false is to live in such a way that the loveliness and the graciousness of the truth is plain for all to see. The scriptures we are to know are the holy scriptures; they come from the holy God, were delivered by holy men, contain holy precepts, treat of holy things, and were designed to make us holy and to lead us in the way of holiness to happiness; being called the holy scriptures, they are by this distinguished from profane writings of all sorts, and from those that only treat morality, and common justice and honesty, but do not meddle with holiness. It is undoubtedly true at all times, and will ever be, that they who are devoted Christians - who live as the Saviour did - and who carry out his principles always, will experience some form of persecution. Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. We must remember that they were Gnostics and that the basic principle of Gnosticism was that spirit was altogether good and matter altogether evil. Luke recorded the very words spoken on the mission field long ago, "Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22); and, in the words of White, "Consistency in the life of Christ must necessarily be always opposed by the world. Resurrection is the form and character of the lowest blessings of which Jesus is the dispenser; much more is He risen to exalt God in the highest. 2 Timothy 3:12 - Commentary, explanation and study verse by verse The study of the Scriptures must never be selfish, never simply for the good of a man's own soul. "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace." Lipscomb's Commentary on Selected NT Books, Verse 12. "I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. Timothy had a great advantage in being trained up under such a tutor, and being apprised of the doctrine he preached. Look at the lack, lackness. But no man ought to separate himself from the children of God, unless it be a dire necessity for the Lord; it is clearly not according to Christ. He might even seem to be humble; but in his secret heart there is contempt for everyone else. Love of self is the basic sin, from with all others flow. Wow, watch out now because Jesus bought it. Far more harm is done from want of thought than almost anything else. (1) that they who make a profession of religion, should come prepared to be persecuted. "Trucebreakers". He warns Timothy of the fatal end of seducers, as a reason why he should stick closely to the truth as it is in Jesus: But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, c., 2 Timothy 3:13; 2 Timothy 3:13. 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 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." To the Greek it was anosios ( G462) to refuse burial to the dead; it was anosios ( G462) for a brother to marry a sister, or a son a mother. And the comfort is that, if prepared to cleave to the will of the Lord alone, we shall have, through His grace, fellowship with the true-hearted. Verse 2 Timothy 3:1. How is it that you could be deceived, Jesus? It is the Greek parakolouthein ( G3877) and literally means to follow alongside; but it is used with a magnificent width of meaning. "It denotes living in the right attitude to God and to things divine. Robertson, Archibald Thomas. They will refuse to recognize the debt they owe both to God and to men. It follows from this: (1) that they who make a profession of religion, should come prepared to be persecuted. And for this reason we should continue in the things we have learned from the holy scriptures; not that we ought to continue in any errors and mistakes which we may have been led into, in the time of our childhood and youth (for these, upon an impartial enquiry and full conviction, we should forsake); but this makes nothing against our continuing in those things which the holy scriptures plainly assert, and which he that runs may read. The doctrine of the necessity of persecution was no new thing to Paul. Easy it seems to get sort of distracted and off course. In the last days there would come times which would menace the very existence of the Christian Church and of goodness itself, a kind of last tremendous assault of evil before its final defeat. Those who are well instructed in the Scriptures will always be ready when an opportunity arises to do good (16-17).Since Gods servants must give him an account of their service, they should not miss any opportunity to teach the Scriptures, though they must always speak in a manner suited to the circumstances (4:1-2). B. Now it is interesting that as Paul is referring to the Scriptures here, he is, of course, referring to the Old Testament Scriptures. 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 . Here he mentions his persecutions and afflictions at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, besides what he suffered elsewhere. Now are you going to, you know, take the word of Jesus? The Gnostic heretics taught, either that, since matter is altogether evil, a rigid asceticism must be practiced and all the things of the body as far as possible eliminated, or that it does not matter what we do with the body and its desires can be indulged in to the limit because they do not matter. He must take care of the manner in which he strives. It was a part of his lot. "True," said the other, "but he kicked it to a goal." Look at our attitudes towards morality. And so there comes that point where they will proceed no further: "their folly becomes manifest to all men", as Jannes and