he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me." Men will be inflated with conceit (tetuphomenos, G5187) . At the end of each reading, the brigand said: "That's a good book; we won't burn that one; give it to me." A great many certainly flatter themselves that they are thus favoured; but the cases are uncommon where it is more than pretence. 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. But thou hast fully known ( 2 Timothy 3:10 ), Now in contrast to this, boy, and what a contrast the Christian is to the world around him, and more and more, you know, more and more your lifestyle is different from the world. (187) And he says this, partly that believers may prepare themselves for submitting to this condition, and partly that good men may not view him with suspicion on account of the persecutions which he endures from wicked persons; as it frequently happens that the distresses to which men are subjected lead to unfavorable opinions concerning them; for he whom men regard with aversion is immediately declared by the common people to be hated by God. They worship self instead of God. "And God prepared a great fish and it swallowed Jonah" ( Jonah 1:17 ). Look at the lack, lackness. But [Paul said] they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as [Jannes and Jambres] also were ( 2 Timothy 3:9 ). The Gnostic insinuators would teach these doctrines to impressionable women. The study of the Scriptures must never be selfish, never simply for the good of a man's own soul. 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. Now you'd think that the world would treat a person like that very cordially. 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. Traitors . 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 ). Persons sometimes say it does not matter who taught; but God does not treat the matter so lightly. (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. Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Aspondos ( G786) can mean two things. What a blessing. C. Description of His Present Resource 2 Timothy 3:13-17. That which finishes a man of God in this world is the scripture. What use it will be of to us. Men will be ungovernable in their desires (akrates, G193) . 1. We don't have the time to devote to it this evening but I would suggest that you get a good Greek lexicon and do a word study on these particular Greek words that Paul uses to describe the attitudes and the actions of people in the last days. Then the word went on to widen its meaning until it meant any braggart. [3.] Having a form of godliness ( 2 Timothy 3:5 ). He wants to accustom his mind to expect hardship instead of shirking it. It is Paul's conviction that the real follower of Christ cannot escape persecution. (1.) The strange characteristic of ingratitude is that it is the most hurting of all sins because it is the blindest. 1. for it is evident that there have been many godly persons who have never suffered banishment, or imprisonment, or flight, or any kind of persecution. 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. There is nothing that more shows God than His ability to combine that which is eternal with care for the smallest things of this life. The world just exists, no real goal, no real meaning; you're just existing. Paul was a prisoner again and awaited death. Men will be implacable in their hatreds (aspondos, G786) . 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. 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). It is able to make us wise to salvation; that is, it is a sure guide in our way to eternal life. In certain of these books Jannes and Jambres figured largely. Timothy was well aware of this, even before he joined Paul in his work. Men will refuse to recognize even the ultimate decencies of life. The Platonic Definitions defined the corresponding noun (alazoneia, G212) as: "The claim to good things which a man does not really possess." Or it can mean that a man is so dishonourable that he breaks the terms of the agreement he has made. 2. Persecution and hardships will come, but of two things Paul is sure. In Brazil Signor Antonio of Minas bought a New Testament which he took home to burn. This may be either an injury done to his feelings, his family, his reputation, his property, his liberty, his influence; it may be by depriving him of an office which he held, or preventing him from obtaining one to which he is eligible; it may be by subjecting him to fine or imprisonment, to banishment, torture, or death. "It denotes living in the right attitude to God and to things divine. 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. . It was the common lot of all who endeavored to serve their Redeemer faithfully; and Timothy himself, therefore, must not hope to escape from it. 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. No man is saved unless he is on fire to save his fellow-men. Description of His Past Curriculum 2 Timothy 3:10-12. Noah escaped? The devil is the patron saint of all slanderers and of all slanderers he is chief. In the terrible times men will be so set on self that even the closest ties will be nothing to them. In other words, the word of God is that which thoroughly prepares me for any work that God might have for me to do. I mean, people will have had it with the unrighteousness of the world. 3:6-7 For from among these there come those who enter into houses, and take captive foolish women, laden with sins and driven by varied desires, ready to listen to any teacher but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. They cannot understand an inspired apostle talking about a cloak in the midst of a divinely given pastoral charge. They claimed that the law was so imprinted on the heart and mind of a Jewish child that he would sooner forget his own name than he would forget it. There is a type of person who is eager to discuss every new theory, who is always to be found deeply involved in the latest fashionable religious movement, but who is quite unwilling to accept the day-to-day discipline--even drudgery--of living the Christian life. 