2 timothy 3:12 explained

In these terrible days men will be slanderers. The disorder might be so great that we might make mistakes in our anxiety; but "The Lord knoweth them that are his." 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." This statement does not contradict what Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:9. 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. It is the sign of a man of honour that he pays his debts; and for every man there is a debt to God and there are debts to his fellow-men, which he must remember and repay. Moreover, as soon as zeal for God is manifested by a believer, it kindles the rage of all ungodly men; and, although they have not a drawn sword, yet they vomit out their venom, either by murmuring, or by slander, or by raising a disturbance, or by other methods. I don't know exactly yet what He said but when I find out I know He's going to be right. 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. Christian life is a life of purpose. 2 Timothy 3 Barnes' Notes - Bible Hub In it we find the duties, the qualities and the experiences of an apostle. I am not at liberty of course to leave Christendom, I dare not get out of the great house at all; indeed I cannot (at any rate without becoming an apostate) leave the house of God, however bad its state may be. (186) Et tous ceux aussi qui veulent vivre en la crainte de Dieu. And all those also who wish to live in the fear of God., (187) Que rien ne luy est advenu que tous fideles ne doyvent aussi attendre. That nothing has happened to him which all believers must not also look for.. I think we've gone just about as far as we can. 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." 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 ). In those days trade tended to flow down river valleys; Ephesus was at the mouth of the River Cayster, and commanded the trade of one of the richest hinterlands in all Asia Minor. My wife and I eat out quite a bit. A whole collection of stories gathered round their names. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Some of you are separated not by your own desire or wish, but because someone was a trucebreaker. It answers not a little to the kind of thing ,;et forth here. 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. 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. 3:10-13 The more fully we know the doctrine of Christ, as taught by the apostles, the more closely we shall cleave to it. That Day of the Lord was to be preceded by a time of terror, when evil would gather itself for its final assault and the world would be shaken to its moral and physical foundations. Commentary on 2 Timothy 1:1-14 - Working Preacher Paul goes on to other qualities of an apostle. There are persons who think that the approach of death is intended to blot out everything here. In the days between the Old and the New Testaments many Jewish books were written which expanded the Old Testament stories. (2 Timothy 2:1.) 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. I must do so, if I own Him only in the indispensable truth of His Lordship if I own Him simply as the One that has authority over my soul. In short, let us know that we are Christians on this condition, that we shall be liable to many tribulations and various contests. 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. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. If anyone proposes to accept a set of standards quite different from the world's, he is bound to encounter trouble. Otherwise this might have seemed to be (what unbelief taunts and stigmatizes it, spite of His sanction) pride of heart and presumption. 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." 2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV) - Forerunner Commentary - Bible Tools A man has sunk far when he finds even the presence of good people something which he would only wish to avoid. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution - Paul takes occasion from the reference to his own persecutions, to say that his case was not unique. Paul was a prisoner again and awaited death. The apostle had a particular reference, doubtless, to his own times; but he has put his remark into the most general form, as applicable to all periods. Why does the world hate Christians? He was one that needed to lean on an arm stronger than his own. At first these magicians were able to match the wonders which Moses and Aaron did, but in the end they were defeated and discredited. This is the right thing to do. And for a person to take advantage of a child is unthinkable. "To make thee wise to salvation through faith." They will refuse to recognize the debt they owe both to God and to men. He did not pull down by his living what he built up by his preaching. We have sown the wind, now we're going to reap the whirlwind. It is profitable to us for all the purposes of the Christian life, for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. ", Persecution = The essence of persecution consists in subjecting a person to injury or disadvantage on account of his [beliefs].. A man can reach a stage when, so far from controlling it, he can become a slave to some habit or desire. The Greek word is that men will become anosios ( G462) . When God came on the scene and entered the conversation with his friends? When Job was talking to his friends and they were talking to him about the future, and Job said, Oh, I wish I were dead. In the light of this warning from the Saviour, no Christian should be surprised at persecution. This present age was altogether evil; and the age to come would be the golden age of God. Wow, watch out now because Jesus bought it. Whether Timothy made it to Rome before Paul's execution is not known. