The coming of the Lord will in no way manifest the faithfulness of the servant; His appearing will. (1) that they who make a profession of religion, should come prepared to be persecuted. 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. Abandoned by virtually all of those close to him for fear of persecution (cf. The words that finally decided me were those in John 18:37: 'For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. 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 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. 3:2-5 For men will live a life that is centred in self; they will be lovers of money, braggarts, arrogant, lovers of insult, disobedient to their parents, thankless, regardless even of the ultimate decencies of life, without human affection, implacable in hatred, revelling in slander, ungovernable in their passions, savage, not knowing what the love of good is, treacherous, headlong in word and action, inflated with pride, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. 2 Timothy 3:12-13 Commentary | Precept Austin 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. If anyone proposes to introduce into his life a loyalty which surpasses all earthly loyalties, there are bound to be clashes. This statement does not contradict what Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:9. But they do enshrine the permanent truth that some time there must come the consummation when evil meets God in head-on collision and there comes the final triumph of God. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 2 Timothy - Discover Books of The Bible - bible-studys.org That is the inevitable way to ruin, for no man can master anything unless he first masters himself. The apostle mentions the Lord's delivering him out of them all, for Timothy's and our encouragement under sufferings. What Does 2 Timothy 3:12 Mean? - Verse of the day There was infirmity in the character of Timothy. The New Testament had not yet been canonized. Includes questions, verse by verse commentary, and applications on 2 Timothy 1 for life transformation. Some of you are separated not by your own desire or wish, but because someone was a trucebreaker. He read them and never rested until he obtained the rest of the Bible. It is a duty in the present state of confusion to use scriptural means; and here we have our warrant, as in the epistles we find more. In the last days perilous times will come: The word translated perilous has the idea of troubles, difficulty, and stressful situations. And a less confession than this God never permitted the church to accept; nor in fact in Jerusalem itself was less ever accepted than the naming the name of the Lord. 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. 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 Here he mentions his persecutions and afflictions at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, besides what he suffered elsewhere. 2 Timothy 3:12 in Other Translations - Bible Study Tools This is the right thing to do. God wants us each to take His power, His love, and His calm thinking and overcome fear, to be used of Him with all the gifts He gives. Let us then see what Paul says of the usefulness of scripture. O that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer to them than ever! And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully." Deliberately he lit it. The reason is obvious. 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. The world is full of these braggarts to this day; the clever know-all's who deceive people into thinking that they are wise, the politicians who claim that their parties have a program which will bring in the Utopia and that they alone are born to be leaders of men, the people who crowd the advertisement columns with claims to give beauty, knowledge or health by their system, the people in the Church who have a kind of ostentatious goodness. These twin qualities of the braggart and the arrogant man inevitably result in love of insult (blasphemia, G988) . "To make thee wise to salvation through faith." We've just experienced a tremendous demonstration of that in the Los Angeles basin in the last couple of weeks. 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. Accordingly the apostle reminds Timothy of this. He opened out the pages to make it burn more easily. Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary She had waded through book after book and laboured with philosophy after philosophy in an attempt to find satisfaction. So he's referring to the Old Testament Scriptures, those which Timothy knew from the child and he called them the "holy scriptures," which they are, "and they are able to make you wise unto salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus." It answers all the ends of divine revelation. But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: a. Paul refers to his own experiences to illustrate the truth that the person who whole-heartedly follows God must expect persecution. godly, Godfearingly. Word Studies in the New Testament. 2 Timothy 3:12, NASB: Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. There is no godliness (Greek, "piously") or piety out of Christ. The whole idea is that of thoroughly fitting you as an instrument that God can use. So don't expect the world to speak well of you or to applaud you for your living a godly life and taking a righteous stand. (4) let those who have never been persecuted in any way, inquire whether it is not an evidence that they have no religion. On the other hand, it is unholy to tamper with evil. 