And that is, it doesn't tell us in the Scripture in Exodus that that was their names but Paul gives us their names here, Jannes and Jambres who withstood the truth. The final condemnation of these people is that they retain the outward form of religion but deny its power. Robertson, Archibald Thomas. Ephesus was the town of a prosperous, materialistic civilization; it was the kind of town where a man could so easily lose his soul. Some of you are separated not by your own desire or wish, but because someone was a trucebreaker. There is instinctively, I think, within persons that love of a parent for a child or an adult for the child because we realize the helplessness of a child, the dependency that they have. The Greek for slanderer is diabolos ( G1228) which is precisely the English word devil. No matter what the reasons or excuses for joining with them, "turn away.". Vincente Quiroga of Chile found a few pages of a book washed up on the seashore by a tidal wave following an earthquake. If we would know the holy scriptures, we must read and search them daily, as the noble Bereans did, Acts 17:11. [2.] A book with a record such as it has cannot be disregarded. When children are disobedient to their parents, and break through the obligations which they lie under to them both in duty and gratitude, and frequently in interest, having their dependence upon them and their expectation from them, they make the times perilous; for what wickedness will those stick at who will be abusive to their own parents and "Because ye are not of the world therefore the world hateth you" (John 15:19; Matthew 10:22,38,39). But when dying upon the cross, He calls to John to behold His mother. Paul said, you know, what kind of a life I've lived. Oh I know it costs more but . The peculiar task confided to the latter was care of doctrine much more than of outward order. Otherwise this might have seemed to be (what unbelief taunts and stigmatizes it, spite of His sanction) pride of heart and presumption. This is a further reason why Timothy should endure hardship and not turn aside from the work God has given him (3-5). 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. (2) they who are persecuted for their opinions, should consider that this may be one evidence that they have the spirit of Christ, and are his true friends. The word is huperephanos ( G5244) . 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. e Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.. Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You. It is in terms of these last days that Paul is thinking in this passage. It is the word alazon ( G213) and was derived from the ale, which means a wandering about. The Holy Spirit would make it to be most practical and precious. In Brazil Signor Antonio of Minas bought a New Testament which he took home to burn. Don't start trying to cut out certain stories because they don't fit your scheme because you have a little hard, you have a hard time sort of believing that. One day a visitor came to the ward and left a supply of gospels. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, and led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth ( 2 Timothy 3:5-7 ). There is the idea of menace and of danger in this word. He flung the New Testament on it. A. M. Chirgwin has story after story of how the Scriptures came by chance into the hands of men and changed their lives. But then another thing. (3.) 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. 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. It is not meant that the Scriptures are valuable for finding fault; what is meant is that they are valuable for convincing a man of the error of his ways and for pointing him on the right path. It is the Greek parakolouthein ( G3877) and literally means to follow alongside; but it is used with a magnificent width of meaning. Next he comes to a more personal need. Then he points out the two principal guards for the faithful, in such a perilous state. For it is not dogma pure and simple, it is not mere instruction; and we may thank God for it. 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. "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." SEDUCTION IN THE NAME OF RELIGION ( 2 Timothy 3:6-7 ). Paul completes the story of the things in which Timothy has shared, and must share, with him, by speaking of the experiences of an apostle; and he prefaces that list of experiences by setting down the quality of endurance. She had been finding life, as she herself said, futile and meaningless. 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. Men will be without human affection (astorgos, G794) . It was not then an indifferent matter to God. Things will get worse as people turn away from those who teach the Scriptures, and listen to those who teach their own theories. Men would become lovers of money (philarguros, G5366) . It may well be a proof of Timothy's courage and consecration that he had seen very clearly what could happen to an apostle and had yet not hesitated to cast in his lot with Paul. 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. 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. "Men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." He was one that needed to lean on an arm stronger than his own. Quite a promise, isn't it? Oh God, I want you to use my life. For "all scripture is given by inspiration of God. We usually try to avoid it on Friday evening if we can, but sometimes our schedules are such that we just don't have time to. That's proper and you should have that desire. Those ministers are likely to do good, and leave lasting fruits of their labours, whose manner of life agrees with their doctrine; as, on the contrary, those cannot expect to profit the people at all that preach well and live ill. 3. That the man of God may be perfect ( 2 Timothy 3:17 ). Thus it was that God had made him: there was no use denying it. 