Jambres also was. " Rejoice ( present imperative) and be glad ( present imperative ), for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 2 Timothy 3: Bible Study, Commentary and Summary No one can possibly mistake him. So we find that God knows how to temper the bitter with the sweet, always doing the right thing in the right place and time. In other words, you may go along for a while, but ultimately it's going to catch up with you. The doctrine that he preached. It is not merely what had been preached, but what is in a permanent shape for the good of the saints of God here below, which elicits the remarkable assertion of its peculiar worth. There is patience. This might deter a sensitive saint from his duty. There is love. With this prospect he comforts Timothy no less than his own spirit; but at the same time he speaks as to joining him, with a glance at one that had forsaken him. "Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.". It is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:16), and therefore is his word. He went home and found the fire was out. A form of godliness, a profession of Christian faith without a godly life . And Paul said, You've known the Holy Scriptures, able to bring you to a faith in Jesus Christ, salvation through the faith in Jesus Christ. Men can be savage in rebuke and savage in pitiless action. He was to continue in the things which he had learned, and had been assured of, knowing of whom he had learned them a very important point. In the Old Testament they are not named, but they are referred to in Exodus 7:11; Exodus 8:7; Exodus 9:11. (2 Timothy 2:1.) 3. Confrontation and conflict become inevitable (cf. God had made Jesus to be Lord and Christ, preached Peter on that day of power, when as yet much lay hid, and the great instrument of the revelation of the mystery was still shrouded in the darkness of midnight. And may not their freedom from it prove that they have surrendered the principles of their religion, where they should have stood firm, though the world were arrayed against them? It opened at the Sermon on the Mount. Why not baptize at once every soul around? The word is anemeros ( G434) and would be more fittingly applied to a wild beast than to a human being. Now though it is infallible, inerrant and inspired, I did make a mistake in my message this morning on the speed of Arcturus; it's twelve thousand miles a second, I think I said twelve million. What I believe, I believe because God has said it. The Holy Spirit would make it to be most practical and precious. The more the person who lives godly and righteous in Christ stands out. A. M. Chirgwin in The Bible in World Evangelism tells the story of a ward sister in a children's hospital in England. Let us look at them one by one. There are persons who think that the approach of death is intended to blot out everything here. Though his life was a life of great usefulness, yet it was a life of great sufferings; and none, I believe, came nearer to their great Master for eminent services and great sufferings than Paul: he suffered almost in every place; the Holy Ghost witnessed that bonds and afflictions did abide him, Acts 20:23. God takes care of His people, and ensures them a blessed end. Paul "the aged," as he says, was just about to leave this world. What am I to believe about man? To love men is to forgive them and care for them as God forgave and cares--and it is only he who can enable us to do that. The kind of guys that went around selling snake oil or cure-alls, deceiving, defrauding people. There is teaching. The sister was persuaded to read a copy of St. John. As Shakespeare had it: "Good name in man and woman, dear my lord. 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. And the word perfect of course is always that of completeness. Two men were talking of a great satirist who had been filled with moral earnestness. In 2Baruch we get an even more vivid picture of the moral chaos of these last times: And envy shall rise in those who had not thought ought of. Paul goes on to other qualities of an apostle. In the light of this warning from the Saviour, no Christian should be surprised at persecution. And suddenly, of course, their tears were changed because Paul began to breathe and move and he stood up and he said, Let's go back in and preach some more. There is the idea of menace and of danger in this word. And as we pointed out, the danger always of saying some scriptures, not all scriptures, is the loss of authority. Verse 2 Timothy 3:4. "The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day." Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary. Note, It is not enough to learn that which is good, but we must continue in it, and persevere in it unto the end. THE EXPERIENCES OF AN APOSTLE ( 2 Timothy 3:10-13 continued). 2 Timothy 1 Bible Study Commentary And Questions "The cloke," then says he, "that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books," not only the clothing, but even that which he is to read, "especially the parchments;" what he was going to write on, probably. It is an immense blessing that we have the truth not only in a book, but in a practical shape, the truth that comes out of the heart and from the lips of living men of God. For it is not dogma pure and simple, it is not mere instruction; and we may thank God for it. "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ", and [as such they are] profitable ( 2 Timothy 3:16 ). 