2 Timothy 3:12, NASB: Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Have you ever seen an age when people were more conscious of their own selves? Why? He must study the Scriptures to make himself useful to God and to his fellow-men. 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. Such is the meaning of purging himself. 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 word of God is the foundation for doctrine. What a blessing. The numbers of people who flocked to the various athletic contests, loving pleasure. 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. They had been long accustomed to the truth, and alas! "I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers, with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears." 2 To Timothy, d my beloved child:. 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 Christian life is a life of purpose. The strange characteristic of ingratitude is that it is the most hurting of all sins because it is the blindest. Now when Moses appeared before Pharaoh and he threw down his rod and it turned into a snake, you'll remember that Pharaoh's magicians threw down their rods and they also became snakes, but Moses' snake swallowed theirs. Love of self is the basic sin, from with all others flow. There was the great trade route from the Euphrates valley which came by way of Colosse and Laodicea and poured the wealth of the east into the lap of Ephesus. In his own neighbourhood he had seen Paul suffer because of his devotion to Christ (10-12; cf. In short, let us know that we are Christians on this condition, that we shall be liable to many tribulations and various contests. 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. It can mean that a man is so bitter in his hatred that he will never come to terms with the man with whom he has quarrelled. The Kingdom had its price. 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." Right out of the gate, Second Timothy presents itself as a conservative letter, understanding "conservative" in the most literal sense of the word. 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. Paul "the aged," as he says, was just about to leave this world. That's just fable. You may be able to deceive people for a while, but ultimately, it's going to catch up, even as it did with Jannes. There would be two ways in which these heretics in the days of Timothy could exert an evil influence. "Perilous times shall come." There is no occasion for the writings of the philosopher, nor for rabbinical fables, nor popish legends, nor unwritten traditions, to make us perfect men of God, since the scripture answers all these ends and purposes. This was to touch the right chord in his heart. Their own word would eat as a canker, and do harm to others as well as to themselves, "who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." 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. In 2 Timothy 3:13 he meant that evil becomes more intensive as time goes on. "That thou hast had good teachers. There is peril when men assess prosperity by material things. 10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 3:1 You must realize this--that in the last days difficult times will set in. You've made a covenant and there are so many broken covenants. Help me totake this verse seriously, that I will suffer persecution if I live godly in Jesus Christ. 1. 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." "I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. He is sure that God will rescue the man who puts his faith in him. Perilous Times 2 Timothy 3:1. The great thing is to do the will of God, let others say what they please; and so the apostle Paul exhorts Timothy. But of one thing Paul was sure--the days of the deceivers were numbered. Paul goes on to other qualities of an apostle. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. You know the persecutions that I experienced, but the Lord delivered me out of them all. Even if we look at Him so, He was raised from the dead. There is patience. If the Lord doesn't come soon, we're going to destroy ourselves as we just sink in the filth. Why does the world hate Christians? The history of the Christian Church teaches us that falsity cannot live. They love pleasure more than they love God; that's the indictment. 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 The Greek for slanderer is diabolos ( G1228) which is precisely the English word devil. YEA, AND - an additional consideration. Paul concludes this section with an appeal to Timothy to remain loyal to all the teaching he had received. There was a state of things coming when it would be impossible to have local charges chosen according to the full sanction which they had in apostolic days. The volume of the book, the Old Testament, it's all about Jesus Christ. It is interesting that the Scriptures in many places speak of the last days and in every case where the Scriptures speak of the last days, you find that it is an apt description of the day and the age in which we live. 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. 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. In Greek writings these two words often went together; and they are both picturesque. It is to be supposed that the younger labourer cowered somewhat, unwilling to incur the odious charge, so easily made but hard to refute, of setting himself up and taking the place of some great one. 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. 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 was a part of his lot. In other words, you may go along for a while, but ultimately it's going to catch up with you. Originally the alazon ( G213) was a wandering quack. 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. (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. [ See verse text ] Persecution against godly people is to be expected in this world; it's one of the few constants in life (2 Timothy 3:12). 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 . He nourishes an all-consuming, all-pervading pride; and in his heart there is a little altar where he bows down before himself. The reason is manifest: they themselves savour of the things of men, and not of God. Finally, we have his assertion of the blessed Lord's care, and his confidence in Him that He would preserve him from all evil to His heavenly kingdom; closing this solemn and touching epistle (it would seem the last words he wrote) with salutations to various saints. 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. Afterwards he also speaks of his own work and of that which he was suffering. 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. Such is the perversity of sin. 2 Timothy 3:12 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. As Shakespeare had it: "Good name in man and woman, dear my lord. 2 Timothy 3 1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God. At Ephesus some of the greatest roads in the world met. Shall we turn now in our Bibles to Second Timothy chapter three? The braggart is a swaggering creature, who tries to bluster his way into power and eminence. He who feeds his mind on cheap literature can in the end find nothing in the great masterpieces. 2. It is easy for a professed Christian to avoid persecution, if he yields every point in which religion is opposed to the world. 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. He might even seem to be humble; but in his secret heart there is contempt for everyone else. 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). It is as if he said to them: "You have been well warned." Those who would learn the things of God, and be assured of them, must know the Holy Scriptures, for they are the Divine revelation. (v) Paul makes a final point. It may well be that the greatest handicap to Christianity is not the scarlet sinner but the sleek devotee of an unimpeachable orthodoxy and a dignified convention, who is horrified when it is suggested that real religion is a dynamic power which changes a man's personal life. There are those who shrink from helping on others in order to the work and doctrine of the Lord. Now these seem to many very difficult indeed to combine. Timothy was well aware of this, even before he joined Paul in his work. A. Characteristics of the last days 3:1-13. Men will be ungovernable in their desires (akrates, G193) . For "all scripture is given by inspiration of God.