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. We must remember that they were Gnostics and that the basic principle of Gnosticism was that spirit was altogether good and matter altogether evil. The whole concept of redemption is wrapped up in the Old Testament. The promise of the Messiah, the details of the Messiah, they are all there. Here we come back to where we started; such men place their own wishes in the centre of life. Without natural affection ( 2 Timothy 3:3 ). "In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. Or are you going to develop a doctrine that is diametrically opposed to what Jesus said? The Christian emancipation of women inevitably brought its problems. (iv) The Scriptures are of use for correction. "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.". All that will live godly So opposite to the spirit and practice of the world is the whole of Christianity, that he who gives himself entirely up to God, making the Holy Scriptures the rule of his words and actions, will be less or more reviled and persecuted. [4.] VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. That's proper and you should have that desire. Look at the rapid deterioration of our society. But it is asked, Must all men be martyrs? He says that in them difficult times would set in. They will follow after their own wicked devices. In English we usually associate it with insult against God, but in Greek it means insult against man and God alike. It follows from this: (1) that they who make a profession of religion, should come prepared to be persecuted. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? In the days between the Old and the New Testaments many Jewish books were written which expanded the Old Testament stories. He said, Who is this? When we know the afflictions of good people but in part, they are a temptation to us to decline that cause which they suffer for; when we know only the hardships they undergo for Christ, we may be ready to say, "We will renounce that cause that is likely to cost us so dear in the owning of it;" but when we fully know the afflictions, not only how they suffer, but how they are supported and comforted under their sufferings, then, instead of being discouraged, we shall be animated by them, especially considering that we are told before that we must count upon such things (2 Timothy 3:12; 2 Timothy 3:12): All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution: not always alike; at that time those who professed the faith of Christ were more exposed to persecution than at other times; but at all times, more or less, those who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. You've made a covenant and there are so many broken covenants. 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 ). We're going to drown in our own corruption. Just to go line upon line, precept upon precept, plodding right straight through the word of God. He is the man who is guilty of the "sin of the high heart." His answer was: "That which will be most useful to them when they are men." i. "Reprobate concerning the faith.". III. 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. Man can do it but not God. Far more harm is done from want of thought than almost anything else. 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. And I filed many scriptures in that file. For example, "37-1-2459" means the reference is on page 37, is in column 1, and is word number 2459.). 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. Men will be treacherous. Well, Jesus has and He told us what to, what it's about in Luke, the sixteenth chapter. The cause of this is the present confusion, and accordingly the apostle brings a picture of it before Timothy's mind. 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. 2 Timothy 3:12, NLT: Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 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. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men." Proud member It is derived from two Greek words which mean to show oneself above. They will maintain the outward form of religion, but they will deny its power. The Gnostics had their own fanciful books; the heretics all produced their own literature to support their claims. How big is your God? He was one that needed to lean on an arm stronger than his own. It is profitable to us for all the purposes of the Christian life, for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 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 apostle's life was very exemplary for three things: for his doctrine, which was according to the will of God; for his life, which was agreeable to his doctrine; and for his persecutions and sufferings. What am I to believe about God? 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. "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise." What am I to believe about sin? There is training. His own desire after going to the Lord did not prevent this, but the reverse: "that I may be filled with joy: when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also." 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. At Ephesus some of the greatest roads in the world met. 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. and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution ( 2 Timothy 3:12 ). Real teaching is always born of real experience. The woman, thrilled to the heart, does so and is deluded into thinking that she can prophesy. Avoid such people. The defeat of error depends not on skill in controversy but in the demonstration in life of the more excellent way. 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. We find a precisely similar kind of combination in Paul. There is that in the scripture which suits every case. "To make thee wise to salvation through faith." The word is propetes ( G4312) , precipitate. 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. (2.) THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL
It would not burn. 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 . There was infirmity in the character of Timothy. The essence of Christianity is not the enthronement but the obliteration of self. 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. He was driven from Antioch in Pisidia ( Acts 13:50); he had to flee from Iconium to avoid lynching ( Acts 14:5-6); in Lystra he was stoned and left for dead ( Acts 14:19). 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. It is a divine revelation, which we may depend upon as infallibly true. 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. And they shall be dispersed among the Gentiles. Why then yield to the enemy? (2Baruch 27). THE EXPERIENCES OF AN APOSTLE ( 2 Timothy 3:10-13 continued). 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. . All that will live godly So opposite to the spirit and practice of the world is the whole of Christianity, that he who gives himself entirely up to God, making the Holy Scriptures the rule of his words and actions, will be less or more reviled and persecuted. Many and many a time we would be saved from hurting ourselves and from wounding other people, if we would only stop to think. Such is the meaning of purging himself. This time he was a Christian minister, and it was to the reading of the books that he attributed his change. It's instructing us in righteousness. The Greek for slanderer is diabolos ( G1228) which is precisely the English word devil. 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. (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. 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. One day they said to Jesus, Show us a sign. So I listened to that voice, and heard the truth, and found my Saviour.". Activity of service was no longer before him. 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. Paul cites three instances when he had to suffer for Christ. When the Lord was entering on His ministry He says, "Woman, what have I to do with thee?" "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." human nature began to show itself out in indifference. That is where you become thoroughly equipped to do the work that God has designed and ordained for you. 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. If what be claims for scripture is true of the Old Testament, how much truer it is of the still more precious words of the New. He was comparatively alone. We must remember that the scripture of which Paul is writing is the Old Testament; as yet the New Testament had not come into being. 2 Timothy 3:12. (12) Yea, and all that will live godly.--But St. Paul would not allow it to be thought for a moment that in the fact of his enduring persecution and suffering there was anything remarkable or singular; so he adds the words of this verse, which repeat in a peculiarly solemn way the great Christian truth that eternal glory was only to be reached by man through an avenue of sufferings. If we would know the holy scriptures, we must read and search them daily, as the noble Bereans did, Acts 17:11. (3.) "It shone and glowed with truth," she said, "and my whole being responded to it. 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. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." And a servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle toward all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting those that oppose, if perhaps God may give them repentance for acknowledgment of the truth, and they may for his will wake up out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him." 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. 2. Such offence can and does happen yet. Each one of these words in the Greek is an interesting word study. That will = Who will live ( ) to desire, to want to, to wish. This again has stumbled the minds of men. How comes it so? Certain of the temporary persecution, he is equally certain of the ultimate glory. Now, there's nothing wrong with enjoying life. It is well to be exclusive of sin, but of nothing else. There is only one test for falsity--"You will know them by their fruits." Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Theophylact called this kind of pride akropolis (compare G206 and G4172) kakon ( G2556) , the citadel of evils. I'm afraid that that is also true of us. It is beyond argument that the Scriptures can convict a man of his error and convince him of the power of Christ. We have sown the wind, now we're going to reap the whirlwind. Don't expect the world to admire your godly stance. Good. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. In the Old Testament they are not named, but they are referred to in Exodus 7:11; Exodus 8:7; Exodus 9:11. We have the practice and treatment of true Christians: they live godly in Jesus Christ--this is their practice; and they shall suffer persecution--this is the usage they must expect in this world. But the sin of the man who is arrogant is in his heart. "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. But the apostle remembered it all, felt deeply for if not with him, and greatly desiring to see him once more. 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.