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 world easily puts up with the mask of a religion which depends on itself, but the piety which derives its vigor directly from Christ is as odious to modern Christians as it was to the ancient Jews [Bengel]. That is, it is not enough that I should walk with the Lord individually, but I must clear myself of association with that which is contrary to His name. The Gnostics had their own fanciful books; the heretics all produced their own literature to support their claims. Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 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 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. 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. Note, Those are wise indeed who are wise to salvation. 1:15; 4:9-12, 16) and facing imminent execution, Paul wrote to Timothy, urging him to hasten to Rome for one last visit with the apostle ( 4:9, 21 ). 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. And yet, it is becoming in this hedonistic society commonplace, all too commonplace, tragically commonplace. There would be two ways in which these heretics in the days of Timothy could exert an evil influence. For he does not say Jesus Christ simply in. He lets Timothy know that while he laid this on others, he must look carefully to his own ways. Man can do it but not God. But the condition of the believers had deteriorated. Now they're right out where little kids can go in and pick them up and leaf through them. They choose to lay, again and again, the early foundations of their Christian faith i.e. Oh God, I want you to use my life. The numbers of people who flocked to the various athletic contests, loving pleasure. 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. No amount of intellectual curiosity can ever take the place of moral earnestness. Paul's life: one of longsuffering, one of love and one of patience. Look what they did to Jesus, and Jesus said, "If they persecuted me, they're going to persecute you" ( John 15:20 ). Why cannot a man be as simple now as in apostolic times? Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. So I listened to that voice, and heard the truth, and found my Saviour.". Years later that same brigand turned up again. For, if we do not believe their truth and goodness, they will do us no good. And he embraced Christianity, but he was probably standing there in Lystra when the people in the city stoned Paul until they thought he was dead and dragged him out of the city. Timothy had been schooled in the Scriptures from his early youth by his mother and grandmother, and so as Paul began to, with the Scriptures, prove that Jesus was the Messiah, with Timothy's background, he could see the truth of it. And a hundred and fifty men can board it and they can submerge and go under the North Pole under the arctic ice. And in the end they shall perish together with them." I'm afraid that that is also true of us. If Timothy wishes to live godly in Christ, he must make up his mind to encounter. This shows in a clearer light the difference between the true teacher and the false. In it we find the duties, the qualities and the experiences of an apostle. Any conversion which makes a man think of nothing but the fact that he has been saved is no true conversion. Confrontation and conflict become inevitable (cf. This present age was altogether evil; and the age to come would be the golden age of God. 3:10-13 But you have been my disciple in my teaching, my training, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance, my persecutions, my sufferings, in what happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, in the persecutions which I underwent; and the Lord rescued me from them all. Look at our attitudes towards morality. E. F. Brown has pointed out the danger of what he calls "intellectual curiosity without moral earnestness." 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. It is derived from two Greek words which mean to show oneself above. So the Greek word that is used here to describe these that are going around, leading captive the silly women, is the same Greek word that was used to describe quackery, and that's probably they're quacks, Paul is saying. This is God's attitude to men. Introduction; 2 Timothy 1 Commentary; In Brazil Signor Antonio of Minas bought a New Testament which he took home to burn. The Christian leader will never lack his opponents. Even an unbeliever is acting unfairly unless he tries to read it. It is used in Plutarch to describe what we would call an ugly wound. I'm just saying, Hey, I am stupid and I lack an understanding. 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. Paul instructed Timothy concerning what God had revealed would take place in the last days. Look at the magazines that were once really under the counter kind of stuff and sold illegally. Everything today is, you know, for the body beautiful. Many and many a time we would be saved from hurting ourselves and from wounding other people, if we would only stop to think. But then another thing. 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. The cause of this is the present confusion, and accordingly the apostle brings a picture of it before Timothy's mind. (3.) One must try disorders and prove profession. God is right. ( 2 Timothy 3:1) Perilous times in the last days . 1. This again has stumbled the minds of men. 2 Timothy 3 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise) - Christianity 1 Timothy 3:12 - Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary - StudyLight.org It is still possible for a teacher to gain an undue and unhealthy influence over others, especially when they are impressionable. (3.) It was thus Paul treated the proud reasonings and speculations of man; withal briefly touching on those that had gone entirely astray Hymenaeus and Philetus. Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But we, so often, make the mistake of going out ill-equipped or running without a message. Men would be headlong in words and action. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary. For example, "37-1-2459" means the reference is on page 37, is in column 1, and is word number 2459.). 2 Timothy - Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary - StudyLight.org He was comparatively alone. 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. 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. They had been long accustomed to the truth, and alas! fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, [and then] lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God ( 2 Timothy 3:3-4 ); The pleasuremania of the United States. This might deter a sensitive saint from his duty. I reply, it is not always in one way that Satan persecutes the servants of Christ. Let us look at them one by one. What does 2 Timothy 3:13 mean? | BibleRef.com If they had been more faithful, and more like their Master, would they have always escaped? (See notes Matthew 5:10, 11, 12) He must take care of the manner in which he strives. 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). The doctrine of the necessity of persecution was no new thing to Paul. 2 Timothy Commentaries & Sermons | Precept Austin 2 Timothy 3 Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible That's not the kind of promises we really enjoy, is it? I am reminded of the prophet of God who spoke concerning Israel, and he said, "They have sown the wind, and now they must reap the whirlwind" ( Hosea 8:7 ). In living in such a manner, persecution will come; but the Lord will deliver the faithful. 2 Timothy 3:12-17 - Bible Gateway There are those who shrink from helping on others in order to the work and doctrine of the Lord. Promotions are withheld, invitations are denied, and a snickering unpopularity are the daily portion of many precious souls working in a hostile, atheistic environment. Timothy, again, winced under trials, too sensitive to slights, disappointments, and the manifold griefs that came upon him. 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. 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). Verse 4. He who feeds his mind on cheap literature can in the end find nothing in the great masterpieces. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. They'll say, Crucify him, rather than applaud. If anyone proposes to accept a set of standards quite different from the world's, he is bound to encounter trouble. But continue thou in the things which you have learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus ( 2 Timothy 3:14-15 ). Don't expect the world to admire your godly stance. The man who has exhausted the normal pleasures of life and still unsated, will seek his thrill in pleasures which are abnormal. Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of man" ( Luke 17:26 ). He was ordered to light a bonfire and burn his books. It denotes a savagery which has neither sensitiveness nor sympathy. 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 And how profitable is the word of God to us today! What am I to believe about angels or the future? 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. Have you ever seen an age when people were more conscious of their own selves? It was a part of his lot. The latter gains a following only by turning away from the truth of God (13). Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: they are men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith ( 2 Timothy 3:8 ). Boy, I'll tell you, I don't know. e Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.. Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You. Men will be inflated with conceit (tetuphomenos, G5187) . 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. "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." but they deny the power thereof: [Paul said to Timothy] from such turn away. This is a further reason why Timothy should endure hardship and not turn aside from the work God has given him (3-5). The cause of the perilous times are found in the things that people will be doing, and at the top of the list. It is our duty to use our minds and set them adventuring; but the test must ever be agreement with the teaching of Jesus Christ as the Scriptures present it to us. That is, without any sexual restraints. How appropriate that "trucebreakers" is for this day. As individuals, we should sometimes ask ourselves: what is our aim in life? The man who is mastered by his lower passions will gratify them in the most shameless way, as the streets of any great city will show when the night is late. (1) it teaches the only way to the Father is through Jesus; (2) it teaches a morality (a way of life) unpopular with the world; (3) it teaches a miraculous creation, a miraculous end; and a miraculous Savior who was resurrected; (4), Why does the world hate Christians? When God came on the scene and entered the conversation with his friends? How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. That's just fable. Description of His Past Curriculum 2 Timothy 3:10-12. That is, he must first labour, and then partake of the fruits. He said, "A wicked and an adulterous generation seeks after a sign; but no sign will be given it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" ( Matthew 12:38-40 ).