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." 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). " 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. It answers not a little to the kind of thing ,;et forth here. That the scripture has various uses, and answers divers ends and purposes: It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction of all errors in judgment and practice, and for instruction in righteousness. (4) let those who have never been persecuted in any way, inquire whether it is not an evidence that they have no religion. 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. There is that in the scripture which suits every case. (1.) Blasphemia is the word which is transliterated into English as blasphemy. 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. This again has stumbled the minds of men. He returned after the first missionary journey to visit the Churches he had founded, "strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" ( Acts 14:22). Then he points out the two principal guards for the faithful, in such a perilous state. Vincente Quiroga of Chile found a few pages of a book washed up on the seashore by a tidal wave following an earthquake. ", The Lord said it's "what comes out of the mouth of a man, that defiles a man" ( Matthew 15:11 ). 2 Timothy 3: Bible Study, Commentary and Summary And the reason why he makes it so urgent not to be turned aside was, that the time would come when men would not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts they should heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they should turn away their ears from the truth, and should be. Commentary on 2 Timothy 3:14-17. Don't expect the world to admire your godly stance. He glanced at it as he consigned it to the flames. 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. You're in an alien world. We must note that Paul here makes a distinction. One must try disorders and prove profession. This is evidently not the true remedy to abandon the confession of Christ: only an apostate could think of it. Men will be implacable in their hatreds (aspondos, G786) . The result would often be either that the woman broke off married relationships with her husband in order to live the ascetic life, or that she gave the lower instincts full play and abandoned herself to promiscuous relationships. The whole concept of redemption is wrapped up in the Old Testament. That is to say, they go through all the correct movements and maintain all the external forms of religion; but they know nothing of Christianity as a dynamic power which changes the lives of men. "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 word is huperephanos ( G5244) . "Much the greatest rogue of all is the man who has gulled his city into the belief that he is fit to direct it.". But they will not get much further, for their folly will be as clear to all as that of those ancient impostors. He opened out the pages to make it burn more easily. 2. All you can say is that they are "without natural affection".God has put in our heart a certain natural love as a parent for a child. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? He had fought the good fight of faith. It begets disregard of God, thinking that it does not need him and that it knows better than he. Thus we have everything cared for here; the state of confusion is clearly depicted, as it then was beginning, and as results have proved yet more. 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. Now you get out your, you know, your green and blue pens and for the inspired ones, we'll underline those with blue and we'll use red, maybe, to underline those that are not inspired, you know and, and so here I am, I'm the authority.Well, the next liberal comes along and he says, Well, no, no, no, he was wrong on that one. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? SEDUCTION IN THE NAME OF RELIGION ( 2 Timothy 3:6-7 ). (3.) [Note: Knight, p. It is easy for a professed Christian to avoid persecution, if he yields every point in which religion is opposed to the world. [ 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). Verse 2 Timothy 3:1. Having a form of godliness ( 2 Timothy 3:5 ). He is sure that in the long run it is better to suffer with God and the right than to prosper with men and the wrong. The scriptures are profitable to establish the foundation of my beliefs. 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. The wickedness of evil people, particularly charlatans, will increase as time passes. 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 Description of His Past Curriculum 2 Timothy 3:10-12. (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. "He devotes himself specially to women, and those such as are well-bred, and elegantly attired, and of great wealth." It is the normal Greek word for difficult, but it has certain usage's which explain its meaning here. Therefore, isolation is never desirable, though it may be sometimes necessary. So you have to be careful when you start chipping it away at one side because the whole thing will come down on you. You have no authority.So if I tell you that some scriptures are not really inspired of God, then I become the authority, not the Bible anymore, because you can't just read the whole Bible and trust it because not all of it is inspired. He said, Who is this? The doctrine that he preached. In other words, you may go along for a while, but ultimately it's going to catch up with you. But then another thing. Our God is much too small. 2 Timothy 3 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise) - Christianity And how profitable is the word of God to us today! The absence of persecution, in any active sense, from the lives of most Christians of this era is generally due to the watered-down version of their Christianity and not to any subsidence of the savage hatred of the darkness for the light. It is no accident that the first of these qualities will be a life that is centred in self. 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. In Brazil Signor Antonio of Minas bought a New Testament which he took home to burn. The Holy Spirit would make it to be most practical and precious. The kind of guys that went around selling snake oil or cure-alls, deceiving, defrauding people. Confrontation and conflict become inevitable (cf. 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. Those who would acquaint themselves with the things of God, and be assured of them, must know the holy scriptures, for these are the summary of divine revelation. There is patience. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. And so Paul is warning Timothy of certain things that will be transpiring in the last days. 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. As Timothy was about to enter upon a new phase of his ministry, without the apostle's presence or living counsel, the latter charges him with great emphasis, "before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word, be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine." In the terrible times men will be so set on self that even the closest ties will be nothing to them. No man is saved unless he is on fire to save his fellow-men. Ephesus was the town of a prosperous, materialistic civilization; it was the kind of town where a man could so easily lose his soul. The Platonic Definitions defined the corresponding noun (alazoneia, G212) as: "The claim to good things which a man does not really possess." 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 ). Copyright Statement These files are public domain. If Timothy wishes to live godly in Christ, he must make up his mind to encounter. The early Church lived in an age when the time was waxing late; they expected the Second Coming at any moment. There was a certain heretic called Marcus who dealt in magic. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come ( 2 Timothy 3:1 ). C. Description of His Present Resource 2 Timothy 3:13-17. Have you ever seen an age when people were more conscious of their own selves? THE QUALITIES OF GODLESSNESS ( 2 Timothy 3:2-5 continued). For all scripture is given by inspiration of God ( 2 Timothy 3:16 ), Not as some would lead you to believe, some scriptures are given by inspiration of God. Word Studies in the New Testament. There is love. 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). In a measure, no doubt, the truth is in Christendom, and only there; for one cannot look for the truth in Judaism or heathenism now. Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. That is, he must first labour, and then partake of the fruits. Many and many a time we would be saved from hurting ourselves and from wounding other people, if we would only stop to think. 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. Observe, As good men, by the grace of God, grow better and better, so bad men, through the subtlety of Satan and the power of their own corruptions, grow worse and worse. He must study the Scriptures to make himself useful to God and to his fellow-men. Surely if it is an urgent call to convey what we know of Christ and the truth to those that know nothing, it is a great privilege to help to contribute a greater knowledge of the truth to those that know little. ", and [as such they are] profitable ( 2 Timothy 3:16 ). He was one that needed to lean on an arm stronger than his own. 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. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN. Men will be disobedient to their parents. The strange characteristic of ingratitude is that it is the most hurting of all sins because it is the blindest. The defeat of error depends not on skill in controversy but in the demonstration in life of the more excellent way. And if you align your life with God, you're going to find yourself out of alignment with the world and persecution will come. "Because ye are not of the world therefore the world hateth you" (John 15:19; Matthew 10:22,38,39). There were false teachers who were quick to take advantage of that. Certain of the temporary persecution, he is equally certain of the ultimate glory. Look at, of course, all of these other things that have come along as the result of it. Yet. This of itself indicates that the epistle provides for a time when it is no longer simply a question of recognising persons coming out of the world. There will always be those who have their own twisted ideas of the Christian faith, and who wish to win others to their mistaken beliefs. It was the glory of the Jews that their children from their earliest days were trained in the law. 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. 1 Timothy 3:12 - Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary - StudyLight.org If anyone proposes to introduce into his life a loyalty which surpasses all earthly loyalties, there are bound to be clashes. 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. (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. But after giving the characteristics and traits of the godly man, Jesus then in the final Beatitudes said, "Blessed are ye, when men shall persecute you, and revile you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake" ( Matthew 5:11 ). The volume of the book, the Old Testament, it's all about Jesus Christ. Everything today is, you know, for the body beautiful. He knew what care God had taken of him: Notwithstanding out of them all the Lord delivered me; as he never failed his cause, so his God never failed him. "And in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.". Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics, 7: 2) defined the alazon ( G213) as "the man who pretends to creditable qualities that he does not possess, or possesses in a lesser degree than he makes out." By it we are thoroughly furnished for every good work. It was only to be expected that certain women would not know how to use their new liberty. Commentary on 2 Timothy 1:1-14 - Working Preacher Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Men will be inflated with conceit (tetuphomenos, G5187) . (2.) "That thou hast had good teachers. In his own neighbourhood he had seen Paul suffer because of his devotion to Christ (10-12; cf. Now it is interesting that as Paul is referring to the Scriptures here, he is, of course, referring to the Old Testament Scriptures. The closing chapter (2 Timothy 4:1-22) then gives his solemn charge, and at the same time his own expression of what was before him. The doctrine of the necessity of persecution was no new thing to Paul. Turning to the SECOND EPISTLE, we find that, although there is the same grand truth of the Saviour God maintained, the state of things had become sensibly worse, and the hour for the apostle's departure from the world was drawing near. ". The cause of this is the present confusion, and accordingly the apostle brings a picture of it before Timothy's mind. A. Characteristics of the last days 3:1-13. Paul said to Timothy. Men would be headlong in words and action.

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