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel." In 2 Timothy 3:9 he meant that the teaching of evil does not necessarily become more extensive and capture a wider audience as evil becomes worse. (1) that they who make a profession of religion, should come prepared to be persecuted. There is training. Vincent, Marvin R., D.D. This is a further reason why Timothy should endure hardship and not turn aside from the work God has given him (3-5). "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The study of the Scriptures trains a man in righteousness until he is equipped for every good work. They will follow after their own wicked devices. As we know, there may be over it all a certain form of godliness, but underneath it is really wickedness. Years later that same brigand turned up again. Even if we look at Him so, He was raised from the dead. Timothy's job, for the sake of the future, involves more preservation than innovation. There was a certain heretic called Marcus who dealt in magic. Help me totake this verse seriously, that I will suffer persecution if I live godly in Jesus Christ. Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy ( 2 Timothy 3:2 ). In 2Baruch we get an even more vivid picture of the moral chaos of these last times: And envy shall rise in those who had not thought ought of. A. Characteristics of the last days 3:1-13. 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. There were false teachers who were quick to take advantage of that. Or are you going to develop a doctrine that is diametrically opposed to what Jesus said? It means to follow a person spiritually, not only to understand what he says, but also to carry out his ideas and be the kind of person he wishes us to be. Christianity was cradled in Judaism and very naturally thought largely in Jewish terms and pictures. The same tone of mercy is equally promised in this #epistle as in the last. Many and many a time we would be saved from hurting ourselves and from wounding other people, if we would only stop to think. In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Ephesus was called "The Treasure-house of the ancient world," "The Vanity Fair of Asia Minor." They appear to think that if you hold life in Christ to be the one thing that is most precious, to be the prize that your heart reverts to, all owning of anything short of this would be out of place; but it is exactly the contrary. When trouble fell on the Thessalonians, Paul wrote to them: "When we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction; just as it has come to pass, and as you know" ( 1 Thessalonians 3:4). Look what they did to Jesus, and Jesus said, "If they persecuted me, they're going to persecute you" ( John 15:20 ). The adjective used is philautos ( G5367) , which means self-loving. "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." 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. Xenophon tells us how Cyrus, the Persian king, defined the alazon ( G213) : "The name alazon ( G213) seems to apply to those who pretend that they are richer than they are or braver than they are, and to those who promise to do what they cannot do, and that, too, when it is evident that they do this only for the sake of getting something or making some gain" (Xenophon: Cyropoedia, 2, 2, 12). There is the idea of menace and of danger in this word. The Greek word literally is fully matured or of full age, fully matured, that the man of God might be fully matured. Their minds become corrupted and they ultimately become reprobate concerning the faith. Originally the alazon ( G213) was a wandering quack. And a hundred and fifty men can board it and they can submerge and go under the North Pole under the arctic ice. But the sin of the man who is arrogant is in his heart. They still, you know, pay their respects. The prophets and apostles did not speak from themselves, but what they received of the Lord that they delivered unto us. In other words, they simply remain in spiritual infancy and keep repeating the first stage of their Christian faith, over and again, without pressing on to spiritual maturity.Many are falsely taught that becoming a Christian will secure a quiet life and provide a ticket to prosperity, with numerous earthly blessings and a free pass from God, to prevent or remove any difficulties or dangers that may arise. Look at the lack, lackness. There is no godliness (Greek, "piously") or piety out of Christ. On his mother's side Timothy was a Jew, although his father had been a Greek ( Acts 16:1); and it is clear that it was his mother who had brought him up. 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. And Jesus himself had said: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake" ( Matthew 5:10). The reason is obvious. 2 Timothy 3 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise) - Christianity Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. He had fully known his conversation: Thou hast fully know my doctrine, and manner of life; his manner of life was of a piece with his doctrine, and did not contradict it. And this, I believe, is much to be considered. Two men were talking of a great satirist who had been filled with moral earnestness. 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. There is peril when men assess prosperity by material things. What does 2 Timothy 3:13 mean? In the Old Testament they are not named, but they are referred to in Exodus 7:11; Exodus 8:7; Exodus 9:11. Again he said, "Lo, I have come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God" ( Hebrews 10:7 ). Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. 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. This shows in a clearer light the difference between the true teacher and the false. For after all, I'm worth it. And the word of God comes and it brings a balance, it brings a correction, it brings a correct perspective.It's profitable. 