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. The alazon ( G213) was a mountebank who wandered the country with medicines and spells and methods of exorcism which, he claimed, were panaceas for all diseases. 2 Timothy 3 - But understand this, that in the last days there will This shows in a clearer light the difference between the true teacher and the false. Everything today is, you know, for the body beautiful. Then the apostle puts before them a blessed model of that which he had before his own soul. I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers," what singular language this from Paul! It means to follow a person spiritually, not only to understand what he says, but also to carry out his ideas and be the kind of person he wishes us to be. And passion shall seize him that is peaceful. In either case the word describes a certain harshness of mind which separates a man from his fellow-men in unrelenting bitterness. Accordingly, although they are not exposed to the same assaults, and do not engage in the same battles, yet they have a warfare in common, and shall never be wholly at peace and exempt from persecutions. You've made a covenant and there are so many broken covenants. of Now they're right out where little kids can go in and pick them up and leaf through them. There can come a time in a man's life when the company of good people and the presence of good things is simply an embarrassment. Second, there are the qualities of the apostle. Paul cites three instances when he had to suffer for Christ. It is the whole spiritual experience, so to speak, of the apostle. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, 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. 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." For "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" ( Matthew 12:34 ). And for a person to take advantage of a child is unthinkable. "Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Still the man has become crude, blasphemous, ranting and raving, a disgrace to Jesus Christ who said, "By this sign shall men know that you are my disciples, that you love one another" ( John 13:34 ). One day they said to Jesus, Show us a sign. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God.". The man who is huperephanos ( G5244) , said Theophrastus, has a kind of contempt for everyone except himself. They were said to be the two servants who accompanied Balaam when he was disobedient to God ( Numbers 22:22); they were said to have been part of the great mixed multitude who accompanied the children of Israel out of Egypt ( Exodus 12:38); some said that they perished at the crossing of the Red Sea; other stories said that it was Jannes and Jambres who were behind the making of the golden calf and that they perished among those who were killed for that sin ( Exodus 32:28); still other stories said that in the end they became proselytes to Judaism. "He kicked the world about," said one, "as if it had been a football." I. Paul instructed Timothy concerning what God had revealed would take place in the last days. (3) if we are persecuted, we should carefully inquire, before we avail ourselves of this consolation, whether we are persecuted because we "live godly in Christ Jesus," or for some other reason. godly, Godfearingly. In certain of these books Jannes and Jambres figured largely. Jewish thought had one basic conception. 2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV) - Forerunner Commentary - Bible Tools But the sin of the man who is arrogant is in his heart. 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. The age of children is the learning age; and those who would get true learning must get it out of the scriptures. We must not be afraid of a manifest duty because it has been abused. 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. Includes questions, verse by verse commentary, and applications on 2 Timothy 1 for life transformation. His connection with the church, but "of the seed of David," the fulfiller of the promises, and object of the prophecies. That the man of God may be perfect ( 2 Timothy 3:17 ). It is not a question here about elders, but what would abide all the same when elders could not be duly appointed. The same tone of mercy is equally promised in this #epistle as in the last. Therefore it is incumbent for the Christian to look to this gravely, never to be dragged by the fear of breaking unity into accrediting what dishonours the Lord. The woman, thrilled to the heart, does so and is deluded into thinking that she can prophesy. At the end of each reading, the brigand said: "That's a good book; we won't burn that one; give it to me." 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all" ( Psalms 34:19 ). And this, I apprehend, is the reason. For "all scripture is given by inspiration of God. There are still Church dignitaries whose main thought is their own dignity; but the Christian is the follower of him who was meek and lowly in heart. Avoid such people. Braggart has an interesting derivation. Nowadays we have to restate these old pictures in modern terms. Here we have him recurring to that which was entirely outside nature, and before its very platform existed. What use it will be of to us. The adjective used is philautos, which means self-loving. That Day of the Lord was to be preceded by a time of terror, when evil would gather itself for its final assault and the world would be shaken to its moral and physical foundations.