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. Observe, The scriptures will make us wise to salvation, if they be mixed with faith, and not otherwise, Hebrews 4:2. 2. menin the professing Church. (1) that they who make a profession of religion, should come prepared to be persecuted. The Jehovah Witnesses seeking to develop their doctrine concerning hell and that it is a place of oblivion, no consciousness, no awareness. One must try disorders and prove profession. When our Lord was pleased to take upon himself the form of a servant, and to go about preaching the kingdom of God; he took all opportunities in public, and more especially in private, to caution his disciples against . 2 Timothy 3:12 (NASB) Verse Thoughts We live in a fallen world, and there are many challenges that face the believer who has not only trusted Christ for salvation, but is also ready and willing to deny self, take up his cross, follow Christ's example, and say without compromise - Thy will, not mine, be done. Is it knowledge, or is it life, that we are trying to transmit? All God-inspired scripture is useful for teaching, for the conviction of error, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1930. 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. It may be that, since we are only human, we cannot live entirely without differences with our fellow-men, but to perpetuate these differences is one of the worst--and also one of the commonest--of all sins. The world really doesn't admire true Christian traits. There was the road from the south which centred the trade of the Maeander valley in Ephesus. 2 Timothy 3 Commentary; 2 Timothy 4 Commentary; HENRY ALFORD 2 TIMOTHY COMMENTARY The Greek Testament. Do you have a hard time accepting that man can build a great fish that can swallow men and keep them under water for several days and deposit them later at a port?Hey, hey, wait a minute then. false accusers, incontinent ( 2 Timothy 3:3 ). It instructs us in that which is true, reproves us for that which is amiss, directs us in that which is good. Thou hast fully known my afflictions. The whole idea is that of thoroughly fitting you as an instrument that God can use. ", The Lord said it's "what comes out of the mouth of a man, that defiles a man" ( Matthew 15:11 ). What am I to believe about man? For, if we do not believe their truth and goodness, they will do us no good. 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 ). Possibly he did appoint them; but there is no scriptural proof of it. Men will be disobedient to their parents. "That thou hast had good teachers. 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. Ephesus was called "The Treasure-house of the ancient world," "The Vanity Fair of Asia Minor." Accordingly the apostle reminds Timothy of this. Each of the chapters are done individually. The technique would be the same in the days of Timothy as it was in the later days of Irenaeus. It appears it was not merely in Rome. Xenophon in the Memorabilia tells how Socrates utterly condemned such impostors. The first is the moral character of the source or channel whence Timothy had derived what he knew. 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. Sponde is the word for a truce or an agreement. It denotes a savagery which has neither sensitiveness nor sympathy. 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. Note, It is not enough to learn that which is good, but we must continue in it, and persevere in it unto the end. Timothy was from Lystra. "She then makes the effort to reward Marcus, not only by the gift of her possessions (in which way he has collected a very large fortune), but also by yielding up to him her person, desiring in every way to be united to him, that she may become altogether one with him." Description of His Past Curriculum 2 Timothy 3:10-12. And how profitable is the word of God to us today! The Greek word (prodotes, G4273) means nothing less than a traitor. And many shall be stirred up in anger to injure many; And they shall rouse up armies in order to shed blood. Nor do I at all see that any Christians should be above learning, if others can teach. (2) They who are persecuted for their opinions, should consider that this may be one evidence that they have the spirit of Christ, and are his true friends. The age of children is the age to learn; and those who would get true learning, must get it out of the Scriptures. We are not meant to titillate our minds with the latest intellectual crazes; we are meant to purify and strengthen ourselves in the moral battle to live the Christian life. Paul suffered as he taught: a single eye to Christ and His grace made him consistent. 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. And my full doctrinal concepts are premised upon the scriptures. It is the ability not to lose patience when people are foolish, not to grow irritable when they seem unteachable. In the first part of this chapter 2 Timothy 3:1-8, Paul reminds Timothy of the great apostasy which was to be expected in the church, and states some of the characteristics of it. God said it.They are profitable. Here we come back to where we started; such men place their own wishes in the centre of life. And man has prepared a great fish and they powered it with atomic engines. They must not lie by us neglected, seldom or never looked into. Men can be savage in rebuke and savage in pitiless action. Well soon your Bible will be so messed up you wouldn't be able to read it. The scriptures are profitable to establish the foundation of my beliefs. 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. There is that in the scripture which suits every case. Easy it seems to get sort of distracted and off course. They cannot understand an inspired apostle talking about a cloak in the midst of a divinely given pastoral charge. 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. 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? III. He said, Who is this? It is still possible for a teacher to gain an undue and unhealthy influence over others, especially when they are impressionable. It opened at the Sermon on the Mount. Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. So the same Greek is used of the same thing, Lu 14:28, 33, "intending (Greek, 'wishing') to build a tower counteth the cost.". When Carlyle's father was discussing the kind of minister his parish needed, he said: "What this parish needs is a man who knows Christ other than at secondhand." Or life, or death, or life after death? And the word of God comes and it brings a balance, it brings a correction, it brings a correct perspective.It's profitable. For that very reason it is unanswerable that, whatever a man might argue about the rest of the Bible, it is impossible for the Church ever to do without the Gospels. . In the last days perilous times will come: The word translated perilous has the idea of troubles, difficulty, and stressful situations. There were those who would revenge themselves on an enemy by informing against him. He was to remember, then, "that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel: wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil-doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound." The reason is obvious. of The Christian life does not consist only in knowing something; it consists even more in being something. Salem Media Group. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary. It follows from this: (1) That they who make a profession of religion, should come prepared to be persecuted. Then the apostle puts before them a blessed model of that which he had before his own soul. Good to have pleasure but don't make it your God. (iii) The Scriptures are valuable for reproof. And when you lose authority you have anarchy. 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. What am I to believe about angels or the future? It is a great happiness to know the certainty of the things wherein we have been instructed (Luke 1:4); not only to know what the truths are, but to know that they are of undoubted certainty. I've got a file up here that says, Wait for further information. 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. A man may embrace some absurd opinion, and call it religion; he may adopt some mode of dress irresistibly ludicrous, from the mere love of singularity, and may call it conscience; or he may be boorish in his manners, and uncivil in his deportment, outraging all the laws of social life, and may call this deadness to the world; and for these, and similar things, he may be contemned, ridiculed, and despised. The doctrine of the necessity of persecution was no new thing to Paul. ( 2 Timothy 3:1) Perilous times in the last days . The fact is that God loves to make His children mutually dependent; and if we are only humble, there are very few saints from whom we may not derive some good, though not always in the same way. They must not lie by us neglected, and seldom or never looked into. VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. He did so to help him realize that he faced no unknown situation in Ephesus and to enable him to combat it intelligently. But you see, if you start whacking away at the story of Jonah, and say, oh, I can't really buy that. 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. But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: a. Judaism had its divine institutions and hopes, but the truth is found in Christendom only: nevertheless in Christendom, who fails to discern Jewish elements and heathenish enormities? 2 Timothy 3 1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. Here is the essential conclusion. And then again "the husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits." He read the twenty-third psalm from one; the story of the Good Samaritan from another; from another the Sermon on the Mount; from another 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Fear and timidity will keep us from using the gifts God gives. ", Now when you have difficulty in your understanding of a scripture, rather than setting that aside and saying, Well, God really didn't say that; just say, hey, I really don't understand that yet. Timothy was well aware of this, even before he joined Paul in his work. We must note that Paul here makes a distinction. There is slander enough in many a church to make the recording angel weep as he records it. Whatever therefore may be right in certain cases, the assembly of God ought never to be forced to put every case on the same dead level ought never to be bound by any special process, as if it were unalterable. He opened out the pages to make it burn more easily. And this, I believe, is much to be considered. And if you align your life with God, you're going to find yourself out of alignment with the world and persecution will come. Barnes' Notes. "Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions." "Reprobate concerning the faith.". How gracious of the Lord to point out the path for the saint, separate from that which grieves the Lord, yet enjoying all that He sees good for us of the privileges of Christianity! This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come ( 2 Timothy 3:1 ). 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. Then are we Christ's disciples indeed, John 8:31. 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. 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. If a man's goods are stolen, he can set to and build up his fortunes again; but if his good name is taken away, irreparable damage has been done. The same tone of mercy is equally promised in this #epistle as in the last. The word of God is the foundation for doctrine. There was a certain heretic called Marcus who dealt in magic. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully." It describes the man who is swept on by passion and impulse to such an extent that he is totally unable to think sensibly. (2.) I can base my beliefs upon what God has said because it is indeed God's word.I have great difficulty with these people who develop doctrines that are contrary to what Jesus said, as though they understand more than Jesus about what's happening in the future. Paul regarded these as man-made things; but the great books for a man's soul were the God-inspired ones which tradition and the experience of men had sanctified. And that quality of conquering endurance is necessary, because persecution is an essential part of the experience of an apostle. It describes, not the spirit which accepts life, but the spirit which masters it. (i) He says that the Scriptures give the wisdom which will bring salvation. God is right. What is the excellency of the scripture. but they deny the power thereof: [Paul said to Timothy] from such turn away. If he does not hide the sorrowful view of an old fellow-labourer's cooling in zeal, with all its dangers, the consolation is also before Timothy both of those that go on in faithful labour, and of one at least restored. It will be getting better a little further down the road, but evil days are going to wax worse and worse, until the Lord takes His church out and then God judges the world for its unrighteousness and ungodliness. This is God's attitude to men. Don't expect the world to admire your godly stance. The insult which comes from anger is bad but it is forgivable, for it is launched in the heat of the moment; but the cold insult which comes from arrogant pride is an ugly and an unforgivable thing. "Men of corrupt minds. "The foundation of God standeth sure [or, the firm foundation of God standeth], having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. Their minds become corrupted and they ultimately become reprobate concerning the faith. These twin qualities of the braggart and the arrogant man inevitably result in love of insult (blasphemia, G988) . 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 Verse 4. There was the road from north Asia Minor and from Galatia which came in via Sardis. 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. It means to follow a person mentally, to attend diligently to his teaching and fully to understand the meaning of what he says. Christianity changed all that and a new set of problems arose. "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.". I thought you were, you know, the Son of God and smarter than that. We have already seen how secluded the life of the respectable Greek woman was, how she was brought up under the strictest supervision, how she was not allowed "to see anything, to hear anything, or to ask any questions," how she never appeared, even on a shopping expedition, alone on the streets, how she was never allowed even to appear at a public meeting. We live in a fallen world, and there are many challenges that face the believer who has not only trusted Christ for salvation, but is also ready and willing to deny self, take up his cross, follow Christs example, and say without compromise Thy will, not mine, be done.The newbornbaby Christian has to grow in grace and mature in the faith over an unspecified periodof time, to reach this level of maturity in his faith, while other who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ may slip in and out of carnality and worldliness for many years, stunting their growth and even regressing in their faith back to spiritual infancy.Many, if not all believers, are called to become mature in the faith by walking in spirit and truth and living godly, Christ-centred lives, but few are willing to exchange the cosy blessings of early Christian infancy, for the difficulties that inevitably follow the mature believer. 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. 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. He knew that he had suffered ill for doing well (2 Timothy 3:11; 2 Timothy 3:11): "Thou hast fully known the persecutions and afflictions that came unto me" (he mentions those only which happened to him while Timothy was with him, at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra); "and therefore let it be no surprise to thee if thou suffer hard things, it is no more than I have endured before." By it we are thoroughly furnished for every good work. Here the apostle, to confirm Timothy in that way wherein he walked. 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. It was only to be expected that certain women would not know how to use their new liberty. In these terrible days men would be braggarts and arrogant. "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. 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 crumbling away of everything here was before the apostle; and accordingly it is one of the peculiar features of this second epistle, that he brings out that which never can decay which was before there was a world to dissolve namely, that life which was in Christ Jesus before the world began. It can never cease to be a Christian's duty to maintain the unity of the Spirit; but it is not maintaining the unity of the Spirit to couple with the name of the Lord that which is fleshly and sinful. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Even a dog may be sorry when he has hurt his master, but there are people who, in their treatment of others, can be lost to human sympathy and feeling. His answer was: "That which will be most useful to them when they are men." I've never found that in one of those little Bible promise books, I mean, promise things yet. You're a stranger. (4) Let those who have never been persecuted in any way, inquire whether it is not an evidence that they have no religion. 3. The most amazing things may happen if he does, for there is a saving wisdom here that is in no other book. 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. The adjective used is philautos ( G5367) , which means self-loving. We can still see this kind of man in fairs and market-places shouting the virtues of a patent medicine which will act like magic. The man who is huperephanos ( G5244) , said Theophrastus, has a kind of contempt for everyone except himself.

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