3:1 You must realize this--that in the last days difficult times will set in. He would not have him to be spreading doubtful opinions; but what he had heard from the apostle himself he need not scruple to give out freely. The page number in Thayer is given, and the column on the page follows the hyphens. "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace." Observe, The scriptures will make us wise to salvation, if they be mixed with faith, and not otherwise, Hebrews 4:2. 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. 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." In the last days This often means the days of the Messiah, and is sometimes extended in its signification to the destruction of Jerusalem, as this was properly the last days of the Jewish state. He wants to accustom his mind to expect hardship instead of shirking it. 2 Timothy 3:12 in Other Translations - Bible Study Tools 2 Timothy 3:12, NASB: Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. This he had known most extensively, but it was closed; no longer had he before him any prospect of having to fight the battles of the church of God. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice.' He is sure that the ungodly man will go from bad to worse and that there is literally no future for the man who refuses to accept the way of God. They worship self instead of God. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977. The Greek word (prodotes, G4273) means nothing less than a traitor. It is of use to all, for we all need to be instructed, corrected, and reproved: it is of special use to ministers, who are to give instruction, correction, and reproof; and whence can they fetch it better than from the scripture? III. Only in the New Testament have we any picture of Jesus, any account of his life and any record of his teaching. Far more harm is done from want of thought than almost anything else. 442.]. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord" (there must, I suppose, have been some ground for the exhortation), "nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel, according to the power of God; who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." Shall we turn now in our Bibles to Second Timothy chapter three? (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. He is the man whom God resists, for it is repeatedly said in scripture, that God receives the humble but resists the man who is proud, huperephanos ( G5244) ( James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5; Proverbs 3:24). But the apostle remembered it all, felt deeply for if not with him, and greatly desiring to see him once more. 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. There is teaching. 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. "To Timothy, my dearly-beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. It is the Greek parakolouthein ( G3877) and literally means to follow alongside; but it is used with a magnificent width of meaning. Ephesus was the town of a prosperous, materialistic civilization; it was the kind of town where a man could so easily lose his soul. Each one of these words in the Greek is an interesting word study. "Beloved, consider it not strange concerning the fiery trials which are to try you, as though some strange thing has happened to you" ( 1 Peter 4:12 ). One day they said to Jesus, Show us a sign. 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 your God is big enough to create the heavens and the earth, no problem, but you see, we stumble on the very first verse. That is, without any sexual restraints. Of course it was infinitely higher, it is needless to say, in the Master; but the servant was as closely as possible following in His steps. The man who is huperephanos ( G5244) , said Theophrastus, has a kind of contempt for everyone except himself. 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. You can you see what's happened even in the last twenty-five years. The scriptures are profitable to establish the foundation of my beliefs. The whole idea is that of thoroughly fitting you as an instrument that God can use. No one can possibly mistake him. Let us then see what Paul says of the usefulness of scripture. 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. Verse 2 Timothy 3:4. thoroughly furnished unto all good works ( 2 Timothy 3:17 ). The difference between the braggart and the man who is arrogant is this. The Christian leader will never lack his opponents. The more the person who lives godly and righteous in Christ stands out. In Brazil Signor Antonio of Minas bought a New Testament which he took home to burn. Observe, (1.) 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. They're profitable for doctrine. 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. Things are very much taking this direction of late, and at the present moment. From childhood he has been guided by the Scriptures, and his faith in those Scriptures gives him assurance in his salvation (14-15). 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. If there is no human affection, the family cannot exist. he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me." 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 ). Here is the essential conclusion. Timothy had a great advantage in being trained up under such a tutor, and being apprised of the doctrine he preached. The Jewish Rabbis ranked high in the list of sins what they called the sin of insult. 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. No man can teach what he does not know, and therefore before a man can teach Christ to others he must know him himself. 3:8-9 In the same way as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these also oppose the truth, men whose minds are corrupt, and whose faith is counterfeit. Theophylact called this kind of pride akropolis (compare G206 and G4172) kakon ( G2556) , the citadel of evils. 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. VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. Men will be disobedient to their parents. "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 wickedness of evil people, particularly charlatans, will increase as time passes. Rather they are minimum requirements that otherwise suitable people must fulfil if the church is to recognize them as elders or deacons. Thou hast fully known my afflictions. And when you lose authority you have anarchy. You're in an alien world. But it is asked, Must all men be martyrs? It is the normal Greek word for difficult, but it has certain usage's which explain its meaning here. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. Had the Lord Jesus not sent him? Paul concludes this section with an appeal to Timothy to remain loyal to all the teaching he had received. "Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry." They were violent and dangerous. The adjective used is philautos, which means self-loving. Every man doing his own thing or every man believing as he wants. The term "godly" (eusebos) means "piously" (Thayer 262-2-2153). And why read them anyhow if they're not inspired? 2. He glanced at it as he consigned it to the flames. 6. 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. godly, Godfearingly. Now, there's nothing wrong with enjoying life. This was to reverse the lesson of a risen Christ, and to open the way for all laxity. It is not a question here about elders, but what would abide all the same when elders could not be duly appointed. In the last days perilous times will come: The word translated perilous has the idea of troubles, difficulty, and stressful situations. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. Real teaching is always born of real experience. 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 . God said it.They are profitable. We must remember that this was written just at the beginning of the years of persecution, when it was becoming a crime to be a Christian. For "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" ( Matthew 12:34 ). It is used by ancient writers on astrology to describe what we would call a threatening conjunction of the heavenly bodies. They did not keep the covenant that they made. But the condition of the believers had deteriorated. We must not be afraid of a manifest duty because it has been abused. He who feeds his mind on cheap literature can in the end find nothing in the great masterpieces. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. These were graces that Paul was eminent for, and Timothy knew it. Those who deceive others do but deceive themselves; those who draw others into error run themselves into more and more mistakes, and they will find it so at last, to their cost. Activity of service was no longer before him. 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. 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. And indeed the world easily wears that mask of religion which depends on itself; but the piety which flourishes directly from, is very hateful, as it was to the old Jews, so to the modern Christians, who are without any token of good, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. ", The Bible tells about God giving people over to reprobate minds, men who resist God and the truth of God. They will not only deceive others, but their sins and other deceivers will deceive them increasingly too. Marks of Perilous Times; Excellence of the Scriptures. And then again "the husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits." How are we to walk so as to please the Lord when disorder reigns, claiming to be the only true order? "It shone and glowed with truth," she said, "and my whole being responded to it. The Greek verb kratein ( G2902) means to control. Now I'm not about to say God was wrong. What a blessing. There was no despising natural links or spiritual here, far from it. This again has stumbled the minds of men. With this prospect he comforts Timothy no less than his own spirit; but at the same time he speaks as to joining him, with a glance at one that had forsaken him. VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. Trench, Richard Chenevix, D.D. Narcissism is at an all-time peak, but with lovers of yourself comes. God wants you to be complete. He said that one isn't inspired; obviously inspired. The Christian life does not consist only in knowing something; it consists even more in being something. It should be considered as one of the proper qualifications for membership in the church, to be willing to bear persecution, and to resolve not to shrink from any duty in order to avoid it. Timothy was well aware of this, even before he joined Paul in his work. Next he comes to a more personal need. Now what is it that Timothy had so fully known in Paul? 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. "Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.". 2. The Holy Spirit would make it to be most practical and precious. [3.] There was the road from north Asia Minor and from Galatia which came in via Sardis. "Men of corrupt minds. 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. my doctrine, and my manner of life, my purpose, my faith, my longsuffering, my love, and my patience, [you know the] persecutions, and the afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, and Iconium, and Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me ( 2 Timothy 3:10-11 ).

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